Furnace blowing cold air & trying to light

[gomatthew]

Its 16 degrees. We have some renters that turned off the furnace and now it's really cold. When they turn the furnace on, it blows cold air. I went outside to the vent and you can hear it click and then light and you get 5 Seconds of warm air blowing out then it extinguishes. It repeats this over and over again. Where is the pilot light located in the fr3 and do you think it's as simple as that or maybe an air filter?

[5picker]

There's no pilot light. The clicking you hear is the electronic ignition that lights the flame.

Do the stove burners light and have good flame?

[gomatthew]

Originally Posted by 5picker

There's no pilot light. The clicking you hear is the electronic ignition that lights the flame.

Do the stove burners light and have good flame?

Yes, the stove lights

[gomatthew]

Originally Posted by 5picker

There's no pilot light. The clicking you hear is the electronic ignition that lights the flame.

Do the stove burners light and have good flame?

@5picker, you seen this before?

[5picker]

Most likely cause would be the board. Dinosaur Electronics make superior replacement boards.

[Flybob]

Are you sure they turned off heat or did it quit? Check propane, The stove will light with just fumes in the lines, but will not stay lit, When it is col you use propane reallllly fast.

[gomatthew]

Heat off .. I just refilled the 40 pound tank today. It's a full tank. I hear a clicking sound outside when I turn it on

[gomatthew]

Turned it off for an hour and came back.. fired up just fine .. been running for 30 min just fine. Thanks for everyone's feedback!

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by gomatthew

Turned it off for an hour and came back.. fired up just fine .. been running for 30 min just fine. Thanks for everyone's feedback!

We appreciate your reporting back!

[TimVWulp]

This is a Motor home if so you have a permanently mounted tank that you had filled today. your propane shut off valve is open all the way? If these are portable propane cylinders open both tank shut off valves to the system make sure you open them slowly as there is a safety built into the valve that will shut the propane flow off if it flows though the valve to fast. the safety will reset in about 30 min. May take longer with larger systems. With all the stove burners lit run the furnace. if the burners on the stove go out when the furnace lite's or try's to lite you have a propane regulator problem. If it stays lit than most likely the furnace control board has failed. I think that suburban furnace has a 2 year warranty. If it is out of warranty buy a dinosaur brand replacement control board they are made much better.

Hope This Helps Tim

[dymsail]

Originally Posted by gomatthew

Its 16 degrees. We have some renters that turned off the furnace and now it's really cold. When they turn the furnace on, it blows cold air. I went outside to the vent and you can hear it click and then light and you get 5 Seconds of warm air blowing out then it extinguishes. It repeats this over and over again. Where is the pilot light located in the fr3 and do you think it's as simple as that or maybe an air filter?

We had the same problem. It was a sensor wire. The whole unit had to be removed and the wire replaced. We have a 2861 DS. The wire was located beneath the refrigerator. They found a new sensor wire locally as Forest River would have taken a month. Paul Evert RV did the work and they were great! Good luck and stay warm!!

[cmar273225]

Make sure there is nothing blocking your burner. I have had soot fall from the chimney and cause a no ignition.

[sunnyinfla]

When you replace a tank turn the handle on slowly...

[jimmoore13]

Glad it's working. It sounds as if you might have had some air in the propane lines from having to fill your tank.

I've found that I need to "prime" or "bleed" the propane system if the tank runs out or it has been disconnected. Devices such as the kitchen stove or outdoor stove will tolerate air in the lines better than a device that has sensors that require the propane flow to be continuous and the flame to heat a thermocouple or other sensor device. I just hold a fireplace lighter to the burner as it sputters and struggles to start. A stove-top burner will flow a lot of fuel in a short period, and it will quickly purge any air from the lines.

I routinely light the stove burner on my outdoor kitchen...which is the farthest point away from the tanks. This bleeds any air out of the propane lines and establishes a good, solid fuel flow. Then I ignite the hot water heater and/or furnace. The fridge is unhappy with intermittent propane flow, too...mine is a 3-way, and I run it on propane for boondocking.

I do the purge trick with the outdoor kitchen stove before I leave driveway, and then everything is ready to go when I setup.

[jimmoore13]

P.S. The circulation fan will start before ignition and run until the system shuts down. This is normal. The safety interlocks in the system will demand that the air circulation fan is cooling the heat exchanger before the system will light, so the blowing cold air phenomenon is normal if the burner won't ignite and stay lit.

[sasch]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Most likely cause would be the board. Dinosaur Electronics make superior replacement boards.

Agree with 5picker - likely the board - had your experience replaced the board and all is well

[gomatthew]

Originally Posted by sasch

Agree with 5picker - likely the board - had your experience replaced the board and all is well

The problem is back, so I'm thinking it's the board. Is there a certain model number?

[TimVWulp]

Ignitor Board Index page

[colourful64]

Turn on your generator See if it works then. Because it may be your battery

[colourful64]

And it will come and go depending on if your battery is charged or not or if you are using the generator