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Old 12-13-2017, 08:20 AM   #1
ACFD139
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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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Old 12-13-2017, 09:13 AM   #2
bad99ram
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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.
Return air for furnace
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Old 12-13-2017, 09:31 AM   #3
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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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Old 12-14-2017, 09:10 PM   #4
ACFD139
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Can i ask what you use to close them off.?
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Old 12-15-2017, 08:34 AM   #5
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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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Old 12-15-2017, 09:18 AM   #6
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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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Old 12-15-2017, 06:43 PM   #7
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Black foam board for us.
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Old 12-15-2017, 07:23 PM   #8
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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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Old 12-15-2017, 08:29 PM   #9
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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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Old 12-16-2017, 08:02 AM   #10
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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).
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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Old 12-16-2017, 08:25 AM   #11
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 10:48 AM   #12
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 06:08 PM   #13
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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
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.

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Old 04-09-2018, 06:52 AM   #14
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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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Old 04-09-2018, 07:21 AM   #15
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Your solution is way better than when I used window screening to do the same thing.
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Old 04-09-2018, 07:32 AM   #16
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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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Old 04-09-2018, 08:00 AM   #17
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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)
There’s a furnace duct in the storage area but that’s a great idea!

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Old 04-09-2018, 08:28 AM   #18
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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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Old 04-09-2018, 08:56 AM   #19
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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
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Old 04-09-2018, 09:06 AM   #20
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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.
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.

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