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12-13-2017, 08:20 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tampa
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #20882
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Holes in steps
3791RD, I am wondering if anyone knows what the open slats on my step raisers are for?
I can feel cold air being sucked in when the Heat pump kicks on.
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12-13-2017, 09:13 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ishpeming
Posts: 214
M.O.C. #18650
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACFD139
3791RD, I am wondering if anyone knows what the open slats on my step raisers are for?
I can feel cold air being sucked in when the Heat pump kicks on.
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Return air for furnace
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12-13-2017, 09:31 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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It is the return air for the furnace. We close it off in the summer and open it in the winter.
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12-14-2017, 09:10 PM
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#4
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tampa
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #20882
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Can i ask what you use to close them off.?
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12-15-2017, 08:34 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ.
Posts: 1,811
M.O.C. #10552
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I closed mine off with black poster board got it at Stapeles or Walmart.
I never open it as in my rig the furnace has plenty of make up air where it is.
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12-15-2017, 09:18 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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They are the cold air returns our are blocked with Styrofoam . There is plenty of ways for air to get into these Montana's. IMO the entire RV is a cold air return.
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12-15-2017, 06:43 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Black foam board for us.
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12-15-2017, 07:23 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,597
M.O.C. #2283
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They are there for a reason. If you didn’t need them Keystone wouldn’t have went to all the trouble of making them. Close them and you will be drawing cold air from the basement and outside.
Lynwood
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04-08-2018, 06:08 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlh
They are there for a reason. If you didn’t need them Keystone wouldn’t have went to all the trouble of making them. Close them and you will be drawing cold air from the basement and outside.
Lynwood
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I rebuilt my steps this winter, and had the old "steps" completely removed. The furnace is in no manner, way, shape or form ducted to those grilles on your steps. I determined they are there as a 'forced' return. Meaning when the furnace comes on it is forcing air into the living space, depending on how long the furnace runs the possibility exists to pressurize the trailer and reduce the efficiency of the furnace fan. That said you can accomplish the same thing as those grilles by opening a window. The way these rigs are constructed the furnace will draw from outside and the basement area LONG before it pulls any from the cabin.
ALSO the grilles are the same size in every trailer they make, so every set of steps are 50% complete (the way they build) so it's also a time thing. They can face the steps with 6 pieces of pre-finished pre-cut 'wood'. Therefore removing the need for a carpenter.
Mark
__________________
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
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12-15-2017, 08:29 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Quote" Close them and you will be drawing cold air from the basement and outside. "
That's only 1/2 true ... the furnace still draws air from the basement and eventually outside to a point whether you block the step vents or not. It's just the crappy way the back wall of your main storage area is put in these dropped frame units. Heck, my bedroom steps have over a 1.5" gap on both sides of the risers that the old world craftsmen tried to cover up with carpet (and failed).
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12-16-2017, 08:02 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dieselguy
Quote" Close them and you will be drawing cold air from the basement and outside. "
That's only 1/2 true ... the furnace still draws air from the basement and eventually outside to a point whether you block the step vents or not. It's just the crappy way the back wall of your main storage area is put in these dropped frame units. Heck, my bedroom steps have over a 1.5" gap on both sides of the risers that the old world craftsmen tried to cover up with carpet (and failed).
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We are never in really cold weather the furnace rarely comes on.These things are full of ways for air to get in..
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12-16-2017, 08:25 AM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tampa
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #20882
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Thank you. I did not think it thru, of coarse the belly air would come thru .
Safe Travels my friend.
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04-08-2018, 10:48 AM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Valparaiso
Posts: 18
M.O.C. #17508
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I put a small electric heater that blows warm air in front of those vents to help heat the basement in real cold weather.
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04-09-2018, 06:52 AM
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#14
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #21263
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We were concerned about these openings being a superhighway into the rig for any mouse that might get aboard. Here was our solution, still allowing air passage but blocking Mickey from entering...
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04-09-2018, 07:21 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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Your solution is way better than when I used window screening to do the same thing.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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04-09-2018, 07:32 AM
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#16
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #21263
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Our thought is that those gaps are there to function as a return FOR THE CARGO BAY. In other words, if you want heat to the cargo area in the winter, you have to have a place for that air to return. So they need to be open in the winter, at least. This perforated metal sheeting allows the air to return without providing a gaping hole for the mice to enter. (Although if they get that far, I guess I already have a mouse problem in my rig, don't I? LOL)
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04-09-2018, 08:00 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuzanneH
Our thought is that those gaps are there to function as a return FOR THE CARGO BAY. In other words, if you want heat to the cargo area in the winter, you have to have a place for that air to return. So they need to be open in the winter, at least. This perforated metal sheeting allows the air to return without providing a gaping hole for the mice to enter. (Although if they get that far, I guess I already have a mouse problem in my rig, don't I? LOL)
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There’s a furnace duct in the storage area but that’s a great idea!
Mark
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04-09-2018, 08:28 AM
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#18
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #21263
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Yes, there is a duct. The air has to have somewhere to move to in order to optimally heat an area. A return (or in this case, the gaps in the stairs) allows that to happen.
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04-09-2018, 08:56 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,789
M.O.C. #14547
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Not being an HVAC guy can only make a guess at the real need for these grilles.
Theory!! Yes, they are needed when you operate the furnace, or you will end up with a positive pressure in the living area and freshly heated air will be 'stalled'. These then allow air to fully circulate and be recycled as partially warmed air to again be sent through the furnace for more heat and reducing the use of propane( ). At least that's my theory
Reality!! In the case of an RV which in many, if not most cases isn't well sealed. These grilles are probably not actually needed and with whatever leaks out through various gaps, access penetrations and builder mistakes would be enough to maintain a constant almost negative pressure inside, allowing heat to enter.
But with that said, I'll continue blocking them in warm weather and let the a/c keep us cool without losing any of that chilled air.
Disclaimer: This is MY best guess
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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04-09-2018, 09:06 AM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuzanneH
Yes, there is a duct. The air has to have somewhere to move to in order to optimally heat an area. A return (or in this case, the gaps in the stairs) allows that to happen.
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I’m sorry to disagree, there is certainly a return/fresh air intake, but there is no physical connection to those step grilles. The furnace will use more readily available air before it pulls anything through the grilles. They can only be a forced return if the furnace runs long enough to pressurize the cabin.
Mark
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