Jayco 26y Roof Electric Heater Flutter's and blows cold

[Tig]

I have a 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 26y. I love this motorhome. Just recently when I run my rooftop electric heater (I also have a floorboard propane heater), after an hour or so the blower starts to sound like its fluttering, like there is a piece of paper in the vent, and it starts blowing cold. Because of this it also doesn't shut off since the cold air isn't tripping the thermostat off due to temperature in the cabin.

I read up on some of the other threads, and most people say check the breaker or the propane. I don't believe the roof heater uses propane to heat, I assume its a heating element. If I don't get any good ideas here, I figured I'd put in a new heating element first and then go from there.

I am not knowledgeable with heating/ac systems, but I would assume there are not that many moving parts.

1. You need electricity - since it is turning on, I believe I have fulfilled this.
2. You need heat - If this uses a heating element, this could be the issue. What throws me off is that if i turn off the heater for a significant amount of time, and then turn it back on, it works for a while (1-2 hours) before going cold. Maybe the heating element is starting to go bad?
3. Breaker / fuse system to protect from shorts. Since it is turning on, I think this is fine, even if there is a separate fuse/breaker for the heating element, it works for a while so this shouldn't be an issue.
4. You need a blower/vent system that isn't blocked. Since it is blowing strong, I don't see this as an issue.
5. What am I missing?

 

[Kevin Cooper]

I have a 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 26y. I love this motorhome. Just recently when I run my rooftop electric heater (I also have a floorboard propane heater), after an hour or so the blower starts to sound like its fluttering, like there is a piece of paper in the vent, and it starts blowing cold. Because of this it also doesn't shut off since the cold air isn't tripping the thermostat off due to temperature in the cabin.

I read up on some of the other threads, and most people say check the breaker or the propane. I don't believe the roof heater uses propane to heat, I assume its a heating element. If I don't get any good ideas here, I figured I'd put in a new heating element first and then go from there.

I am not knowledgeable with heating/ac systems, but I would assume there are not that many moving parts.

1. You need electricity - since it is turning on, I believe I have fulfilled this.
2. You need heat - If this uses a heating element, this could be the issue. What throws me off is that if i turn off the heater for a significant amount of time, and then turn it back on, it works for a while (1-2 hours) before going cold. Maybe the heating element is starting to go bad?
3. Breaker / fuse system to protect from shorts. Since it is turning on, I think this is fine, even if there is a separate fuse/breaker for the heating element, it works for a while so this shouldn't be an issue.
4. You need a blower/vent system that isn't blocked. Since it is blowing strong, I don't see this as an issue.
5. What am I missing?

If you have heat for a while then it stops working, then the problems are not, the electrical heating element, the breaker in the panel, the blower, or the thermostat. So, what is left? There is most likely a small device that turns it off if it gets too hot. It could be defective, very possible. And then the rest of the controls are most likely a printed circuit board. That is your most likely suspect.

 

[Tig]

If you have heat for a while then it stops working, then the problems are not, the electrical heating element, the breaker in the panel, the blower, or the thermostat. So, what is left? There is most likely a small device that turns it off if it gets too hot. It could be defective, very possible. And then the rest of the controls are most likely a printed circuit board. That is your most likely suspect.

Thank you! I was trying to not get the warranty company involved, because that is such a pain to try and find a camping world that can work on my rig in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

I don’t think you are required to go to Camping world for factory warranty work. Go online to Jayco and send a message in contact and see what they say.

 

[Grumpy]

I don’t think you are required to go to Camping world for factory warranty work. Go online to Jayco and send a message in contact and see what they say.

It's 5 years old so he probably has a service contract.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

That would be a bummer! I won’t buy anything from them.

 

[hoppers4]

If it's a heat pump, the unit is icing up. Shutting it off for a bit will melt the ice and it will operate normally until it freezes up again.

 

[Tig]

It's not icing up. It will only run on propane. If I force it on electric the light goes to red. If I put it on auto, it will change to propane and work fine. I want to fix the electricity so I don't have to waste propane when hooked up to shore power.

 

[Grumpy]

It's not icing up. It will only run on propane. If I force it on electric the light goes to red. If I put it on auto, it will change to propane and work fine. I want to fix the electricity so I don't have to waste propane when hooked up to shore power.

You either have a Heat Pump or Heat Strip with the a/c unit.

A Heat Pump can and will ice-up on the condenser coils. RV units are not designed with an defrost feature that is why they are only usable in temps 38-40 or above. If you have a Heat Strip there is no reason it would make noise and shut off. Until you fully determine what is installed it's hard to figure out what is going wrong. Also the thermostat used with a heat-pump will only let it run if the temperature differential (actual temp in side the coach vs where you are setting it) is 5 degrees or less. If the differential is higher the furnace automatically comes on.

 

[hoppers4]

You either have a Heat Pump or Heat Strip with the a/c unit.

A Heat Pump can and will ice-up on the condenser coils. RV units are not designed with an defrost feature that is why they are only usable in temps 38-40 or above. If you have a Heat Strip there is no reason it would make noise and shut off. Until you fully determine what is installed it's hard to figure out what is going wrong. Also the thermostat used with a heat-pump will only let it run if the temperature differential (actual temp in side the coach vs where you are setting it) is 5 degrees or less. If the differential is higher the furnace automatically comes on.

X2

 

[Tig]

Thank you!

 

[Tig]

Now I just need to find out if I have a heat pump. I am guessing I do, because it heats the cabin, just not hot like a floor heater. It does seem to have the symptoms of freezing up. Very irritating...

 

[Tig]

Jayco greyhawk 2019. Brand: Coleman Mack not sure the model.

 

[Jagiven]

I added the heat strip to my Coleman AC. Love it. If you pull the cover, you should be able to find the model number.

 

[Tig]

Was this easy to install? I found a few on the internet for 70-80$

 

[DonC757]

I had exactly exactly the same thing happened to mine a couple years back. I was sure that a leaf, or piece of paper or something was up there in the fan area. I took both the cover underneath and then up on the roof the whole cover off and there wasn’t any debris in there. Strange. The next time I used it it was fine and has been fine for a couple of years now. I kind of forgot about it. I did install the electric heat strip myself on my Coleman and I’m very glad that I did. It was less than 50 bucks. Very easy. Just a couple of screws. It’s all pre wired. Just plug the heat strip into the wire harness that’s already there.

 

[DonC757]

I had exactly exactly the same thing happened to mine a couple years back. I was sure that a leaf, or piece of paper or something was up there in the fan area. I took both the cover underneath and then up on the roof the whole cover off and there wasn’t any debris in there. Strange. The next time I used it it was fine and has been fine for a couple of years now. I kind of forgot about it. I did install the electric heat strip myself on my Coleman and I’m very glad that I did. It was less than 50 bucks. Very easy. Just a couple of screws. It’s all pre wired. Just plug the heat strip into the wire harness that’s already there.