Sol-Aire furnace

R

richard bachert

New member
Mar 14, 1999
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FYI, I just got this message from an old friend who is himself an RVer
(SOB). He's also a retired USAF Col, C130/141 driver and aircraft accident
investigator.
I submit it for those of you who might have missed it:
*********
Dick,
I just read an article in Motorhome magazine (actually a letter from a
reader and the reply) that said if you have a Sol-Aire furnace in your GMC
to get rid of it. The tech writer said that Sol-Aire went bankrupt in 1977
but Suburban makes a replacement that is safe. The Sol-Aire is prone to
burning up the motorhome because of welds breaking in the firebox.

The Suburban brand replacement is available from GMC Motorhome Parts and
Publications Distribution Center in Sandusky, Michigan 1-800-720-2227. I
thought Sandusky was in Ohio but what do I know?
Bill
**********
Dick 75 PB (with NEW furnace on the list) in Atlanta
 
Hi Arch,
Glad to have You back. I will have to check to see what brand my furnace
is.
But this I know, I pulled mine apart a few months ago and found what looks
like the " Heat Plenum" rusted out in one place. This is not good! I would
NEVER
use this furnace for fear of death. Were planing to go to Florida in May so
dont think I will need heat this year...Anyway, All You GMCers check your
furnace
for leaks,cracks, Holes etc. Best to replace with a new one. Carbon
Monoxide is
odorless.
Grandpa Rob 74 Painted Desert
 
Arch Welcome back Been A long time Quasi-lurker and have sorely missed
your imput on this net. Seems you had the uncanny knack of answering my problems
before I could ask them. True to form your posting on furnace replacement. I am
confident that my unit is being controlled by the Hi-temp sensor and its just a
matter of time till it either quits or starts A fire .Will be looking forward to
your postings and pic's. Keep up the good work.
Bill 76 Edgemont

> GMCers
>
> My first dissertation on being back. THIS is not what you should do but
> what I am doing and why. I am going to replace my Sol-Aire with a standard
> Suburban NT30.
 
Arch Thanks for Quick reply. My Solaire has quit putting out any air on one
outlet only. Have checked at furnace and nothing there so is not clogged
duct. The other four outlets work fine. After the furnace runs for awhile, but
before it gets up to temp, it will shut off for five minutes or so and then try
to reignite(can hear snapping sound coming from furnace) After another few
minutes of trying to reignite it will operate for awhile and continue on
aforesaid cycle which leads me to believe that the thermo is calling for heat,
but sensor is saying not yet. Intend to pull it out and check it out but am
pretty sure I will replace it, esp with all the negative postings about it
lately. Am looking for replace that doesn't call for too many structural
changes , would be nice to find one with five outlets that would fit in existing
space. Keep us posted
Bill 76 Edgemont

GCBR wrote

> Bill
>
> >From what my local dealer told me-------this is a very common problem
> with the Sol-Aire. There is some baffle that gets rusted out and causes
> the problem. He also told me that a lot of the units get into trouble
> because as the limit switch ages it can raise the temperature that it cuts
> out at. I do not know what the upper limit is on this switch is. On mobile
> home
> furnaces it is 117 degrees F. I would think that if you have air coming
> out of the furnace much over 120 F you got problems. Just a thought.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL
>
> In a message dated 4/3/99 9:15:54 AM Central Standard Time,

>
> >
> > Arch Welcome back Been A long time Quasi-lurker and have sorely
> > missed
> > your imput on this net. Seems you had the uncanny knack of answering my
> > problems
> > before I could ask them. True to form your posting on furnace replacement.
> I
> > am
> > confident that my unit is being controlled by the Hi-temp sensor and its
> > just a
> > matter of time till it either quits or starts A fire .Will be looking
> > forward to
> > your postings and pic's. Keep up the good work.
> > Bill 76 Edgemont
> >
 
