My first major “mod!”
After returning from a quick trip to Walmart to pick up a carbon monoxide detector, I put Bridget and Spike in their pen. Before long Chip of Bakers RV Service drives up in his white pick-up. A quick hello to me and the crew, and he sets to work. Yesterday we decided that it would not be a good idea to have a seat cushion directly above the heater. Okay with me. I need storage more than seating. White plastic drawers go above the heater, set back enough to be safe. They look nice there and so handy!
I clear off the bench seat area and Chip opens the compartment.
Propane line to heater with shut-off valve
What does he see?
A copper propane line! Great! (This is the line that supplies propane to the refrigerator.)
Chip cuts the line to attach the tubing for the heater, along with a shut-off valve (red).
Next he drills three holes through the fiberglass so the heater can be attached by three screws.
Chip positions the heater on the fiberglass.
Then he drills a larger hole for the flexible tubing (yellow) going from the heater to the copper line inside the bench. He finishes the job by using silicone to fill in the space between the flexible tubing and the fiberglass.
- The alarm is loud enough to raise the dead!
Next he affixes the carbon monoxide detector to the fiberglass section above the heater near the ceiling.
He has enough foresight to mount it low so there’s enough room to slide up the front piece to replace batteries!
It has a lighted window displaying the amount of CO it detects.
Meanwhile I’m studying the instruction manual on how to operate my new Wave 3 catalytic heater.
Chip cleans up the area and asks me if I’m ready to start it.
Now we have heat without shore power!
He demonstrates the steps and explains what I should expect at each step. Ooh, it heats up fast. The pad turns a reddish glow. Then he has me say the steps back to him. He even reads aloud the steps in the manual and tells me to review the manual again before each lighting.
I pay Chip, we shake hands, and as he walks to his truck, he tells me, “Try it out and let me know if you have any questions or problems.”
I let the crew in after Chip leaves. Bridget gives me her poor-little-ol-me look because she had to be in the pen so long. Spike gets something to eat.
The cost of the heater was $192.50 through amazon.com. Installation labor and parts amounted to $130. So the total cost . . . $322.50!
I sent back the black cover for the heater. I don’t have the white replacement cover yet, so as soon as the heater cools off, I’ll tape something over it to protect the pad.
I’m so happy to finally have my heater installed!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 