furnace replacement
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I installed an Aqua-Hot Gen-1 unit which is a forced air/water heater combo which works on both electric and propane. It fit in the stock location almost perfectly, but was obviously not a straightforward installation, the plumbing being the tricky part (I had a plumber run the water lines), but it works well and has the added ability to provide hot water during dry camping. It does blend the water with water from the factory water heater, and I still need to add a shut off valve to the old water heater to prevent that, but I will do that as soon as I spend a little time figuring out how to do it.
Aqua-Hot Gen 1
The Gen 1 By Aqua-Hot Is A Compact Forced Air/Water Heater System In An All-In-One Unit, Fueled By Diesel, Gasoline Or Propane Specifically Designed For RV
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I don't think there is anything that will directly replace any of the original units. Search my thread "Furnace Fan Noisy" to see some pictures of where they are installed. I used a Suburban with a side mount for the gas. It was an easy install (not the removal, that wasn't so easy). Main drawback is the venting holes. I used a hole saw to drill the holes through the side and blocked off the old port with a pla block I printed to fit. Probably not the best material choice, but should be ok after bondo and paint.
I have installed a Suburban SF-35 in two separate coaches. In both, I needed to cut holes in the outer skin. My second coach already had multiple holes from someone doing the same and already had a stainless plate covering them. Also, due to the wall curvature, I needed to lengthen the exhaust tube. I just bought a second and welded part of it to the first to make one that was longer.
Not the prettiest on the outside, but I love the furnace. It does take a decent amount of battery, but it really warms things up quickly.
I had the squirrel cage shatter itself during one trip - I replaced it with part 390872.
I also had the control board go out and replaced that.
Kevin
Not the prettiest on the outside, but I love the furnace. It does take a decent amount of battery, but it really warms things up quickly.
I had the squirrel cage shatter itself during one trip - I replaced it with part 390872.
I also had the control board go out and replaced that.
Kevin
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I installed an Atwood a few years back, raised it up and used a length of iron pipe to hook up the exhaust. Blanked off but retained the "look" of the forward OEM exterior vent and did a slight modification to the louvers on the rear OEM (exhast/intake) vent so I could retain the original look.
Basically the Atwood went in "backwards"
, (well not really) but maintenance access is usually through the outside of the coach where in my case that "front" is facing the coach wall.
Still, furnace still working great 3 years later.
Basically the Atwood went in "backwards"
, (well not really) but maintenance access is usually through the outside of the coach where in my case that "front" is facing the coach wall.Still, furnace still working great 3 years later.
It's worth considering a cabin diesel heater, my installation, overall impression, lessons learned are documented here:
I'm not a fan of the standard RV furnace. They are too loud and too 12VDC hungry.
Recently, cheap chinese diesel heaters (knockoffs of Webasto cab heaters) have become available and are popular with the tiny home / Skoolie builders. They are currently less than $100 delivered.
I bought mine on ebay, it's a Vevor brand but they are apparently all very similar.
I'm documenting the installation here along with all mistakes and regrets
In order to use the existing vent holes from the old Solaire furnace, I built a base for the heater so that the exhaust pipe is above the vent...
Recently, cheap chinese diesel heaters (knockoffs of Webasto cab heaters) have become available and are popular with the tiny home / Skoolie builders. They are currently less than $100 delivered.
I bought mine on ebay, it's a Vevor brand but they are apparently all very similar.
I'm documenting the installation here along with all mistakes and regrets
In order to use the existing vent holes from the old Solaire furnace, I built a base for the heater so that the exhaust pipe is above the vent...
If you are willing to pay a bit more (probably quite a bit) you can get a "gasoline" version and feed it from your existing fuel source. As there are plusses and minuses to this, to each their own depending on their requirements.It's worth considering a cabin diesel heater, my installation, overall impression, lessons learned are documented here:
I'm not a fan of the standard RV furnace. They are too loud and too 12VDC hungry.
