Sail Switch
Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 9:11 pm
Has anyone changed the sail switch in a suburban furnace? Any tips?
I recently replaced our sail switch. Turn off all power and pull the furnace fuse. Also turn off the propane and bleed the propane through the stove. Through the side access panel under the RSB, the furnace wires are located in a wire wrap. The wires have plug ends, so simply unplug the wires, noting how they are paired together.
Disconnect the propane gas line. Put some tape over the furnace fitting so no dirt gets into the line.
From the inside, go into the access door under the bed. There are access panels in the bed floor as well, but are not directly over the furnace. Remove the furnace cover and the two screws holding the furnace. The furnace will slide out of the case. It will take some jiggling, but it will eventually come free. The pipes that connect with the outside air intake/exhaust just slide over the exterior fixture pipes, so the fixture does not have to be removed on the outside.
Once the furnace is out, the sail is easy to replace. The switch is located by the fan, which is close to the wall, thus the need to pull out the unit.
Reverse the process for the install.
There are several Suburban RV furnace videos on YouTube if you want some visual information and individuals with more experience.
Be sure to check your thermostat. After replacing our sail switch, I discovered that the thermostat replaced by the previous owner, was not working properly. I installed an Emerson thermostat from Home Depot, just like the original factory install. Thermostat works great and is simple to operate. The sail switch replacement was not necessary.