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Heating Cycles-Limitations?

March 31, 2014, 08:49:35 am

My and our Atwood heaters have had a workout this winter.

Mine is working fine, but I noticed that it stays on longer, and sometimes I smell that hot smell.. now the questions.

Heating and cooling-over time, plenums crack.
Is ours affected by time, or heating?

Is it just my perception or does the heating efficiencies diminish with use or time?

Do I need to clean it?

Is there a way to look at the plenum, without removing it?
 

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Re: Heating Cycles-Limitations?

Reply #1 – March 31, 2014, 09:18:46 am

Does it just smell hot, or do you get any combustion gas smell.  If the latter, you are in danger of CO poisoning.

Yes, the heat exchangers can crack.  They can also collect dirt and mud dubbers can build nests in them. 

There is no way to check without removing them.

Suspect both time and heat cycles as well as dirt and moisture determine effective life.  Best advice would be to pull the furnace and check it.  If the heat exchanger is OK, buy and replace gaskets and perhaps the burner.  If not OK, get a new one.

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Re: Heating Cycles-Limitations?

Reply #2 – March 31, 2014, 10:16:58 am

Brett,

Just smells hot no gasses. Got a functioning CO detector.

OK will check burner for soot.

Gasket if necessary.

Screen on exhaust port.. so probally no daubers. Plus worked fine in coldest part of winter. Just seems to run longer now that its in 40s and heat at duct is 20+ degrees less as measured with IR thermometer.

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