Why Does My Rv Furnace Smell Funny

Topic: what can you do about the furnace smell?

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Posted By: zamijo on 08/05/10 05:36pm When our family is camping and the weather gets a bit cool, we
turn on the furnace.
The smell is just awful..
I think its because of dust, dirt, lint, etc in the floor furnace
vents.
We take off the grates and vacuum out everything we can.. but
it still stinks.
The cold is more pleasant than that smell...
Does anyone else have the problem and what can be done about it?

Thanks

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Wayne and JoAnn from Phoenix, Az
2000 4x4 Dodge Ram diesel
2001 28' Wildwood TT by Forest River
3 Chihuahuas.. Aunt PeeWee age 15, OOHrah the devil dawg
age 3 and Squidlee Sue the anchor clanker age 2
We enjoy e/mail..so write Amijo@juno.com

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Posted By: BuckBarker on 08/05/10 05:45pm Just let it run awhile and step outside.

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Posted By: LadyRVer on 08/05/10 07:03pm Not sure about the source of smell, but do know new furnaces for a couple of seasons will give off an odor which goes away fairly fast. I found that I had to take the front inside vent off and literally get the dust, dirt and whatever collected in there. I was shocked. About every 6 months or so I would clean it out. Also found I needed to take the front of the converter and clean it, too. Never knew that until a couple of years ago!

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Posted By: Golden_HVAC on 08/05/10 05:46pm Turn on the furnace, and let it run about 10 minutes, shut it off, and let it rest about 20 minutes, and then run it again about 10 minutes. With all the windows open, and turn on a fan if you can.

It is 110 today in Phoenix - Right? How warm do you like your RV?

Anyway, if you run the furnace a couple of times at home before it becomes cold, and you are out camping, then you can air out the RV, and once you are camping, it will be the second or third time you are running the furnace, and it should smell not so bad.

Also check to see if there is a problem with the heat exchanger. Have the furnace checked with a CO meter, to see if it is leaking CO into the interior. If it leaks CO, then it needs to be replaced.

I use a Olympic Catalytic heater, and leave my roof vent and window open a little bit, and never have a problem with heater smell. It also does not require any 12 volt power, or make any noise.

Good Luck,

Fred.

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Posted By: Bucky Badger on 08/05/10 05:47pm

zamijo wrote:

When our family is camping and the weather gets a bit cool, we
turn on the furnace.
The smell is just awful..
I think its because of dust, dirt, lint, etc in the floor furnace
vents.
We take off the grates and vacuum out everything we can.. but
it still stinks.
The cold is more pleasant than that smell...
Does anyone else have the problem and what can be done about it?

Thanks

If you have metal vents, we put magnetic strips to cover them...available at most home improvement centers

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2010 F150 5.4, 3.55, 4x4, Equli-z-er Hitch
2007 Forest River Salem 27RB LE
and
2009 Nomad 3980

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Posted By: Gdetrailer on 08/05/10 05:52pm Depends on the actual type of smell.

It is normal for any heating device to give off some odor the first time each heating season. This smell comes from dust burning off but should go away after one or two heating cycles.

New furnaces will have to burn off the oils from manufacturing process. This is normal and will often take multiple cycles to burn off. Should not come back for the next season and on.

Mouse/rodents, yep, this one is next to impossible to clean up. Mouse urine smell just doesn't go away. It seams to get worse with each cycle. This is most likely what you are smelling. Not sure if there is a cure for this one other than replacing ductwork and possibly the furnace.

Another possible odor, cracked heat exchanger. This one will allow some burned and unburned exhaust gases into your living space. Pretty strong odor, will smell simular to the exhaust on the outside of the furnace. This one really commands attention, since it could potentially kill you. I would recommend checking with a Carbon Monoxide detector which has a readout or have a professional heating tech check your furnace.

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Posted By: ut_pupcamper on 08/06/10 07:53am You know those people from down under, Arizona, if it drops below 90 out come the jackets and the heater goes on!

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Don & Alice

Camping in and around Utah
2013 Rockwood 8286WS Diamond Package 5th Wheel
2003 Ford F350 Lariat Super duty Crew Cab
6 kids 3 grand kids a dog a cat and Titan the killer Chiweenie ">

Camping in 2013: 15
Camping in 2012: 19

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Posted By: akeegan1 on 08/05/10 08:21pm Yes - We had that too. Our first trailer last year - was really bad until about the third time we ran it. I did exactly what one of the previous members said - ran it for about 10-15 min. with all windows open and a fan going. Then closed everything up and it was fine.

Our new trailer this year - didn't even have a smell to it - worked great - only used it once but still, no smell.

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Posted By: whiteeye42 on 08/05/10 08:34pm yes mine smelled like that to just like someone or something peed on it but after it ran for a bit the smell went away.

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Me,Wife two boys and two dogs
2008 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4 DRW 6.7 cummins
2008 Jayco Eagle 341 RLQS 37' with B&W turnover ball & companion hitch
using rotochoks
add state map

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eatonchaunt.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24257123/print/true.cfm

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