furnace making clicking/rev'ing noise...help! on vacation

Sscheitel · 08-15-2017, 08:50 PM

brand new Jayco Jay Flight with Atwood furnace.

We are in full 50A hook up. Water heater is running on electric...and we have hot water but all of the sudden I have this constant (for lack of a better term clicking although it is more of a rev'ing) noise coming from the metal part of the furnace....the metal square below the hot water heater. It sounds like the pilot light it trying to light?? but I don't know.

I turned off the AC and switched on the heat and the noise stops....the blower comes on....it blows air (not hot) for about a minute and then shuts down....and then rev'ing/clicking noise then starts again.

Turned the water heater off....noice still there....turn off the thermostat altogether.....noise is still there.

i pulled the 20A fuse marked furnace....and the noise stops.

Any ideas are welcome....

some things to consider...
- I've been running AC all day long (90+ heat down here in VA)
I have hot water so it must of just happened.

Oh...and I put the fuse back in just to see if maybe the system would reset itself...and the noise started up again.

Could something be frozen?
Could it be the thermostat?

Seems very odd since I am hooked up to electric and not using gas to heat the water.
I would think there would be no reason for the furnace to engage whatsoever.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks

Sscheitel · 08-15-2017, 08:51 PM

almost sounds like an engine turning over....

Sscheitel · 08-17-2017, 12:29 PM

plugged in the 20A fuse the next morning and the noise did not return. Going to assume that it was some sort of condensation build up due to the heat and constant running of the AC. Blaming the analog thermostat....ordered a digital replacement and will swap out when I get home.

vcbice · 08-18-2017, 12:05 PM

Is it the sound made when it tries to light the furnace/water heater? Those usually try to start a few times, then will quit if there is no gas in the lines.

Furnaces can try to restart multiple times depending on the furnace and the thermostat.

First, do the water heater and furnace work on propane? Try one and then the other.

Second, which one is making the noise, furnace or water heater?

If the furnace works properly and you have the AC running then I would blame the thermostat first. Blowing cold air is 'normal' if you don't have propane running to the unit. The furnace will turn on the blower first, a sensor will determine if there is enough airflow and will then allow the gas circuit to start. Pilot light is sparked/lit and main burner is then lit. If it does not sense heat then it will begin the shutdown. It will turn off the gas valve and wait a minute or so for cool down of the burner. Then the fan will be shut down.

If the water heater is the issue then I'd want to know why it is trying to run on gas when you have it powered with electric. Do you have both switched on at the same time? If not and the gas is still trying to run then you have an electrical issue. If both are turned on and the gas is trying to start then you might have a problem with the electric heater section, ie, the electric side is not able to heat the water enough so the gas section is trying to ignite. Or, you have a bad thermostat for the water heat.

And, in either case, you might have a bad control board. I've had to replace those on my furnace in the past, but, they were a bit old too. That's why you need to see if they work properly.

pamanc · 08-18-2017, 12:12 PM

Ours did the same recently and had to replace the control board (under warranty)

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Sscheitel · 08-23-2017, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcbice

First, do the water heater and furnace work on propane? Try one and then the other.

Second, which one is making the noise, furnace or water heater?

1st - yes / did that
2nd - furnace

Sscheitel · 08-23-2017, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamanc

Ours did the same recently and had to replace the control board (under warranty)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I am inclined to agree. Scheduled to go into the shop for warranty work...will let them deal with it

captjohnr · 08-27-2018, 10:40 AM

Can you tell us what was the problem?

Sscheitel · 08-28-2018, 11:24 AM

Bad board. Dealer replaced under warranty

ftnichols · 12-14-2018, 11:41 AM

What board was replaced?
Inline hot water heater working fine.
Furnace not working...turn it off..and the noise starts.
Turn furnace on..noise stops...still no heat.
Did you replace the thermostat?

Chubby · 06-13-2019, 12:02 PM

Did replacing the board fix your problem? We are experiencing the same and was told by Camping world that it was in issue with installation which they fixed. Still having the problem and its back in the shop. Still under warranty so want them to fix but tired of the time and run around. Thinking of fixing our selves as my husband repairs air compressors for a living if it is the board he is fully capable.

Thanks.

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