Sealing heater from allowing outside air coming inside.

Hi,

It is not a co2 detector, it is a co (carbon monoxide) detector.

Thanks all for the input. We were using it and it seemed to be working fine except that when the heater stopped you could feel cold air entering the inside.

We WILL STOP using it Immediately! The CO2 detector never went off so I think we were fine but won't take any chances.

We will take it into a dealer next time we get up there. I didn't think I should be able to see through to the outside cover. I was also wondering why there was no return air filter in it like a house heating system. I will let you all know what the final answer is.

Thanks all for the input. We were using it and it seemed to be working fine except that when the heater stopped you could feel cold air entering the inside.

We WILL STOP using it Immediately! The CO2 detector never went off so I think we were fine but won't take any chances.

We will take it into a dealer next time we get up there. I didn't think I should be able to see through to the outside cover. I was also wondering why there was no return air filter in it like a house heating system. I will let you all know what the final answer is.

I agree with the last two posts ... DON'T USE IT TILL YOU GET IT LOOKED AT BY A PROFESSIONAL.

Larry

Aztrooper wrote:
Thanks for all the feed back. I will try to explain in more detail. When I opened the inside return vent for the heater I could see all the way through the heater to the out side cover and could feel cold air from outside the trailer moving through that area to the inside. The furnace had quit working (I later found that the propane line on one of the tanks have failed and was leaking all my propane out, which I have repaired) I pulled the outside cover off the heater to check the reset switch as listed in the manual. The out side edge was sealed. I was able to see all the way through to the inside where I had removed the air return vent cover. I saw no baffling or insulation to separate or insulate the out side from the inside air. I even vacuumed all the dead bugs, wasp nest and other debris form that area behind the metal heater cover. Yes I resealed the cover. My question Is should there be some barrier between the fire box and the inside of the trailer. As I stated I am very new to the Travel trailer ownership but am a veteran camper/hunter, and have over 35 years as a mechanic. This trailer will be our hotel when visiting our Daughter and her family instead of getting a hotel in town. We have already put in the RV power hookup and have extra propane bottles on site (I don't want a repeat of another night below freezing without heat). I replaced all the propane rubber lines because My theory is is one failed then the other will not be far behind. I know the previous owner who purchased the trailer new and have the repair history. He never replaced any of the propane lines. My problem is that the trailer is now in Montana and I am in Arizona so I make repairs when we get up there on our visits so I am doing the research now for repair later if that makes sense. It has a functioning propane, fire and CO2 sensor all with fresh batteries.

The text I bolded, IS a problem.

Typically the inside of the furnace (cold air "return") IS sealed from any possible outside "air". This means you should not be able to see the outside cover.

I would highly recommend you seek a RV tech who has RV furnace repairs experience or in a pinch you might be able to talk a home furnace tech to inspect your furnace heat exchanger.

I suspect that your furnace may have a rusted/damaged heat exchanger.

If this is the case you must not use the furnace and you get a replacement furnace installed!

I think I understand what OP is saying, and that's also the way I interpreted his initial post as well.
It sounds like he is saying that the compartment that his heater is enclosed in is not sealed to the outside, allowing cold air (not combustion air or air going through the plenum) to enter into the RV.

I don't have any recommendations for a fix as I am not knowledgeable in such things. But that is how I understand his problem to be.

Hi,

I believe you mean a CO detector.

I can't imagine what you are saying. May need a picture.

Thanks for all the feed back. I will try to explain in more detail. When I opened the inside return vent for the heater I could see all the way through the heater to the out side cover and could feel cold air from outside the trailer moving through that area to the inside. The furnace had quit working (I later found that the propane line on one of the tanks have failed and was leaking all my propane out, which I have repaired) I pulled the outside cover off the heater to check the reset switch as listed in the manual. The out side edge was sealed. I was able to see all the way through to the inside where I had removed the air return vent cover. I saw no baffling or insulation to separate or insulate the out side from the inside air. I even vacuumed all the dead bugs, wasp nest and other debris form that area behind the metal heater cover. Yes I resealed the cover. My question Is should there be some barrier between the fire box and the inside of the trailer. As I stated I am very new to the Travel trailer ownership but am a veteran camper/hunter, and have over 35 years as a mechanic. This trailer will be our hotel when visiting our Daughter and her family instead of getting a hotel in town. We have already put in the RV power hookup and have extra propane bottles on site (I don't want a repeat of another night below freezing without heat). I replaced all the propane rubber lines because My theory is is one failed then the other will not be far behind. I know the previous owner who purchased the trailer new and have the repair history. He never replaced any of the propane lines. My problem is that the trailer is now in Montana and I am in Arizona so I make repairs when we get up there on our visits so I am doing the research now for repair later if that makes sense. It has a functioning propane, fire and CO2 sensor all with fresh batteries.