Knockout in Heater fell out

[wbmiller3]

The last couple nights the heater had been making more noise than usual (rattling). I finally took the front grill off and found that a round knockout a couple inches in diameter had become separated from the heater case and was lying inside the heater, hence the rattling. The knockout hole is to the left as you look into the heater, right behind the grill. Through the hole I can see the wood partition that separates the heater compartment from the under bunk storage.

Now....is the heater safe to use?? I assume this knockout is to connect a hot air duct to a register in a different kind of installation, so the air going through this round hole should not be too hot (and there is no insulation between the metal heater case and this wood partition anyway).

But I don't want to be stupid.

Any advice welcomed.

[Bill]

Bill -

Check the installation manual, but I bet you are right. Assuming so, you could replace the knockout, and hold it in place with something like duct tape.

Bill

[Kwantau]

Or use the Aluminum foil duct tape as it is not affected by heat.

[wbmiller3]

Thanks, gentlemen. I replaced the knockout using metal duct tape rated to 300 degrees F. Should be good to go now.