On Sat, 03 Apr 1999 08:18:10 -0800 Bill & Joan Satterfield

>Arch Thanks for Quick reply. My Solaire has quit putting out any
>air on one
>outlet only. Have checked at furnace and nothing there so is not
>clogged
>duct. The other four outlets work fine. After the furnace runs for
>awhile, but
>before it gets up to temp, it will shut off for five minutes or so
>and then try
>to reignite(can hear snapping sound coming from furnace) After another
>few
>minutes of trying to reignite it will operate for awhile and continue
>on
>aforesaid cycle which leads me to believe that the thermo is calling
>for heat,
>but sensor is saying not yet. Intend to pull it out and check it out
>but am
>pretty sure I will replace it, esp with all the negative postings
>about it
>lately. Am looking for replace that doesn't call for too many
>structural
>changes , would be nice to find one with five outlets that would fit
>in existing
>space. Keep us posted
>Bill 76 Edgemont

These are also symptoms of a low battery.

Dave Greenberg
Motorhome Registry
and Boston Homes, Inc.
800-827-9989
 
Arch The outlet that goes to the very rear of the coach is not getting any
air out of the furnace
(hot or cold) I do have a inline fan on that run which is working but just get
cold air. It is the rear outlet on lefthand side of furnace looking from inside
coach. Also, furnace is located benieth oven so is not too hard to get to.
Bill 76 Edgemont

> Bill
>
> Which outlet is not putting out air?
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>
> In a message dated 4/3/99 10:19:21 AM Central Standard Time,

>
> > Arch Thanks for Quick reply. My Solaire has quit putting out any air
> on
> > one
> > outlet only. Have checked at furnace and nothing there so is not clogged
> > duct. The other four outlets work fine. After the furnace runs for
> awhile,
> > but
> > before it gets up to temp, it will shut off for five minutes or so and
> then
> > try
> > to reignite(can hear snapping sound coming from furnace) After another few
> >
 
Dave This happened when I was connected to shore power which is
usually the case when we are parked for the night. I had my house battery
checked last summer and it was given a clean bill of health. I also use
a ceramic cube when the temp isn't too low which does take the chill off.
Bill 76 Edgemont

> On Sat, 03 Apr 1999 08:18:10 -0800 Bill & Joan Satterfield

> >Arch Thanks for Quick reply. My Solaire has quit putting out any
> >air on one
> >outlet only. Have checked at furnace and nothing there so is not
> >clogged
> >duct. The other four outlets work fine. After the furnace runs for
> >awhile, but
> >before it gets up to temp, it will shut off for five minutes or so
> >and then try
> >to reignite(can hear snapping sound coming from furnace) After another
> >few
> >minutes of trying to reignite it will operate for awhile and continue
> >on
> >aforesaid cycle which leads me to believe that the thermo is calling
> >for heat,
> >but sensor is saying not yet. Intend to pull it out and check it out
> >but am
> >pretty sure I will replace it, esp with all the negative postings
> >about it
> >lately. Am looking for replace that doesn't call for too many
> >structural
> >changes , would be nice to find one with five outlets that would fit
> >in existing
> >space. Keep us posted
> >Bill 76 Edgemont
>
> These are also symptoms of a low battery.
>
> Dave Greenberg
> Motorhome Registry
> and Boston Homes, Inc.
> 800-827-9989
 
Boy, Emery This is starting to get complicated. Just went out and checked to
make sure and this is what I found. The are five ducts running from the
furnace.
The rear one on the right side of unit is cold air return from front of coach,
has a chrome round register about 3 feet behind drivers seat. the other duct on
right hand side provides heat to register under big window about 5 feet behind
driver seat. noticed there is small intake grille on right side of furnace
drawing air into furnace. On left side there are two ducts on front half
providing heat to registers, one just aft of kitchen under shower blowing into
hallway, the other a few feet behind that one, still on driver side, at entrance
to bedroom. All three of these heat ducts put out good heat. The remaining
duct exiting leftside rear, which by the way is opposite cold air intake on
right side, goes to rear of coach, under bed, and there is connected to inline
fan which moves a little bit of air out of the duct,neither hot or cold, to
register under nightstand between beds. I see no cold air return from rear of
coach. Just a thought,dangerous thing for me, could inline fan supposed to be
sucking instead of blowing? Hope you can understand all this
Bill 76 Edgemont

