keeping vents clear

[JoanE]

I was reminded of this while reading Melissa's advice about black water tanks. I had both electric and propane heat in my rig but never used the propane. Good thing too. When my gennie was being fixed, the service guy noticed screening in the exhaust outlets for the propane furnace. He asked me about it and I said I thought the previous owner did it to keep out mud dobbers. He agreed it would work for that purpose but it would cause a problem if I used the furnace; like melting, or a fire. We removed the screening material and installed two little wire mesh baskets over the holes.

All vents should be checked and cleared of insects and their nests. Especially your fridge vent.

[Acadianmom]

I have never used my furnace and I'm afraid to try it unless I got it checked. That would involve moving an electric sofa so I never have tried to get anyone to look at it. I don't know why they make everything so hard to get to. I hope I don't ever need it. I have a heat strip in the air conditioner and an electric heater. I have made do with that so far.

Martha

[MelissaD]

When I put my trailer away for the winter I get the blue painters tape and cover over vents and opening bugs can get into. Since the tape is designed for a clean release it easily and cleanly comes off in the spring.

[Deeann]

The intake/exhaust vents for the heater should always be covered with the "mesh basket" type of bug guards. Mud daubers and wasps love the smell of the propane and without these vents in place they will fly up the intake/exhaust pipes and into your heater. Once there, they will start building nests. These mud dauber nests can keep the motor from turning rendering your heater inoperative. Lots of rv places will not repair a heater because of the liability issues, especially older heaters. If you get a nest in your heater and don't know how to remove the heater, disassemble it, clean it out, etc. yourself, you'll end up having to buy a new heater and have it installed. Big money here. Save yourself LOTS of trouble: keep the bug guards in place over the intake and exhaust vents on your heater. I've often thought it should be illegal to sell an rv without these screens in place. EVERY rv needs proper bug screens in place regardless of where you live or travel.

[gingerK]

My first TC had huge mud dauber nests inside the furnace. My hubby had to pull the furnace out and go through it to get out all the nests. Some of them must have been there for a long time because he had a really hard time breaking them up. They were hard as concrete. My new camper I immediately put a screen over the vent. I haven't had a problem with the refrig vents-yet- but next year I plan on screening them too.