295 RL Question

[RecruiterGerry]

Good morning and Happy New Year from Myrtle Beach.

We have a 2022 MHC 295RL. For those that have one or similar front bedroom Montanas, do the grates below the steps, that lead to bedroom, have any function (return for the furnace?). I am asking because there is noticeable cold air that comes through those grates from the storage compartment. I’d like to insulate them to stop some of that cold.

What have others done to mitigate this issue other than camping where it doesn’t get cold?

Thanks in advance- Gerry

 

[DutchmenSport]

Your problem is not unique to the 295 model, but to every fifth wheel. Those grates are the opening to the underbelly compartment under your floor. Your furnace does not have a specific ducted return. Rather, the return is on the side of the furnace. That means, that grate is essential for your furnace to circulate air flow.


What you DO need to do is open the back wall of your basement area in your pass-through and every where you see light coming in from the outside, plug those holes and cracks with putty, expanding insulating foam, tape, or screws. Those gaps to the outside is what is drawing all that cold air back into the living area of your camper, though that grate.

It's important you do not block that grate and you do not want to prohibit furnace air flow under the floor either. About 45 - 50 percent of your furnace heat blows under the floor, specifically to keep things from freezing, like water pipes and holding tanks.

 

[RecruiterGerry]

Thanks for the quick response. My gut told me that the furnace had to bring air in somehow. Since I don’t see a cold air return, I thought the furnace had to draw in air somewhere. Thank you for the advice, I’ll check it out this weekend.

Gerry

 

[Carl n Susan]

Do a Search on furnace and steps. This has been discussed many times. Many close the step vents off during the summer (no furnace required then) others have made sliding panels to open/close the vents. The furnace needs air to heat. While the step vents provide a rout, all the open areas in the pass though compartment will also be used. That means it is heating outside air rather than already warmed insides air.

 

[Mikendebbie]

This is a sketch of my steps I did for a similar thread a few years ago to give you a broad idea of how they are constructed.

 

[jsb5717]

...
What you DO need to do is open the back wall of your basement area in your pass-through and every where you see light coming in from the outside, plug those holes and cracks with putty, expanding insulating foam, tape, or screws. Those gaps to the outside is what is drawing all that cold air back into the living area of your camper, though that grate...

This is what I did as well. I sealed every possible opening that provided air into the space behind the basement wall. I sealed above the basement wall as well. The only thing I left open were the vents in the steps. My goal was to make sure that the furnace was pulling ONLY return air from the RV. It made the furnace more efficient and totally stopped the unwanted outside air from blowing in through the step vents. I used rigid foam, spray foam, and Gorilla Tape.

We don't Winter camp but we were getting hot air pumping into the coach through those vents on hot Summer days...not any more. So the AC also recovers better now as well.

 

[DutchmenSport]

....

We don't Winter camp but we were getting hot air pumping into the coach through those vents on hot Summer days...not any more. So the AC also recovers better now as well.

Absolutely agree with this. That was one of the side benefits I discovered after plugging all the holes, in the Summer hot months, the air conditioner seemed to work a lot better, more efficient, and run less. That warm draft on the lower floor in the Summer and the cold draft in the Winter is all gone now.

 

[ToolMan]

My brother does sheet metal work and made me a cover for the cold air return. We also cover our floor vents in warm weather. This helps keep the air conditioned air inside during the summer. The cold air falls to the floor and out those vents so blocking them helps the a/c to not work as hard. I noticed that the basement was being kept nice and cool in the hot weather, this is what led to this procedure.

 

[jkxtreme]

We have a 23' 3901Rk that has a front bedroom and of course the same steps. I knew that area had to stay open to act as the cold air return to the furnace. Unfortunately, a mouse also knew that area was easy access and used the area as a raceway to run from the living area of the rv into the storage area. Cute little guy but alas the wife doesn't like sharing her space with critters so I has to trap him, then install screen over the grates in the steps so his buddies would find it harder to get into the living area.