Is Your Heater Ready?

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counsellj
Posts: 420
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:58 pm

Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by counsellj »

As winter is rapidly approaching, many of us are reaching over and pulling the CABIN HEATER Knob. (No I don't mean the co-pilots finger, Wingnut!) How long as it been since you used your heater? When was your muffler last pressure checked? Was it really done at the last annual? Do you have a Carbon Monoxide Detector in your plane? How old is it? Do you know the signs and symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? If you aren't sure of the answer to any of these questions it might be time to do a little further research. I'll even help with the last one; Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Fatigue, may be experienced as a result of Richard's Christmas Party or CO!

In 2005 we lost a C-170 in the Portland, OR area due to this exact problem. Lets make sure man and machine are both ready for a safe winter of flying.

Link to NTSB Report
http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviat ... 090&akey=1




Jon "Jughead" Counsell
Safety Officer
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wabuchanan
Posts: 147
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2014 2:51 am

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by wabuchanan »

I have pulled the knob twice now. Even though I watched them visually check the mufflers at the annual it was not pressure checked. I was checking the CO detecter frequently and paying close attention to signs and symptoms.

Funny thing is, way back when I was renting I never gave it much thought. Now that I am an owner, it has been foremost in my mind.
1950 170A N5776C SN:19730
bagarre
Posts: 2615
Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:35 pm

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by bagarre »

There are some quality battery powered CO detectors on the market that alert and display the PPM.
It would be a sound investment and velcro it between the seats on the floor.

CO disperses incredibly even thru a volume of air so you can put the detector most anywhere and still be reliable.
The one I have alerts at 15PPM which triggers on long taxies and climb outs.

If you wait until you're showing symptoms, it's probably too late.
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c170b53
Posts: 2527
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:01 pm

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by c170b53 »

I dislike pulling the exhaust apart every year but since its an AD to check the heat muff, I do it. The cracks I've found are often adjacent to the welds and can be hard to see, so I like the idea of the soap check but honestly I just look very closely at every weld. The good thing about doing this check frequently; the parts are covered in anti-seize and seldom does the hardware break. When I look at a plane, I look at the state of the hardware to see whether this check has really been accomplished.
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
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170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by 170C »

I have previously asked about a source for the leadlike material that is supposed to surround where the exhaust pipes enter the heater muff. I am curious if there would be any issue with forming an aluminum "washer" type item to surround the rear exhaust pipe where it goes into the muff. This would be where the leadlike material is supposed to go?
OLE POKEY
170C
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2012-2018
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cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4059
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by cessna170bdriver »

170C wrote:I have previously asked about a source for the leadlike material that is supposed to surround where the exhaust pipes enter the heater muff. I am curious if there would be any issue with forming an aluminum "washer" type item to surround the rear exhaust pipe where it goes into the muff. This would be where the leadlike material is supposed to go?
Frank, those seals do look very much like lead, but I believe they are aluminum. I've seen them in a catalog, but for the life of me I can't remember where.
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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n2582d
Posts: 2808
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 4:58 am

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by n2582d »

AWI and Acorn Welding list them on their website. We talked about these seals here.
Gary
imncntrl
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:31 pm

Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by imncntrl »

I haven't pushed the heater knob in for a few months it seems. I never thought the heater did much, but on Sunday, I went to close the defrost vent to re-direct air and burned my finger! :oops: I've been getting concerned about co lately and not trusting the co card. I ordered the sensorcon detector. It's American, affordable and looks super tough in the video.
http://sensorcon.com/products/portable- ... fgodLG8OhQ
Jared N5786C
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GAHorn
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Re: Is Your Heater Ready?

Post by GAHorn »

The seals mentioned by Frank do not seal against CO. They improve the efficiency of the heater muff by reducing the loss of heated air being supplied. There is no harm in their being absent otherwise.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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