>
> air out of the furnace
> (hot or cold) I do have a inline fan on that run which is working but just
> get
> cold air. It is the rear outlet on lefthand side of furnace looking from
> inside
> coach. Also, furnace is located benieth oven so is not too hard to get to.
> Bill 76 Edgemont >>
>
> Bill my 77 has 5 register grilles. On the driver's side there is a cold air
> return at the front of the couch. There is a hot air register at the other
> end of the couch. There is a hot air below the stove. There is a hot air
> just below the left side of the clothes closet door. The fifth is a register
> on the other side of the coach near the front side of the water tank. There
> is no hose behind this register. In the driver's side rear of the coach
> there is a hose laying in the corner which goes to a cold air return on the
> furnace. It pulls air from around the back of the motorhome (behind the
> panel) and from around the water tank. The warmer air in the motorhome gets
> sucked into the register that doesn't have a hose hooked to it. Since this
> last cold air return draws air from all around the back the velocity of the
> air going through the last register is very slow. Is this the register that
> you say is not blowing any air, hot or cold?
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
 
Arch Does yours have a cold air return from rear of coach?
Bill 76 Edgemont

> In a message dated 4/4/99 10:22:55 AM Central Daylight Time,

>
> > duct,neither hot or cold, to
> > register under nightstand between beds. I see no cold air return from
> > rear of
> > coach. Just a thought,dangerous thing for me, could inline fan supposed
> to
> > be
> > sucking instead of blowing? Hope you can
>
> Bill
>
> Your system is very different from mine. First my furnace is on the floor
> under the sink. The assist fan is behind my stove. The assist fan has
> a 2 inch hose that goes to the bathroom. It made a lot of noise but
> moved very little air. The first time I asked about it most said to junk
> it.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
 
> In a message dated 4/4/99 11:04:32 AM Central Daylight Time,

>
> > Arch Does yours have a cold air return from rear of coach?
> > Bill 76 Edgemont
> >
> Bill
>
> It sure does comes off the furnace on right side. All air output is
> from the plenum on the front of the furnace. I would think that
> any connection on the side of the furnace would be a return air.
> Thats what I think.
>
> Take Care
> Arch

Well, guess I'll have to take out and look. The connection 0n right
side that I know is cold air return sucks air , but the one on the left
side does nothing.
Bill 76Edgemont
 
When I took out my solaire to clean it up and oil the motor, noted that there was
only one motor, one fan and one direction. Do not think rear does anything but suck
air back to heater. Put match out and watch the smoke go back towards the heater.
Mine works that way. It brings heat back to the heater.
Al

> Boy, Emery This is starting to get complicated. Just went out and checked to
> make sure and this is what I found. The are five ducts running from the
> furnace.
> The rear one on the right side of unit is cold air return from front of coach,
> has a chrome round register about 3 feet behind drivers seat. the other duct on
> right hand side provides heat to register under big window about 5 feet behind
> driver seat. noticed there is small intake grille on right side of furnace
> drawing air into furnace. On left side there are two ducts on front half
> providing heat to registers, one just aft of kitchen under shower blowing into
> hallway, the other a few feet behind that one, still on driver side, at entrance
> to bedroom. All three of these heat ducts put out good heat. The remaining
> duct exiting leftside rear, which by the way is opposite cold air intake on
> right side, goes to rear of coach, under bed, and there is connected to inline
> fan which moves a little bit of air out of the duct,neither hot or cold, to
> register under nightstand between beds. I see no cold air return from rear of
> coach. Just a thought,dangerous thing for me, could inline fan supposed to be
> sucking instead of blowing? Hope you can understand all this
> Bill 76 Edgemont
>

