If you enjoy taking long trips in your RV throughout the year, you are going to need a reliable furnace for when the weather turns cold. You shouldn’t have to limit your RV travels to the spring and summer seasons.
But if your RV furnace blower will not start or is no longer working as it should, you can’t head out on a winter road trip without taking care of that issue first. Doing so will help to ensure that you do not endure any severe issues during your trip.
But what if your RV’s furnace suddenly stops working in the middle of the night while you are far away from home? Then you would need to know some quick troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the problem quickly.
How to Quickly Troubleshoot Your RV Furnace When it Stops Working
When your RV Furnace blower does not start, it can be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are simple solutions that will help you find out the problem and resolve it so you and your travelling companions can stay warm while RVing in the winter.
Along with helping you solve the problem with your RV furnace no longer working, in this article, we will also take a closer look at the reasons why your furnace blower isn’t operating as it should.
Troubleshooting the Cause of your RV Furnace Blower No Longer Working
If your RV’s furnace blower is no longer starting, it’s essential to find out the cause before you start troubleshooting. First, you need to look at what type of RV furnace you are dealing with.
If you use a wall heater or a propane furnace, you could have an issue with your power supply. If that is the case, you will need to start by checking your onboard battery before you move on to other possible causes of the problem.
To make the process easier, here are the most common issues RV owners have when they notice their furnace blower is no longer working.
Inadequate power supply
Not having the right amount of power is one of the leading causes of your furnace no longer working. An RV furnace is usually equipped with a blower that requires at least eight amp hour power.
If your onboard battery doesn’t have that much energy available, or if it has malfunctioned, you will not have enough power to operate it.
To diagnose this issue, you will need to use the voltmeter. Turn the device on and select DC voltage. After that, touch the red lead to the positive terminal and the black lead to the negative. There should be a reading on your screen.
If you have a 6-volt battery, the ideal reading range should be between 6.25V – 6.35V. If you have a 12-volt battery, the ideal range should be between 12.5V – 12.7V.
You will need to charge your battery if you have a reading below these numbers to fix this problem. If there is no reading on the screen, the battery is dead and needs to be replaced.
If you have a circuit breaker to trip, flipping the switch back to its original position will solve the issue.
Other things can happen to cause you not to have enough power. Your thermostat, which is the primary source of temperature control for your furnace, may stop working.
Eventually, this will lead to your RV furnace blower no longer working as well. Therefore, you should have your thermostat checked and replaced if it has become damaged. That could be an easy solution to your broken furnace issue.
Issues with the Wiring
If you have checked your power supply and didn’t’ find any issues there, the problem could be your wires. Check your furnace’s wires to see if any of them are damaged or loose.
You will need to follow the wires as you inspect each one. This can be a tedious and tiring job, and it will require a lot of patience. Along with worn or damaged wires, you may also find some that have shorted out or have a damaged coat.
After you have looked over the wires for issues, if you find any that are faulty, you should replace them at once.
Problems with Battery Corrosion
Another reason why our furnace may not be working properly is due to battery corrosion. Corrosion occurs whenever battery fluid leaks and begins to damage the terminals. Anytime a battery becomes corroded, it will no longer perform as it should.
To diagnose this issue, look at the battery terminals to determine any unusual buildup of what, green or gray material. Once you have found this corrosion, it is time to move on to the next part of the process, which is solving the problem.
You can eliminate issues with battery corrosion by using a mixture of water and baking soda. First, you will need to disconnect the wires from the terminals. Then apply the baking soda and water mixture to the corroded terminals.
Scrub away the corrosion and use a clean paper towel to dry the terminals completely.
Reconnect the wires to the terminals to ensure the power supply to the thermostat, and the furnace is secure. Your furnace should start working normally once again.
A Malfunctioning Thermostat
The thermostat controls how your furnace works, and if this main component fails, it will cause your furnace blower to no longer work. Before you get started, you must check your thermostat for any faulty wires or loose connections.
To diagnose the problem, you can start by looking at the display panel. If it is not showing you any data or blinking, that is a good sign there is an issue with your thermostat.
You will need to unscrew the panel and check for any loose connections or issues with wires. And if batteries power your thermostat, you should check them for issues as well.
Next, you will need to repair any loose connections and replace any bad wires you notice. Change your batteries if needed and clean any corrosion that may be on the battery terminals. Once you have made these changes, screw the display panel back on, and your furnace should be working once again.
Final Thoughts
It can be a terrible feeling to be out in the middle of nowhere in your RV on a cold winter night and find out that your RV furnace is no longer working as it should at the worst possible time.
That is why we put together this troubleshooting guide to assist you with the issue and help you pinpoint the exact cause of the problem as quickly as possible. We hope this guide will help you get your RV’s furnace working once again so you can enjoy a relaxing trip during any season.