You may be thinking of going on a trip with your RV during the summertime, basking through the sun while enjoying the stunning specter around you. But what happens when the cold months come? RV is not a cheap investment. Therefore, you should maximize its use even during winter times. How; you ask? Use an RV furnace! It will come in handy and will make you enjoy even the freezing campgrounds in winter. Let me walk you through on how does an RV furnace works and why you need it.
What is an RV Furnace?
If you haven’t heard about an RV furnace, it’s the forced air system that enables hot air to come out of your vents to keep your RV warm. It’s both powered by propane, which heats the system, and electricity, which makes the fan rotate. It’s basically an air-conditioning unit that blows hot air instead of cold air.
What are the Parts of My RV Furnace?
A regular RV furnace has a thermostat, a blower motor, a circuit board, a safety limit switch, and a duct hose. Let me breakdown each part and what they’re for.
- Thermostat – this device enables you to regulate the ambient temperature inside your recreational vehicle. There are many kinds of thermostats available in the market today. From digital to smart, you have a lot of options to choose from.
- Blower motor – this component blows hot air through the vents when the RV furnace is turned on.
- Circuit board – this is the central control of the RV furnace. It would be best if you had a good maintenance routine for your circuit board since it can quickly fail due to different road vibrations.
- Safety limit switch – Over-heating could be a serious issue with an RV furnace. Thus, a trusted limit switch can come in handy. It shuts off the entire heating system once a set temperature limit is reached.
- Duct hose – ducts are tubes that connect the heating system to different vents in your RV.
So, How does an RV Furnace Work?
You might probably be thinking of a complex scientific process on how does an RV furnace work. But mind you, it’s not that hard to understand. We already know the basic- RV furnace blows hot air to your vents. But how? Here’s a breakdown of the process. When the temperature inside your RV falls below your set temperature on the thermostat, the propane is triggered to produce flame, which creates heat. The blower fan then forces the hot air out of the vents into your rig. The heat saturates inside your RV and makes it warm and cozy.
Two types of RV Furnaces
Generally, there are two types of RV furnace. The direct discharge and the ducted furnace.
Direct discharge
Older models of RV use direct discharge furnace. They are compact, light-weight, and easier to install. It blows direct heat from the furnace’s faceplate. The downfall, however, is its reach. Heat cannot saturate thoroughly in every nook and cranny of your RV.
Ducted furnace
This furnace blows hot air through ducts into the vents. Unlike the direct discharge furnace, heat is evenly distributed in different areas of your RV. You can also easily adjust the temperature depending on what’s comfortable for you.
How do I Keep My RV Furnace in Good Condition?
Now that we have a pretty good understanding of how an RV furnace works, it’s also essential to know how to maintain it. Regular checks are essential to keep your RV furnace in top shape. Here are the four primary areas of your RV furnace you need to pay extra attention to:
- Furnace cleanliness – to ensure that your furnace operates in its best condition, regularly clean any surface you can access. Make sure that it’s free from accumulated dust and dirt. You can use a vacuum to wipe down all parts of your furnace. If you can reach the interior portions, use a damp cloth to clean metal components.
- Ductworks – most ductworks can be found above the floor, in the roof, inside your cabinets, or under the sofas. Routinely check the physical set up of your ductwork. Take note of collapsed or damaged ducts.
- Airflow – the RV furnace needs to draw in fresh air to process and convert to produce hot air. So make sure that the vents are clear from any obstructions.
- Voltage output – an RV furnace runs in a specific amount of voltage. Less-than-sufficient voltage can damage the RV blower. As such, too-high voltage can also be a problem. The key is to keep a properly charged battery for the furnace to operate smoothly.
- Propane supply – especially during winter RVing, sufficient propane supply is crucial to keep things working properly.
Conclusion
We hope that we gave you all the basic information you need to understand how does an RV furnace work. RVing is something you can enjoy, no matter what the season may be. Let not the cold breeze of winter stop you from enjoying your holiday break. Stay warm and fuzzy! Find out more about RV care.