Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Heated Bays

January 07, 2017, 01:07:51 pm

Searching this forum for "heated bays" I read the function of the vents in the bays is to remove heat, ie. in the area for the inverter for example. I was under the impression the function of the vents was to ADD heat to the bays when conditions warrant..like today! Question: if the vents function is to add heat to the bays..is it the furnace or the heat pump setting that will blow hot air to the bays...OR is it none of the above and the function is to only remove heat?? It's 13 degrees in Texas this morning...so wanting to do all I can...water removed and treated but want to heat bays if possible.
thanks so much
Dave

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Re: Heated Bays

Reply #1 – January 07, 2017, 01:28:47 pm

I believe the purpose of the bay vents is to allow ventilation (free movement of air) between the bays.  They do not "heat" or "cool" the bays.

If you have AquaHot, it supplies heat to the bays (primarily the utility bay).  If not, then the rear propane heater serves that function.  If you do not winterize, it is prudent to augment the stock bay heating capability with additional small electric heaters.  See these threads:

Furnace Operation

Unusual Cold Weather

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Re: Heated Bays

Reply #2 – January 07, 2017, 06:32:45 pm

It is important to remember that the heat pumps provide no heat to the basement.

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Re: Heated Bays

Reply #3 – January 07, 2017, 09:08:16 pm

If you have a propane furnace, it will supply heat to both sides of the water bay.  If you have two propane furnaces, I believe the rear one will supply the heat. 

The storage bay has a thermostat controlled blower that will vent the bay if it gets too warm from the converter, inverter and compressor.  It looks like a leaf blower pointed out the floor.

I do not believe the storage bay has heat but there is no plumbing in that bay on my coach.

The heat pump will not heat the bay's.

Someone else can discribe the aqua-hot system if that is what you have.

Hope this helps,

Rich

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Re: Heated Bays

Reply #4 – January 07, 2017, 09:22:34 pm

Rich hit it on the nose.

Propane Furnace will provide heat underneath in cold weather
Heat strip/heat pump/built-in electric heat will not.
There is some heat mitigation for power components.

Our coach does have direct heat into the storage bay from the propane furnace.  If yours needs it based on plumbing design, it will too.
James

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