CO - Furnace Issues

[gypsmjim]

More learning questions with our new RV travel trailer...

The old trailer had a metal roof vent and that's all it took to not have CO. The gas light would show CO, so we ran it sparingly and certainly not at night. The furnace NEVER showed CO.

Sunday it was raining and we wanted to try out the furnace anyway, so we fired it up. After about 5 minutes the CO detector went off. We turned off the furnace and after several minutes the alarm went off.

Most of our furnace needing visits will be in the winter. With snow / ice on the roof I'm afraid to open the plastic skylight vents, for fear they will crack. The old trailer had jalousy windows, so even if it was raining no water would come in. The sliding windows on the new trailer would undoubtedly let snow in if it was snowing. I don't want to piut up the awning in the snow.

Any suggestions? Is that normal? How wide does a window need to be open, and do you need more than one open?

[gypsmjim]

I have a battery operated portable CO detector from my old trailer. That shows digital numbers so you can see exactly what's happening. I'll use that when I do the break-in run and see how it compares.

Thanks for all the tips...

[Dtaylor]

endlesssky wrote:
Have your CO detector tested, or get it replaced.
Good for 5yrs if I remember corectly.

Having a 2015 model trailer does NOT mean everything in it is 2015. CO detectors do have a shelf life. It could be defective as well. As suggested, run the heat for an hour or so with windows open. Then close them and see if it goes off again. If it does, contact your dealer ASAP

[endlesssky]

Have your CO detector tested, or get it replaced.
Good for 5yrs if I remember corectly.

[mowermech]

Open all the windows in the RV, and run the furnace long enough to be sure that all the dust/dirt/preservative oil is burned off the heat exchanger. An hour should be plenty. Then close up the RV and run it for another hour.
If the CO detector still goes off, there is a good chance there is a crack in the combustion chamber. DO NOT use the furnace! It CAN kill you! It MUST be repaired or replaced!

[gypsmjim]

Sorry, I am new here and have not fully updated my profile. I'll do it when I figure out how.....LOL.

[beemerphile1]

You do realize we have no idea what RV you are referring to?

Create a signature or profile so we know what RV you need information about. Then in your posts give as much information as possible about the system you ask about. Brands, model numbers, etc.

RV furnaces draw air in through the sidewall and exhaust out the side wall. They do not use roof vents.

You do not need a window open when using an RV furnace.

Edit;
I looked at your past posts and see you purchased a 2015. The first time any furnace is fired it will smoke and stink while it burns off a coating of oil. This is true in an RV or home.

[Chris_Bryant]

The furnace needs to be fixed or replaced, as there is no way a properly functioning furnace will produce CO in the living area- the combustion chamber is sealed.