Furnaces are crucial appliances, particularly in the world of contemporary RV enthusiasts. The Suburban Furnace NT 30SP is a relatively new market entrant that is manufactured by the renowned RV appliance brand Suburban. This has all the making of being a highly reliable and dependable appliance.
However, there have been a number of common technical issues associated with the devices noted by their loyal customer base. Below is the aggregated information that has been compiled to allow owners and potential owners alike to identify, troubleshoot and rectify these problems suitably.
Suburban Furnace NT 30SP Troubleshooting
A reliable, secure, and considerable supply of fuel is critical for an RV to function optimally. Everything from clean drinking water, electrical energy, and gasoline are all critical resources that are vital for a quality RV experience.
In the case of the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP, it relies on a substantial propane gas supply to heat a large RV adequately. Propane gas is most often stored within the belly of an RV with easy access to refill it when necessary continually.
To be used in conjunction with the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP, it requires a substantial regulation valve which is often connected to a labyrinth of fuel lines making it a substantial distance to fuel the furnace.
However, this is often a serious issue with the Suburban NT 30SP furnace, which requires a substantial amount of pressurized propane to function optimally. It is renowned for performing poorly with even minor pressure drops, which can be problematic for owners.
Fortunately, there are two distinct possibilities for fuel pressure issues. Most often, a lack of fuel pressure is simply the result of low fuel. Propane is stored in liquid form as opposed to gas because this compressed state allows large volumes of it to be transported easily.
It is stored in heavy-duty containers that are designed to contain the liquid gas at a pressure, which makes it easily accessible to appliances onboard RVs. However, should the supply run low, it will reduce the internal pressure of the canister as well.
This lower pressure is amplified by the length of the fuel lines between the furnace and the tank. Therefore, even if the propane supply is low rather than empty, it may still not be enough to power the appliance. Sadly the Suburban NT 30SP furnace is not capable of running at a reduced pressure rate like a more modern alternative.
Therefore, this pressure loss will result in it not functioning. Propane storage and utilization requires the installation of a number of regulation and safety valves as long will a considerable length of flexible rubber hosing. All of these components will wear down over time. Rubber naturally degrades over time.
This disintegration, combined with the ongoing exposure to intense vibrations generated by the moving RV, can easily damage the components and create a leak. Not only is this leak very dangerous, but it will also compromise the gas pressure the furnace receives.
Furthermore, the fuel system typically does not have an integrated filter to remove foreign particles that can create devastating blockages in the intercut setup.
Ultimately, the best means of resolving and preventing fuel issues with the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP is rigorous inspection and service of the components and ensuring there is always plenty of propane available.
Keeping on top of any potential problem will prevent any significant pressure loss that the furnace is ill-equipped to tackle, which means it should be the top priority for concerned owners.
2. Management System
The Suburban Furnace NT 30SP can only function with the use of its integrated electrical control system. It is a reasonably primitive internal control system that manages the vital mechanisms that allow the furnace to operate safely. However, even in its simplicity, its effectiveness begins to degrade over time.
Customers have stated that there are a number of issues associated with the devices management system, stating that it begins poorly regulate the thermostat and gas supply, leading to a number of unusual problems.
The most common issue is that the furnace will turn on, but it will fail to reach the appropriate temperature set by the thermostat and generally not turn on at all. Essentially, it will not manipulate the gas intensity when the thermostat is changed due to a compromised linkage between the two components.
Furthermore, there are often phantom error messages displayed on the control panel, which is unrelated to the supposed issues that are present. There has been a lot of speculation about this common problem occurring after several years of use. However, there are two key sources of the problems.
Firstly, it is thought that the control board microchips are made of good quality material, which is slowly compromised over time. It is an internal component of the furnace which means it is continually exposed to the heat source for extended periods.
After the intense heat, when RVs are unused over colder months, the board is then exposed to extremely low temperatures. This combination, over time, can make the motherboard brittle, as well as potentially melt some of the connection pins, which are crucial for instruction messages.
Ultimately, the extreme operating condition is enough to compromise the structural integrity of the board. Moreover, the primitive motherboard is comparatively low-tech compared to many market alternatives.
Although more primitive technology is renowned for being more robust, in the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP instance, it is considered one of the causes for these management errors. The basic coding is not particularly robust, which means it can become fragmented and damaged, which eventually leads to management malfunction.
The best method for tackling these issues is to ensure that the motherboard can run a range of functions and temperatures as part of general maintenance. This will highlight any issue with the system, which will demonstrate developing issues.
Once these issues begin to occur, the best course of action is to replace the control panel, as the repair process is more technical and expensive compared to the repair. It will guarantee that there is no chance of a damaged motherboard slipping past the repair process.
3. Thermostat Issues
In some cases, the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP has been reported to turn on normally but not reach the desired temperature. This is often frustrating for owners as there are often no clear indications for why the temperature is failing to change.
Poor temperature management or a failure to reorientate the temperature is often due to a malfunctioning thermostat. If the thermostat is unable to send an electrical signal of the temperature change to the motherboard, then the system is aware that it must alter its gas supply.
This will result in difficulty in diagnosing the issue as everything appears to be working as normal otherwise. Be aware of the potential for the thermostat to fail, and be sure to address it as one of the first components that may fail should the temperature fail to change as expected.
4. Furnace Heat Outlet
Poor Quality heat regulation and management can also be a result of a defective air outlet. As clean oxygen-rich air is passed into the furnace to supply the flames, the heat that emanates from the furnace needs to escape to allow it to heat the RV.
Provision made for this process for the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP is an air outlet located at the bottom of the appliance. Should the outlet be converted or material trapped in this small outlet, then it will compromise the heating abilities of the furnace.
Unfortunately, the outlet is often in close proximity to the ground, which means it is a common issue that is often resolved once an expensive technician notices the blockage during the dismantling process. To tackle these issues, it is crucial that regular maintenance is conducted on the furnace regularly.
This does not require a high degree of technical know-how, but a simple, thorough cleaning of the critical inlet and outlet areas of the appliance will be sufficient to prevent this irritating problem. Always be sure to let the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP cool down before you tackle any form of cleaning or maintenance.
Conclusion
Reviewing this article will equip owners and soon-to-be owners with the necessary information to take on the most common issues associated with the Suburban Furnace NT 30SP. These are generally considered robust and easily serviceable devices that can be depended upon on cold vacation nights.
However, there are clearly some critical issues that informed and diligent owners should be able to identify and resolve to ensure the best possible experience with their beloved furnaces.
My 30 sp blower starts fine lights fine, but then after approx 45 seconds the blower slows down to approx one half speed, stays that way for approx one minute then goes back to full speed. this happens when I first the heater in the morning. If you can give me any help I sure would appreciate if. THX Jay Johnson 928-455-1438