Truma heater vent extension

[MartynShaw]

So our truma boiler/heater is under the bench seat and vents almost directly onto your legs when you are sitting down, which is fine. But when the bed is set up of course it vents under the bed, not good for cold mornings!
Is there an extension piece that we can plug in at night and have it vent elsewhere? I have googled it and found nothing. I thought of making something from plastic pipe but I think it will soften with the heat. TIA!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

So our truma boiler/heater is under the bench seat and vents almost directly onto your legs when you are sitting down, which is fine. But when the bed is set up of course it vents under the bed, not good for cold mornings!
Is there an extension piece that we can plug in at night and have it vent elsewhere? I have googled it and found nothing. I thought of making something from plastic pipe but I think it will soften with the heat. TIA!

Something like this ? Looks like it might just slip over the outside of the standard flexi hoses used.

Combined Aluminum Flexible Duct Hose 80 mm x 6 m - CFD080_6

Combined Flexible Duct ⌀80 mm x 6 m. Diameter (mm) 80 6 m long Aluminum/Polyester/PVC +3000 Pa, 30 m / sec Temp.: -30 °C / + 140 °C

sterr.co.uk

Mike.

 

[MartynShaw]

Something like this ? Looks like it might just slip over the outside of the standard flexi hoses used.

Combined Aluminum Flexible Duct Hose 80 mm x 6 m - CFD080_6

Combined Flexible Duct ⌀80 mm x 6 m. Diameter (mm) 80 6 m long Aluminum/Polyester/PVC +3000 Pa, 30 m / sec Temp.: -30 °C / + 140 °C

sterr.co.uk

Mike.

Thanks Mike, that might work if I want to permanently install something but I was hoping for a removable solution

 

[KNWH]

So our truma boiler/heater is under the bench seat and vents almost directly onto your legs when you are sitting down, which is fine. But when the bed is set up of course it vents under the bed, not good for cold mornings!
Is there an extension piece that we can plug in at night and have it vent elsewhere? I have googled it and found nothing. I thought of making something from plastic pipe but I think it will soften with the heat. TIA!

Do you know, or could you measure, the temperature of the air?
I wouldn’t have thought it would be more than say 30 degrees or it would feel uncomfortably hot.
Most plastics should be fine with that.

 

[MartynShaw]

Do you know, or could you measure, the temperature of the air?
I wouldn’t have thought it would be more than say 30 degrees or it would feel uncomfortably hot.
Most plastics should be fine with that.

I should try that but the air outlet is often too hot to put your hand too close to, probably hotter than a hairdryer

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[Lenny HB]

Do you know, or could you measure, the temperature of the air?
I wouldn’t have thought it would be more than say 30 degrees or it would feel uncomfortably hot.
Most plastics should be fine with that.

It's about 60°C if a fairly short run from the boiler..

 

[Lenny HB]

Probably easier to fit another perminant vent, then you can turn off and on whichever one you need.

 

[KNWH]

It's about 60°C if a fairly short run from the boiler..

Right, didn’t think it would be anything that high! (Got Alde wet system in ours)
If you used something like 110mm soil pipe as used in waste systems (don’t know what diameter is needed) then it is usually PVC (max operating temp 60deg) or ABS (80 deg) so should be OK
May be worth testing by holding a sample in front of the outlet if you can find something Martin?

 

[Lenny HB]

Right, didn’t think it would be anything that high!

I've measured it.

 

[Cush]

I just close the vents and it pumps out more at the other ports which just happen to be in good places

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[MartynShaw]

Right, didn’t think it would be anything that high! (Got Alde wet system in ours)
If you used something like 110mm soil pipe as used in waste systems (don’t know what diameter is needed) then it is usually PVC (max operating temp 60deg) or ABS (80 deg) so should be OK
May be worth testing by holding a sample in front of the outlet if you can find something Martin?

I'll have to try. The outlet would take a 55mm pipe. It is the only outlet, the other 3 are blanked off at the heater and the outlet is about 90mm from the heater so it does get the full blast

 

[MartynShaw]

Probably easier to fit another perminant vent, then you can turn off and on whichever one you need.

Very little space to do that, unfortunately

 

[KNWH]

I'll have to try. The outlet would take a 55mm pipe. It is the only outlet, the other 3 are blanked off at the heater and the outlet is about 90mm from the heater so it does get the full blast

A standard rainwater down-pipe at 68mm easily sourced and may be a more suitable size then?
Other smaller sizes of PVC pipe also available if needed.

