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Topic: Rear furnace is too loud (Read 579 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear furnace is too loud

After a brief search,  I've read here about the 2 fanspeed Atwood furnace. About a coach buck by the time you get it and the updated required thermostat. I can't see ponying up for that on the hope that it'll let us sleep better that what we have. This one cycles on and off every few minutes. Uncool. So! I am looking for reviews from them that have installed one, as well as any other suggestions y'all might have for quiet (er) heat that doesn't involve shore power. Thanks!
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #1 –
We put a two speed in our Grandvilla but I can't remember the details. I'm sure we had to use their thermostat. We were happy with the result.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #2 –
Jay, My experience was that I just had to live with the rear furnace and its fast cycling.  I am not sure but I surmise that its due to the smaller area that it heats and it takes less time to rise to temp and thermostat cut off.
One fix is to use a small ceramic heater in the hall to heat the bedroom, but.. this will not allow furnace to supply heat to bays if needed.

Gary B

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #3 –
Nature of a propane furnace.  Fan comes on first then it lights.  So it gets colder.  Then when the thermostat clicks it off the high temp circuit keeps the fan running until it cools down.

Too cold. Too hot. Noisy.  Maybe the two speed would help.

Most old Foretravels had the furnace and thermostat across from each other sort of.  Always wondered about relocating the thermostat.  Never did it.

Spent countless nights too hot, too cold.

Maybe a fan to move air around a bit? 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #4 –
Take the cover off of the thermostat and see if there is a small adjustable needle on the backing plate. this is the Heat anticipator.Normally you set this with a amp meter,but you can also set it without one. If you have one move it to a higher value some,this will increase the temp spread some so it won't short cycle so much. Here is a video that may help  you .Adjustment of the thermostat anticipator without a meter - YouTube
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #5 –
Oh hey thanks for that! I'll certainly give that a go before replacing the furnace....
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #6 –
@Jay I just replaced my rear furnace with a 2 speed Atwood. You do have to use their thermostat. Makes sense as it has to to tell the furnace wether to be in low speed mode or high speed.

I do like it better than the original Atwood. It is quieter but still makes more noise than I'd like. Nature of the beast I guess. I found it at Excalibur XT Furnace, 23,000-34,000 BTUs - 3.59 for $675. It was a pretty easy remove and replace.

It almost always runs in low speed mode although you can manually select either. In auto mode if the set temp is  3º more than the current temp it will switch to high speed mode until it gets to within 1º then it switches back to low speed mode.

Let me know if you have any questions.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #7 –
And they are loud furnaces. Same issue (noise) with the AC. On AC we put fan on low instead of automatic, air is more evenly cooked in bedroom and compressor cycling less obtrusive

Love the quiet of the AH heat
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #8 –
Yes to fan helping, at lest we did that in the 279. Gary's ceramic solution a good one as well
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Rear furnace is too loud

Reply #9 –
Bays cool much faster than living space and propane furnace may not keep all bay plumbing from freezing. We use regular space heaters for interior heating and small 200 watt personal heaters for bays. Our propane furnace is mostly off.

Often one of the reasons a propane furnace cycles off & back on is because the furnace's internal high-heat switch opens before the wall thermostat is satisfied. The best fix for a high-heat cycle is to add another duct so the furnace can get rid of its heat faster. Cycling on high-heat is never a good idea.

We think that all propane furnaces are loud.