Propane Heater Quick Fix

[5er_tom]

We are in Myrtle Beach, SC for a week. It is cold here. Well, cold for SC anyway. Low 30's, upper 20's at night. The first morning here I got up and started the heater. It ran normally. The next morning it would not heat. It blew cold air. I restarted it a few times to no avail.

Here at Ocean Lakes CC they have an onsite RV service center. I went to their shop and explained the issue. Within half an hour two service folks arrived at our campsite. They had an aircompressor with them. What?? They blew compressed air into the exterior heater outlet vent. The heater then ran normally!

Apparently rust gathers inside the heater and sometimes gets loose and lands in/on the igniter and prevents the heater from starting. I certainly was not aware of this. I normally have an aircompressor with me, so next time I have an issue with the heater, that will be the first thing I do.

Lesson learned, and I hope this information helps someone else.

[B47]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

We are in Myrtle Beach, SC for a week. It is cold here. Well, cold for SC anyway. Low 30's, upper 20's at night. The first morning here I got up and started the heater. It ran normally. The next morning it would not heat. It blew cold air. I restarted it a few times to no avail.

Here at Ocean Lakes CC they have an onsite RV service center. I went to their shop and explained the issue. Within half an hour two service folks arrived at our campsite. They had an aircompressor with them. What?? They blew compressed air into the exterior heater outlet vent. The heater then ran normally!

Apparently rust gathers inside the heater and sometimes gets loose and lands in/on the igniter and prevents the heater from starting. I certainly was not aware of this. I normally have an aircompressor with me, so next time I have an issue with the heater, that will be the first thing I do.

Lesson learned, and I hope this information helps someone else.

Interesting fix,but I wonder if the rust they blew loose isn't going to cause further problems downstream. Also I would think that you should find the source or cause of the rust and eliminate it for a permanent fix.