 

[MisterB]

A standard rainwater down-pipe at 68mm easily sourced and may be a more suitable size then?
Other smaller sizes of PVC pipe also available if needed.

Or you can even buy flat ducting - it doesn't have to be actual heater ducting, most plastic extrusions would work. So long as you can turn the actual vent off when not needed.

Some of my heating ducts run under the van !! Properly insulated there is no reason why they shouldn't !

 

[Lenny HB]

I'll have to try. The outlet would take a 55mm pipe. It is the only outlet, the other 3 are blanked off at the heater and the outlet is about 90mm from the heater so it does get the full blast

That is a very bad install and they have not followed the manufacturers guide lines. With only one vent being used a high chance of the boiler overheating. I think at least 3 should be used.

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[Landy Andy]

There are many many fittings and air pipe on eBay. Alternatively get PaulandChrissy to make you 3d printed spigot that will slot into your outlet when required.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Having seen the install maybe a 90 deg slip in extension piece might work, but it might be best to take professional advice on the current set set up!!
Mike.

 

[Landy Andy]

This doesn’t look correct.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is this van a DIY conversion as the install does not look right as I said you can't just use one vent and there is a minium length for the outlet pipes. That outlet pipe is far too short, I'm surprised the heater is actually working at all.
I think you need to rethink the install.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

That is a very bad install and they have not followed the manufacturers guide lines. With only one vent being used a high chance of the boiler overheating. I think at least 3 should be used.

100% agree. Just one outlet isn’t enough. Best to add extra piping onto the unused outlets giving better versatility as to where you want the heat to go.
With the question of how hot the outlet air is, it’s easily hot enough to melt plastic cold water pipes if the run is next to an outlet directly from the boiler. I remember someone who accidentally left a hose disconnected , and the resulting hot air very quickly melted water pipes causing a horrendous flood. Don’t underestimate the heat coming directly from the boiler.

PaulandChrissy

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[MartynShaw]

Is this van a DIY conversion as the install does not look right as I said you can't just use one vent and there is a minium length for the outlet pipes. That outlet pipe is far too short, I'm surprised the heater is actually working at all.
I think you need to rethink the install.

You are right, we do need to rethink what was done for us by our installer. But I can't find a minimum length for the vent pipes. I am going to have to find more space though.

 

[headlight]

You are right, we do need to rethink what was done for us by our installer. But I can't find a minimum length for the vent pipes. I am going to have to find more space though.

My coachbuilt motorhome is 6m long.
My Truma blown air heating has 3 outlets, one into the bathroom about 60cm long pipe, and 2 in the lounge, one about 1m and 1 about 2m.

 

[Lenny HB]

You are right, we do need to rethink what was done for us by our installer. But I can't find a minimum length for the vent pipes. I am going to have to find more space though.

This is the info of the outlet installation, is says a minium of 3 outlets must be used and the 4th one capped.

 

[the2ofus]

Wickes sell mini guttering that I've used on my shed!
I intend to use some in the moho for an extra vent towards the front end. They sell it with various fittings for angled and straight joints. Although not flexible like the standard ducting, I would think that most situations could be achieved. Just putting it out there. Good luck

 

[MartynShaw]

So I've moved the truma a bit, fixed it down properly (!) and now have 3 ducts, a new inlet/exhaust, checked for gas leaks and redone the woodwork. The heat is distributed much more evenly and the original problem is no more!
Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

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[MartynShaw]

Oh yes, and provided better air flow in to the boiler as well

 

[Lenny HB]

Have you put a grill in the side of the cabinet to allow air to circulate it needs to be at least 150cm sq o the heater will not work efficiently and possibly overheat.

 

[MartynShaw]

Have you put a grill in the side of the cabinet to allow air to circulate it needs to be at least 150cm sq o the heater will not work efficiently and possibly overheat.

Yep, there was nearly enough already and I put another 2x 68mm diameter holes through to under the kitchen units, just need to add a vent to the kick board.

 

[cyberyacht]

Wish mine was more readily accessible. If I get a problem, it'll entail disembowelling the motorhome.

 

[Pausim]

I have never installed a heater so this is a question not a criticism but that one looks to be on its side, does this matter? I thought the elbow with the vent was supposed to be at the top to allow for filling and emptying of the water jacket. Standing by for an explanation.