Replace Oil Furnace

[chyz]

We have a 1973 mobile home which had an old oil furnace which did not work. This is a seasonal property and we have decided to install an electric furnace so that the home can be used during the cold season. We were looking at the nordyne electric furnaces....we had a heating specialist tell us that the duct work would not be adequate to get good air flow thru resulting in the furnace cutting out. Since talking to him we have been made aware of several mobile home owners with the older trailers that have in fact installed these furnaces without replacing duct work. The electrician that had originally been lined up to install the furnace said that of course we could install it as did the electrical inspector. Are you aware of problems others have had installing the nordyne into an older mobile home or do you have any suggestions as to what we should pursue to resolve this. This has become very frustrating. The models that we are looking at are Nortron Model 21B10M
Nordyne Model E3EB010H or E3EX010H

[chyz]

After reviewing the other posts in this forum and searching the Nordyne site I have answered my own question. We were looking at the E3 series and should have been looking at the E2 series which is designed specifically for mobile homes. These have a mobile home duct rated blower which is required for the small ducts in the mobile homes.

This site is very useful and will be bookmarked.

[Robert]

Hi,

Sorry for delay in responding, have 3 computers and lost all 3 in a 6 week span and two since Sunday.


Things to keep in mind for mobile home furnaces:

ALL must have mobile home rated blower OR you MUST replace ductwork.

If gas furnace, it MUST be MH rated for completely sealed combustion/venting.

IF electric, it MUST be capable of supplying 240VAC power to furnace, sometimes an electrical upgrade is needed.


MH furnaces are smaller in overall size, so be sure other furnaces will fit.


Can also go with self-contained or packaged units with furnace and a/c together outside.


We sell most all parts for MH units and some non MH units and have alot of info in the forums for all type MH needs.


Also, click on HVAC at top, then click articles for some good info on MH units.



Take care and best wishes,
Robert

[chyz]

Thanks for your reply...it was very helpful but we are still somewhat confused. Electric furnaces are not used in our locale so HVAC and electrical experts are not familiar with these units. The duct work size is 2 1/2" high and 15" wide. The old oil furnace sat on a T shaped plenum and odviously heated with this size of duct work. What is confusing us is that the CFM ratings on the models approved for mobile home use would require larger ducts to move this air according to the HVAC people we have asked. The technical specs for the E2 and E3 models indicate that they are specifically designed for mobile homes.

Is there a difference between a furnace approved for mobile home use and a furnace with a mobile home rated blower...ie. If the specs state that they are for Mobile Home use does this automatically mean that they have the correct mobile home blower.

What is the difference between the Nordyne E2 EB 012 and the E3 EB 012.

The bottom line is will either of these Nordyne furnaces work for us.

[Robert]

Hi,


Yes, if it is a MH rated/designed furnace, it will have correct blower motor.


Both the E2EB and the E3EB will work fine.


The difference is that the E3 is a newer furnace.


Normal MH duct size is 14" X 6" or 14" X 8" .


2 1/2" heigth is a new one and I can see how it would be a problem.


The cfm rating for the furnace will dictate the required duct size.

IF it is less than required, it will have to be corrected.

IF I was doing a correction/modification on an entire duct trunkline to increase size, I would remove entirely and redo with conventional duct material and size.


Then, you would eliminate the need for the MH furnace blower and could go with any electric furnace that fit in the space provided.

You could enlarge space also if needed in some instances.


I've been in HVAC for 29 years and do mostly MH work now and work online here also, but am not now and never have been an advocate for MH duct systems.


If I had to open underbelly and enlarge the entire duct, it would be removed and redone much better and more correctly than original.


They are too small and made of flimsy aluminum in most cases.

You would not regret doing that in long run.



Take care and best wishes,
Robert