Safe?

[Quickuc57]

2014 thor ace 30.1 when using gas heater it smells like exhaust fumes, Not LP. I've opened up heater cover to inspect, I see nothing, flame looks good ,The carbon sensors inside RV for fumes is working ok . any advice from anyone, Thanks

[Grumpy Grampa]

Check the exhaust make sure it’s venting outside.

[Quickuc57]

Isnt that just behind cover? The fins are clear ect.

[Grumpy Grampa]

I would recommend, go outside the unit, and pull off exhaust pipe, should slide out. Just to verify no blockage.

Good luck.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Quickuc57

Isnt that just behind cover? The fins are clear ect.

No, don't confuse fresh air intake fins with the exhaust outlet:



Not all furnace doors have a fresh air intake (sometimes there isn't even a door), but they all have an exhaust.

[Quickuc57]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

No, don't confuse fresh air intake fins with the exhaust outlet:



Not all furnace doors have a fresh air intake (sometimes there isn't even a door), but they all have an exhaust.

Yeah mine has 4 screws to remove cover, it that point I can see both intake and exhaust. Both look good, flame color is good. Maybe I just need to turn it on for a few hours. Ya think?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Quickuc57

Yeah mine has 4 screws to remove cover, it that point I can see both intake and exhaust. Both look good, flame color is good. Maybe I just need to turn it on for a few hours. Ya think?

No, you should not have to remove the cover to see the exhaust. Did you see the picture?

[Quickuc57]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

No, you should not have to remove the cover to see the exhaust. Did you see the picture?

Yes. There's 4 screws, and yes there's a round exhaust vent and its has HOT on its. When heater is on its blowing hot air.

[OldWEB]

Originally Posted by Quickuc57

2014 thor ace 30.1 when using gas heater it smells like exhaust fumes, Not LP. I've opened up heater cover to inspect, I see nothing, flame looks good ,The carbon sensors inside RV for fumes is working ok . any advice from anyone, Thanks

The carbon monoxide detector 'test' circuit may work.... You could try the local fire department and ask if they are able to test for CO levels, most cold weather FDs have the capability, then just drive over there to confirm it. Better than not waking up some morning....

[John & Diane]

X2 on OldWeb's advice. I'm paranoid about CO having lost a friend to it. Has your CO/Gas detector been replaced. They are usually only good for 7 years.



When we bought our MH I added an extra CO/Smoke detector for extra security. Good luck.

[CHS]

If you pull off the cover, there should be some sort of gasket around the exhaust. Make sure it is intact. If not you could be sucking the exhaust right back into the intake behind the cover. (Before it makes it outside) You may have to pull on it a little to get it off.

[erikdjensen]

I have had to change the cricuit board three times on our Atwood furnace because it becomes wet and shorts out. One time we used the furnance and the CO alarm went off. My wife freaked out and said she wasn't going to stay in the rig again until it was fixed (she went to stay with our daughter). I took it to the shop and they said it was full of soot. Good Sam who has the extended warrenty try to convince them to just clean out the furnace. The repair shop said they didn't want to take on that liability. So we got a new furnace, but still have to change out the circuit board when there is a heavy rain. I know our CO monitor works - the alarm went off, but when our smoke detector quit working I got a combination one - one for the back bed room and one for the loft area. We also have a Thor 30.1. Not sure why Thor continues to buy these POS when they know they are poor quality.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by erikdjensen

I have had to change the cricuit board three times on our Atwood furnace because it becomes wet and shorts out. One time we used the furnance and the CO alarm went off. My wife freaked out and said she wasn't going to stay in the rig again until it was fixed (she went to stay with our daughter). I took it to the shop and they said it was full of soot. Good Sam who has the extended warrenty try to convince them to just clean out the furnace. The repair shop said they didn't want to take on that liability. So we got a new furnace, but still have to change out the circuit board when there is a heavy rain. I know our CO monitor works - the alarm went off, but when our smoke detector quit working I got a combination one - one for the back bed room and one for the loft area. We also have a Thor 30.1. Not sure why Thor continues to buy these POS when they know they are poor quality.

Next time get a potted board. Preferably one made by Dinosaur.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Quickuc57

2014 thor ace 30.1 when using gas heater it smells like exhaust fumes, Not LP. I've opened up heater cover to inspect, I see nothing, flame looks good ,The carbon sensors inside RV for fumes is working ok . any advice from anyone, Thanks

Did this just start?
Is this coach new to you and/or how long have you had it?

If I thought my gas heater was leaking fumes in side the coach, I would NOT trust myself to fix.

But if the coach was new to you, I wonder if you are mistaken the normal heat fumes from the furnace when it first start to burn. After all it is an 8 year old heater so I suspect it is broken in very good.

On the flip side, it is good time to test your CO2 detectors.

[erikdjensen]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

Next time get a potted board. Preferably one made by Dinosaur.

Are you serious? What is a potted board and one made by disosaur. I will try anything that will save me $150 per circuit board. Also thought about taking it out when I am not using it, especially when I know it will rain soon (we live on the north oregon coast so lots of rain here).

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by erikdjensen

Are you serious? What is a potted board and one made by disosaur. I will try anything that will save me $150 per circuit board. Also thought about taking it out when I am not using it, especially when I know it will rain soon (we live on the north oregon coast so lots of rain here).

Dinosaur makes after market electronic appliance control boards. They are much better made than Atwood OEM boards. The one for your furnace is:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009XU7H8Q

There are two reasons your control board gets wet:

1 - there are are intake louvers that are cut the wrong way: they funnel water into the furnace area.

2 - The board sets a couple mm off a horizontal metal surface. Water gets between the board and the mounting surface and shorts the board out. There is a recall that remounts the board higher and at an angle to prevent this problem.

[Pete'sMH]

A “potted” circuit board is one that is fully sealed in a plastic-like substance after it’s made. Makes them much more durable and weatherproof. Don’t know if Dinosaur makes them potted or not, but their boards are WAY better than the cheap Chinese ones you get from most sources. You’ll be much better off with one of them

[gnach]

Here's a 2019 thread covering the issue. Also, do a web search for the recall.
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8...sue-20083.html

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by Quickuc57

2014 thor ace 30.1 when using gas heater it smells like exhaust fumes, Not LP.....

Just for clarification????????

Do you small the exhaust fumes INSIDE the camper, or only outside?