28 replies to this topic

[erod]

hey all, well i feel pretty silly asking this one but what better place...tried to fire up the heater last night and couldn't get any heat. it was just blowing cold air? i have used it before in may but couldn't remember the steps we took to get it running...my manuals are all deep in storage...what are the steps you guys take, in order, when you fire that up? turn gas on outside, turn gas on inside, flip breaker, turn on switch on thermostat...silly question but i need to get it figured out by tonight...the snow is on the way !

also, drained the battery last night when i left it running...not all night but for like an hour thinking it would eventually "warm up". bummer...need to get dual batts asap! thanks in advance...oh yea, it a 92-93' ranger II. cheers

[DLN]

erod,

The heater should fire with the thermostat, electric, and gas turned on. The fan comes on first and the unit fires as soon as it gets gas, usually 20 to 30 seconds. I usually fire the heater to draw gas to the refrigerator before lighting it because the heater draws gas much faster and is behind the fridge in the gas piping. I'd try pulling the outside cover and checking out the combustion area for dirt, bugs, etc. around the burner area. I know this really isn't much help but I'm sure Ben, Stan, or other members can add more.
Good Luck.

[Alex]

erod,
What I do is pretty much the same as DLN. Do you hear the igniter ticking when you turn on the heater? You will hear the fan running first then there should be a ticking sound from the igniter when it tries to get the furnace start.

Alex

[erod]

thanks guys! didn't here the igniter, maybe i should check that area for obstruction (will do)...i have an ice box so no interference from the fridge propane. one thing i forgot to ask is, does the gas valve on the inside need to be open? its the valve i turn on to use the stove...thanks again, stoked to get this figured out! cheers!

[Alex]

On my ATC Bobcat, there is only 1 valve, the one on the propane tank, to control the propane. The igniter should still try to ignite the furnace even there is no propane. Oh, just something obvious, use soapy water to check if there is propane flowing/leak. I use 409 cause I'm lazy.

[NJTaco]

What model furnace? Depending on the model...

Check battery voltage...if the voltage is low, the fan does not turn fast enough to generate enough airflow to tell the circuit board to open the gas valve and try to light.

Insect infestation (wasp nest, etc. in the combustion chamber or intake and exhaust tubes) will generate the same symptom.

[erod]

What model furnace? Depending on the model...

Check battery voltage...if the voltage is low, the fan does not turn fast enough to generate enough airflow to tell the circuit board to open the gas valve and try to light.

Insect infestation (wasp nest, etc. in the combustion chamber or intake and exhaust tubes) will generate the same symptom.

good stuff njtaco, thanks...

[kcowyo]

My heater didn't kick on the last time I tried it. My aux battery was also low on charge. I didn't put 2 & 2 together then, but that makes sense. I had plenty of propane, enough to make coffee on the stove, but I was not able to get warm air to generate from the vent.

I open the propane bottle 1/4 of a turn and then open the red valve inside before turning on the thermostat. I just assumed that was how it worked. When the heat didn't come on I figured I needed the heater serviced, now I'm thinking it may have been the low battery.

FWIW, I picked up a small trickle charger at NAPA and I use that for a day or two before heading out to charge my battery. I don't know if you have anywhere you can plug in a trickle charger during the day right now, but that's an option.

We got snow today too. Thanks for sending it my way!

[craig333]

Well, is yours electronic ignition? Not sure when they started using those. If its not you'll have to manually light the pilot light. I usually light the stove first just to help get a little gas going through the lines.

[pvstoy]

one thing i forgot to ask is, does the gas valve on the inside need to be open? its the valve i turn on to use the stove...

Yes....