mfoster711
College Station Tx
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Joined: 08/12/2006
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I was camping for 4 nights this past weekend and found out the heater was not working. We braved the first night and I called a mobile RV repairman the next day. I was a little hesitant using a mobile mechanic because I feared how much the charge would be for him coming out but he quoted on the phone that it would be $60 service fee, $80 per hour and he said worse case it might be a bad controller board that would cost $150. All in all he agreed when I said "so we are looking at maybe $300 worse case scenario" but he also added that most of the time the heaters just need cleaned out to get them working.
He came out and said the heater was clogged up with mud daubers and just needed cleaned out. He removed heater from camper, banged it out good and re-installed back in camper. Heater was working at this point. I paid him $180, $60 service fee and 1.5 hours labor.
That night the heater stopped working again. It worked fine until about 4 am so it ran at least 7 hours before stopping. I called the same RV repairman and he came out again. He said something must have shook lose during the night and clogged it up. He removed heater, banged and cleaned it out again. It still seemed a little clogged so he went to the extreme of using a water hose to push water through the furnace (he took precautions to protect the circuit board and other components) to thoroughly clean it out. I watched him do this and I personally thought "that sure is going to clean it out good". Anyways, he reassembled everything and put the heater back in the camper and everything was working again. He was there for at least 2 hours this time but only charged me $80 for one hour of work and no service fee. I thought this was fair at the time.
Well, that night the heater stopped working again. It worked until roughly 4 am again and then stopped. Exact same symptoms as the previous two times. Fan blows and tries to ignite but the furnace does not stay lit and get hot.
I called him the next day and his response was "well the mud daubers must have done more damage than we can see. At this point I suggest we replace the unit. It will be around $700-$800 for the part but I will not charge any labor. The only problem is that I will not be able to work on it for 3 days because I am out of town. You can leave your camper at XYZ place and I will work on it there". Well, I was not wanting to spend another $700-$800 with this guy because I was starting to doubt his abilities, not to mention leaving my camper where he suggested was not an option in my book.
So I am back home now and have not spoke with this man again. I do not plan to use him to replace the heater (seeing how that is 3 hours away) not to mention I found the heater for $600 with PPL. So the question that is bothering me is did this RV repair man screw me? I paid him $260 and still have a broke heater. On the other hand, the heater worked just fine both times he left my camper. The extreme he went to cleaning it the second time was very thorough.
So what do you think? Does this man deserve the $260 he has or should I be asking for a refund?
Note: I will be starting another post to discuss this technical details of the furnace repair/replacement. For this post, I am just asking if the man deserves to keep the $260.
2007 Ford F250 Lariet 4x4 Diesel
2009 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 30.5BHS
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
I think the repairman did his best for you, and treated you fairly.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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2chiefsRus
USA Somewhere
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Joined: 09/08/2004
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How cold was it at 4 a.m. when the furnace quit running? Maybe it is actually a bad regulator or an overfilled propane tank. When the furnace quit running would the stovetop work correctly?
I don't think you got taken, but I don't think I would replace the furnace just yet, do a little more troubleshooting first.
Dave & Kathy
2007 Monaco Knight 40PDQ towing 2003 Odyssey
Fulltime since October 2007
Before you give someone a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what will be left.
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brirene
midwest
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Joined: 01/27/2007
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Yeah, these situations are maddening. Seems like its working ok, and then another problem. I don't really see where you've got much leverage to ask for a refund, and he has exactly zero incentive to give you one. Had you continued with him, maybe you could have negotiated something. Sounds like he treated you pretty fairly with his charges for the second trip. Should he have done something different? Who knows; I don't, and it sounds like you don't either, and you'll probably have to pay someone else for another diagnosis. Sounds like he was working in good faith, tried to go with the easiest fix first, but it wasn't that. I hate when that happens! PS: pretty weird that it stopped at 4 AM both times...
'04 Jayco Designer 30 RKS Medallion pkg, Trail Air pin
'05 F350 6.0 PSD CC, Lariat, 4x4, Duallies, 4.10, LB, B&W Companion
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CREATO
Beautiful Harvey N.D.
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Joined: 12/17/2006
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Hard to say being we don't know what the problem with the furnace is. Being that the furnace stoped at about the same time if the temp outside was relitivley the same I think you have other problems.
I dont rent out space in my brain
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frogkisser
TEXAS
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Joined: 09/02/2003
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I once had a heater quit when the temperature dropped but would work fine once the temperature rose again. I called a mobile RV repair guy and he reset something and the next time the temp dropped it quit again. I was told I had bad propane. I had bought the propane from the cheapest dealer in town and was told later that the dealer was selling LP from Mexico.
I sold the 5er about two weeks later so don't know if it was truly the problem or not.
Maybe this could be your problem.
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marly
Yutan, NE 68073
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Joined: 07/08/2002
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You may have butane in your tanks instead of propane, common in warmer states.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-propane-and-butane.htm
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Where you on shore power or dry camping? At 4 am it typically is a weak battery bank in our old MH. 
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Butane in the tanks sounds like a good guess to me. Since the OP lives in TX it is very likely he got butane the last time the tanks were filled. Once it gets cold, butane quits flowing= no heat. Before I spent another dollar on it I would call around and try to find a dealer selling propane, drain one tank and refill it with propane and give that a try.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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Joined: 03/03/2007
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Only thing I see he did that was wrong was to bang it around and use water to clean a furnace. I've cleaned many a home and RV furnace and never ever used water on anything other than to scrub a blower wheel. I've always used compressed air to blow everything out.
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