Installed Fantastic fan in kitchen and guess what?

Eaglehead

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
242
Location
Siloam Springs, Ar
Turned on the fan and felt air coming from under the butler cabinet, that's what I call it , so I pulled out the drawers and found a HUGE opening to the area where all the plumbing and duct work is located which would defeat the purpose of running the fan to remove heat build up as it would allow it to draw air from outside the boundaries of the living space. Here a couple pics of before and after. I just used cardboard to block off the opening which is about 95% effective. butler pantry storage cabinet.jpgbutler pantry storage cabinet 2.jpg
 
If I remember correctly, this is where the furnace gets its return air from, someone smarter than me can say for sure. Not sure I'd want to block it off for the cooler months if that is the case.
 
You could be right, I will call Tech support on Monday and find out, even if it is it is easily removed as it is only stapled up. Thanks
 
My 337 is basically the same as the 303 except a little more room in the kitchen and a slide out bed. I looked behind my drawers in the kitchen today. No opening.

I don't believe that large an opening is for return air. Very inefficient because with all of the drawers usually closed the air flow would be minimal. If they wanted to use that for return air, there would be a vent opening under the bottom middle drawer and a chase running to a smaller opening in the wall.
 
The recess below the bottom drawer has no top. It provides a
23"x 3" opening below the drawer for return air.
 
Yes there is an opening but that entire space I show in the picture is open to the pass thru storage, I don't see how it could be a return air. By design return air is supposed to only recirculate air that is used for living spaces and I don't think the pass thru storage qualifies as such. If in fact they use it for that then there is a serious design flaw. I'll be on the phone with Tech support tomorrow A.M.
 
Yes there is an opening but that entire space I show in the picture is open to the pass thru storage, I don't see how it could be a return air. By design return air is supposed to only recirculate air that is used for living spaces and I don't think the pass thru storage qualifies as such. If in fact they use it for that then there is a serious design flaw. I'll be on the phone with Tech support tomorrow A.M.

The picture that you show is an opening into the utility area where the furnace is located...that area is separated from the pass-thru storage and it is pulling room air from the living space from the opening under the middle drawers of the hutch. This set-up is very typical of RV furnace installation...never heard of a ducted cold air return in a RV. They always provide some type of opening, grill, whatever to allow room air back to the area where the furnace is located and the circulating fan's open intake.

Dave
 
Dave you were right, JD confirmed that is the cold air return. I'll leave the cardboard for now as it is an advantage in hot weather to not draw air from the storage area. Dave, check the partition that blocks off where the plumbing and the furnace is and at least on my camper you will find that it is not sealed off, it only goes up to the frame for the floor above it and not to the floor itself.
 
Turned on the fan and felt air coming from under the butler cabinet, that's what I call it , so I pulled out the drawers and found a HUGE opening to the area where all the plumbing and duct work is located which would defeat the purpose of running the fan to remove heat build up as it would allow it to draw air from outside the boundaries of the living space. Here a couple pics of before and after. I just used cardboard to block off the opening which is about 95% effective.View attachment 781View attachment 782

It is for heater return. We have the same on our Solitude. If you turn on ANY vent fan it has to get what's called "make up" air from outside to make up for what's going out the vent. This is usually drawn in through any cracks around doors and windows etc. and is either hot or cold unfiltered air. The pass through is climate controlled to prevent freezing water lines in winter. It also stay relatively cooler in the summer underneath. I would rather have it this way as it has a chance to "buffer" the incoming make up air a little so the interior doesn't heat up quite as fast when you turn a vent on.
 
I might as well pull my drawers out in a couple days and see what's there. I just repaired one drawer because the bottom plywood wasn't attached with staples on the back - so it bowed with the goods inside and fell out. Gorilla Glue and clamps to the rescue!
 

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