Return Air on a 3400RL - Montana Owners Club

lawrenceb42106 · 12-21-2006, 03:32 PM

Was checking why not getting a lot of air flow out of the heat registers. Real strong in bedroom and weak in the rest of the unit. Got to checking in the storage compartment and found that the cover hiding the pump and furnace. It is open at the top therefore drawing return air in the storage compartment plus inside the living area. Has anybody else noticed this? Was thinking about sealing it off in the storage compartment. What do you all think?

JimF · 12-21-2006, 03:42 PM

I equalized the air flow in our 3400 by putting in adjustable floor louvers (Lowe's) We keep the bedroom closed and it smoothes out the flow to the other three. As for blocking off the air flow to the compartment area, this is part of your setup to keep the lines from freezing in that area, not sure it's a good idea... I one way louver in back of the 1st step in the hallway would also be a great improvement...

noneck · 12-21-2006, 11:43 PM

Larry, No idea what your 3400RL has for configuration. Just keep in mind the furnace has a basic design criteria where it can manage a small range of plenum static pressure. This is further sensorized by a flow switch on the outlet side of the unit to prevent over-heating the heat exchanger. Any changes you attempt you should be aware that it might create a condition where it shuts off on you. I think others have installed adjustable floor louvers like JimF to ballance the flow...and yes you need to let some flow go to the underbelly to keep pipes/tanks from freezing.
Chuck

Mudchief · 12-22-2006, 01:33 AM

Larry, I have noticed the same thing and plan to seal it off as well as add more insulation. That is what causes the cold draft coming from under the stair steps. The furnace draws it's air from the inside of the unit by way of the opening under the stairs so sealing around the top of that panel will not affect the furnace operation. The duct work that supplies the bed room is what heats the basement.

sreigle · 12-22-2006, 01:16 PM

Dennis, I'm not sure if the 2005 has the return under the step or not, like yours and mine do. Larry?

I also installed adjustable louvers and shut down the one in the bedroom. It wouldn't stay shut well so I put some foamboard inside the louvers to block off 2/3 of that register. It helps considerably but I'd still like more airflow downstairs than we're getting. It's good enough that it kept us warm at 8 degrees F but I'd think the furnace would run less if there were more airflow in the rear section where the thermostat is located.

JimF · 12-22-2006, 05:21 PM

8 degrees, wow, why aren't you in south somewhere where it's 58 or 68. I get down to 60 and start heading south for a warmer climate... goodness gracious...

lawrenceb42106 · 12-22-2006, 05:38 PM

Steve

Yes the 2005 has a return under the bottom step. I also have the register in the bedroom 2/3 blocked off. I still need more air in the living area. The one by the entrance door has very little air coming out of it. May have to do as some of you suggested and put adjustable louvers in. Thanks for the replies.

Parrothead · 12-23-2006, 05:38 AM

Only the late 2005's 3400s have the return air under the steps. The early 2005's have it in the kitchen. It was one of those mid year changes. I think it was changed at about the same time the placement of the toilet was changed.
Happy trails...................

sreigle · 12-25-2006, 03:51 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by JimF

8 degrees, wow, why aren't you in south somewhere where it's 58 or 68. I get down to 60 and start heading south for a warmer climate... goodness gracious...

Alas, Jim, we have failed miserably in attempting to get at least one of our kids to take our grandkids and move somewhere warmer... And where the kids and grandkids are is where we will be for the holidays.

This was a very mild Nov/Dec, more like what I remember from when we used to live in this area year round. The prior three Nov/Dec were far colder and wetter. Last year we had ten or eleven days where it never got above 14 and the lowest low was 5 below. And we had 12 inches of snow on the ground for the duration. This was a much better winter!

We head SE in two days!

Sue, I guess they changed it back. Ours has it under the steps. I wonder why the switch. Sue, I think your furnace is located in the peninsula, isn't it? Ours is forward from the pantry, aft of the convenience center. So that's probably the reason the return air moved around.

dsprik · 12-27-2006, 04:42 PM

Steve, you're heading SE??? I thought you guys headed to the RGV? Isn't that SW of you?

We are getting cold here tonight... 45. May have to run a little propane. Not much, though. Then next few days getting back to where Cheryl likes it - 73, 80, 80, 77. "Pool days" she calls them...

My furnace runs just fine as is. I haven't gotten the louvered vent covers yet. Just throw a pillow sham over the BR vent to keep it cooler there at night. JimF, I was thinking of that one way louver set up (like a dryer vent) under that first step also. I would probably not do anything until I was in danger of spending some time in actual "cold" weather. Ave temps here for this time of year is 72/51. Furnace is not overused here...

JimF · 12-28-2006, 04:35 AM

Dave, we are in cold weather, at least to me, it go down to 50 last night.. Time to head further south... Burrrrrrr.. Soon as this blankety blank stick house sells we are heading to Key West... I did cold weather for 50 plus years of my life, now it's warm or head further south..

Ozz · 12-28-2006, 04:53 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by lawrenceb42106

Was checking why not getting a lot of air flow out of the heat registers. Real strong in bedroom and weak in the rest of the unit. Got to checking in the storage compartment and found that the cover hiding the pump and furnace. It is open at the top therefore drawing return air in the storage compartment plus inside the living area. Has anybody else noticed this? Was thinking about sealing it off in the storage compartment. What do you all think?

Hi Larry,
Don't worry about the space in the basement, as soon as the air equalizes, it is a moot point. There are seals around the 2 side doors, the front bulkhead is sealed, so after 2 minutes or so, you are just pulling from the living space.
Have a goodun!
Ozz

dsprik · 12-29-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by JimF

Dave, we are in cold weather, at least to me, it go down to 50 last night.. Time to head further south... Burrrrrrr.. Soon as this blankety blank stick house sells we are heading to Key West... I did cold weather for 50 plus years of my life, now it's warm or head further south..

Jim, I feel your pain. On both the blankety blank house not selling, and the cold weather after 50+ years...

JimF · 12-29-2006, 11:47 AM

Dave, was thinking about posting a picture of my unit on MOC, then decided to save my time and just reference yours..sure looks like mine, so that's close enough.

I see your in FL, we lived in Palm Bay until we were hurricaned out a couple of years ago, we should have just stayed.

dsprik · 12-29-2006, 01:06 PM

Always happens that way, Jim. Great weather here now... Record temps expected actually.

Old GI · 12-30-2006, 03:25 AM

The weather guessers just said it will be 81 degrees here in Palm Bay today, when Mama gets back from shopping we will put the boat in the Indian river for a little fishing.

JimF · 12-30-2006, 10:03 AM

sounds like a dig to me.. 81 sounds good right about now.

sreigle · 01-06-2007, 02:47 PM

Dsprik, we did the RGV last winter. This winter it's the east coast. Next winter is Arizona (most likely). The year after that is Vicki's turn to choose, as is this year. She chooses beach. I pick desert.

dsprik · 01-07-2007, 03:53 PM

Steve, beach and desert are the same thing. Just have to walk further to get wet with the one...

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