|
QUESTION:How do trailer furnaces work?
This one has a blower motor
attached to the burner. It is older (Approx 1974)It is Natural gas.
How does this work with a pilot? How is it that the pilot does not get
blown out? Wher does it get the air from and how does it blow into the
exchanger in such a way that it does not blow the piolt out?
What is the proper way to service this burner/pilot?
I have searched the internet and have not found any imformation on
trailer furnaces-especially older ones.
ANSWER: Sounds like it may be a Miller MGC-80 or MGC-100 Power Gas
Burner. They used the same heat exchanger and cabinent as the MOC model
oil furnace. If I recall correctly, you could swap burner assemblies to
change from gas to oil. Some even referred to these gas furnaces as "gas
guns." The air was drawn from beneath the floor through an air
chute. The exhaust flue was a single pipe, unlike the concentric design
of mobile home furnaces now. I suppose the design of the draft tube kept
the pilot from blowing out while the burner motor was running; I never had
that happen before. Just service it like any other pilot burner. The
main problem I find is that on old mobile home gas furnaces, rusted
retainers, screws and brackets make replacing orifices, t-couples and the
like somewhat challenging.
Miller at that time was manufactured by Lear Siegler
of Holland, MI. The Miller AC and heating division was sold to Intertherm
which was bought out by Nordyne. Replacement parts may be a problem.
On a furnace that old, be sure to thoroughly inspect the roof jack,
flue and heat exchanger. Mobile Home furnaces are notoriously bad about
rusting out if the cap on the roof jack is rusted out or missing (very
common). Rain water pours inside the furnace and it's not long before
it's a duster. I would look at it as an opportunity to sell your customer
a new furnace if major work is required.
|
|
|
|