Recently, cheap chinese diesel heaters (knockoffs of Webasto cab heaters) have become available and are popular with the tiny home / Skoolie builders. They are currently less than $100 delivered.
I bought mine on ebay, it's a Vevor brand but they are apparently all very similar.
I'm documenting the installation here along with all mistakes and regrets
In order to use the existing vent holes from the old Solaire furnace, I built a base for the heater so that the exhaust pipe is above the vent...
Here's how I modified the exterior intake/exhaust fittings.
The LH vent is blanked off while the RH louvers are cut to allow the exhaust pipe to protrude through slightly. The small exhaust/intake vent supplied with the furnace was then fastened to the protruding exhaust pipe, standing off about 3/8".
Best I could do to retain the look of the original.
The LH vent is blanked off while the RH louvers are cut to allow the exhaust pipe to protrude through slightly. The small exhaust/intake vent supplied with the furnace was then fastened to the protruding exhaust pipe, standing off about 3/8".
Best I could do to retain the look of the original.
Any more details or photos on this? My coach has existing coolant lines attached to a heat exchanger next to the existing original furnace and I'm considerably going much more into hydronic heating.I installed an Aqua-Hot Gen-1 unit which is a forced air/water heater combo which works on both electric and propane. It fit in the stock location almost perfectly, but was obviously not a straightforward installation, the plumbing being the tricky part (I had a plumber run the water lines), but it works well and has the added ability to provide hot water during dry camping. It does blend the water with water from the factory water heater, and I still need to add a shut off valve to the old water heater to prevent that, but I will do that as soon as I spend a little time figuring out how to do it.
Aqua-Hot Gen 1
The Gen 1 By Aqua-Hot Is A Compact Forced Air/Water Heater System In An All-In-One Unit, Fueled By Diesel, Gasoline Or Propane Specifically Designed For RVcampaigns.airxcel.com
I thought I posted a few pictures here back when I did this install a few years ago, but that might have been to Facebook. The unis dimentionally fits in the same spot that the old SolAir unit. It has four duct outputs that I adapted to the existing duct-work, plus an added one. The install kit comes complete with pretty much everything needed to install it and it is pretty straightforward.
I did get some help with the plumbing, mostly because I wasn't sure how to connect it to the existing water system, but all the lines are right there at the sink. I had to hole saw one 3" hole in the side of the coach to accommodate the combustion air intake/exhaust, but it's barely noticeable. I'm not sure this unit could handle a hydronic heating system, but Aqua-Hot does make those as well.
Years ago I took the Suburban furnace to a certified repair facility in San Jose to be overhauled. Their website https://suburbanrv.com/service-support/service-locator/ directed me to Almaden RV where they inspected the heat exchanger, cleaned, and returned it to me in working order.
It still works well.
It still works well.
I put a Suburban NT-34 in my coach. It's a little oversized...I could have gone with the 30k BTU NT-30.
My solution to the flat Suburban vent not matching the motorhome's body was to run the vent horizontally through the bandsaw between the intake and the exhaust. It fit fine after that. For the old Sol-Aire vents, I cut some Masonite to fit the insides of them, put a little RTV around the edges, and screwed them back in. It looks a little goofy with two sets of furnace vents, but when I get around to painting the coach, I'll fix the holes.
Getting the Suburban through the cupboard door was a chore. It just barely fit, but sliding it on some waxed paper helped. Other than that, it was a pretty easy installation.
My solution to the flat Suburban vent not matching the motorhome's body was to run the vent horizontally through the bandsaw between the intake and the exhaust. It fit fine after that. For the old Sol-Aire vents, I cut some Masonite to fit the insides of them, put a little RTV around the edges, and screwed them back in. It looks a little goofy with two sets of furnace vents, but when I get around to painting the coach, I'll fix the holes.
Getting the Suburban through the cupboard door was a chore. It just barely fit, but sliding it on some waxed paper helped. Other than that, it was a pretty easy installation.
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