>

> >
> > > air out of the furnace
> > (hot or cold) I do have a inline fan on that run which is working but just
> > get
> > cold air. It is the rear outlet on lefthand side of furnace looking from
> > inside
> > coach. Also, furnace is located benieth oven so is not too hard to get to.
> > Bill 76 Edgemont >>
> >
> > Bill my 77 has 5 register grilles. On the driver's side there is a cold air
> > return at the front of the couch. There is a hot air register at the other
> > end of the couch. There is a hot air below the stove. There is a hot air
> > just below the left side of the clothes closet door. The fifth is a register
> > on the other side of the coach near the front side of the water tank. There
> > is no hose behind this register. In the driver's side rear of the coach
> > there is a hose laying in the corner which goes to a cold air return on the
> > furnace. It pulls air from around the back of the motorhome (behind the
> > panel) and from around the water tank. The warmer air in the motorhome gets
> > sucked into the register that doesn't have a hose hooked to it. Since this
> > last cold air return draws air from all around the back the velocity of the
> > air going through the last register is very slow. Is this the register that
> > you say is not blowing any air, hot or cold?
> >
> > Emery Stora
> > 77 Kingsley
> > Santa Fe, NM
 
Arch, Emery, Mr C and all others who replied to my post on sol aire problem:
Didn't get much time to work on GMC today due to church, grandkids, and easter egg
hunt etc but from info received on net and a little bit of checking out things, I have
figured out what is wrong.
Someone several years ago decided that they were not getting enough air flow from
register at rear of coach and added an inline fan to duct run,looks like factory job,
only problem is, it is a return line and the fan is taking the return air from the
furnace. this was making the furnace overheat and act weird. after disconnecting fan the
unit seems to be working OK. Will still remove it and check it out but may not have to
replace it. I'm really grateful for all the good advise
Bill 76 Edgemont
 
Arch, Glad you're back. I installed the NT24 (24,000 BTUs) in my Transmode
to Motorcoach conversion for all the reasons you mentioned. I did not have
to face a change out from the Solaire. My only issue was the placement of
the thermostat. At first the unit was cycling too qkickly due to it's
effectioncy. I had the thermostat mounter about 1 fott from th ceiling.
I moved it back in the coach and down to about 2 feet from the cieling and
that works well. Coach stays much more consistant in temperature and the
NT24 does'nt cycle too frequently. It the original thermostat location in
a standard coach going to have this effect on your new furnace?? Just a
question for those who will be looking at the changeout that you are doing.

>GMCers
>
>My first dissertation on being back. THIS is not what you should do but
>what I am doing and why. I am going to replace my Sol-Aire with a standard
>Suburban NT30.
>
>Next I went with the standard NT30 so I can get anybody to work on if it
>shoots craps. I am also going with the standard intake and exhaust port
>configuration so that I can get the standard little SS screen to go over them
>to keep the mud daubers out. The NT30 is an industry standard furnace. Yes,
>right now I can work on it but in the future I may not be able to. One thing
>I
>like about it is that the "guts" slip out of the case. I can mount the case
>and
>ports but if I need to work on it---------disconnect gas and electric it
just
>slides
>out. It should slide right out of the cabinet where the old one sets now.
>Right
>now all of this is theory. The new furnace is out in the GMC as I type this.
>It is this weekends project. I had originally removed the aluminum bracket
>that supported the old Sol-Aire. It will have to be put back in and add to
>get the furnace up to the point where the guts can slide in and out
>without doing any wood working. If any of you are interested holler and I
>will send pics to Patrick. The cabinet door opening is 12 1/2 inches high
>and so is the furnace. There is an angle brace between the two frame
>members that looks like it has to come out. The only thing it did was provide
>a place to attach the gas line so it did not vibrate. I will find something
>else to attach it to.
>
>Take Care
>Arch 76 GB IL 43 days left to go.
>
 
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