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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: George Hatfield on April 19, 2019, 02:14:29 pm

Title: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: George Hatfield on April 19, 2019, 02:14:29 pm
I'm trying to get to my rear furnace for some service.  I can get close, but it is under a box in our rear closet and I cannot find a way to remove the box.  Any advice would be appreciated.  See pic.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: Old Toolmaker on April 19, 2019, 02:47:52 pm
If you have an Atwood similar to the one in our U225 you service everything from the outside. Just open the door.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: George Hatfield on April 19, 2019, 03:18:13 pm
Thanks.  I can see where one could remove the furnace from the outside if need be.  See pic.  But I wanted to get under that box to clean out 20 years of dust from the air intake system. 
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: wolfe10 on April 19, 2019, 03:59:17 pm
George,

See if you can reach in and release one or more of the ducts to allow cleaning.  The metal collars that the ducts attach to are just rotated into place (bayonet fittings) so they come out pretty easily.

And, as Old Toolmaker posted, burner, fan, etc are reached from outside.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on April 19, 2019, 04:05:39 pm
Our rear furnace has a metal return air intake grill in the bedroom wall.  Removing the grill allows some limited access to the furnace.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: John Haygarth on April 19, 2019, 04:21:41 pm
George,  pull that carpet up from around edges as it is stapled on. Then take out the screws and it will lift off.
JohnH
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: wolfe10 on April 19, 2019, 04:23:18 pm
George,  pull that carpet up from around edges as it is stapled on. Then take out the screws and it will lift off.
JohnH

But, not sure that will give him any more access to the air box.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: Old Toolmaker on April 20, 2019, 08:53:56 am
Thanks.  I can see where one could remove the furnace from the outside if need be.  See pic.  But I wanted to get under that box to clean out 20 years of dust from the air intake system. 
Are you having a Hazel attack?

I pulled out the front furnace completely for cleaning and inspection.  I took one look at that box, and the carpet and made up my mind to remove the motor and oil it.  My rear furnace is under a chest of drawers.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: nitehawk on April 20, 2019, 09:20:02 am
Got two (2) leafblowers?
Open the furnace compartment on the outside. Tape off all inside duct outlets on the side of the coach--except the two end ones farthest from the furnace on that side.
Place the blower outlet of the leafblowers tight against the inside end outlets and turn them ON!!
Have someone be tapping the ducting and the floor of the furnace to loosen dirt.
Have your M.I.L stand outside in front of the furnace. >:D  >:D  :))
RUBE GOLDBERG STRIKES AGAIN!!!
I'm lucky. I have an electric AND a gas powered leafblower.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: wolfe10 on April 20, 2019, 09:24:00 am
Perhaps I am not understanding, but, I believe all the leaf blower will do is send all the accumulated dust out the air return INSIDE THE COACH.

There is no connection/opening between inside air return or vents and the outside. Done purposely so no carbon monoxide can get from outside area to inside the coach.
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: George Hatfield on April 20, 2019, 10:54:47 am
Yes, definately a "Hazel attack!"  It took us a while to figure out that phase!  That is a problem I admittedly have.  When I notice something needs cleaning or fixing, I have to take care of it.  The other day I was washing bugs off the front and noticed the generator cover was not latching properly...  had to be fixed!  Now!  So a task that should have taken 15 minutes, took 45.  We owned an '03 for about 5 years and it was 6 years old at the time of purchase.  There is a big difference between a coach of that age and one that is almost 20 years old.  Even for a unit that is in relatively good shape.  At times I just want to sell it and get my life back!  But it is getting there!

Anyway, getting back to the furnace intake dust, I may actually try blowing it out with compressed air while I have a couple of vacuum cleaners pulling air and dust (hopefully) out.  One thing I have noticed is that the air outlets from the furnace seem to be free of dust.  Is there a filter somewhere in the system?  Update:  the combination worked pretty well.

Thanks for all the input. 
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: Chris m lang on April 20, 2019, 01:20:39 pm
George, My SOB had a furnace that looked just like yours and it looked like it was suppose to come out to the outside but after taking everything I could take off it would only come out to the inside.  But that was a different brand and others with Foretravel furnace experience can give better help!
Unless someone added a filter I doubt t it has one
In my SOB I added a 12 X 20 filter with new grill from Lowes that held the filter--Had to modify latches so grill would not vibrate open going down the road
Chris
Title: Re: Access to rear gas furnace 2000 U295
Post by: Old Toolmaker on April 20, 2019, 02:01:17 pm

Got two (2) leafblowers? is semantically equal to "Here.  Hold my beer and watch this!"

I could have removed my rear furnace for cleaning.  Putting it back in was another question.  There were no mouse signs in the front furnace to I decided to take a chance.  So far so good.