Stove NOT vented to outside on 2012 21TB

[RV-J]

We just bought a 2012 21TB and found that the range hood isn't vented to the outside.

Unfortunately we didn't notice this until after we took delivery from the dealer.

Pretty disappointing if this isn't a mistake.

[Dave_Monica]

That would be very surprising that it's not vented. Have you contacted your dealer yet?

BTW, welcome to the forum!

Dave

[Herk7769]

Perhaps it is a "ventless" hood...

[SpringerPop]

I wonder if this couldn't be considered a safety item worthy of a proper report.

Carbon monoxide is a reality.

Pop

[LadyWindrider]

Is it not vented, or did you not go out and move the tabs to let the vent be open? On the outside wall, right at the stove hood, should be a deflector looking thing, it has two release tabs in it. These must be released for the hood to vent. Make sure you lock them back before towing, or you will loose the vent flap.

[BriBoy01]

Following this thread as our new Wildwood 26tbss also doesn't appear to be vented. As in there is no exterior vent to unlatch.

[cardinal4fun]

My range hood is part of the Micowave, its an all internal operation. I can not remember when I had an RV that vented to the outside.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by SpringerPop

I wonder if this couldn't be considered a safety item worthy of a proper report.

Carbon monoxide is a reality.

Pop

The stove vent primarily to vent smoke and steam from cooking; not CO removal, I think.

There are "vent-less" hoods (some built into over the stove microwaves) that circulate the cooking air over stainless steel filters that trap cooking odors and filter smoke.

I am not a "fan" (no pun intended) of these because it is just one more thing to clean after every trip. (and you should because they will stink after a while and they get REAL hard to clean as grease and grime build up between the layers of expanded stainless filter.

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by cardinal4fun

My range hood is part of the Micowave, its an all internal operation. I can not remember when I had an RV that vented to the outside.

All 3 of my trailers had a range hood that vented outside. the only reason I see for not venting one (and there is a provision on the backside of them for it) is it is just easier to put them in without the vent hooked up. my buddy`s Keystone Outback is the same way.

There are at least 3 reasons why they should be vented 1. to vent the carbon monoxide. 2. to vent the heat. 3. to vent any smoke.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

There are at least 3 reasons why they should be vented 1. to vent the carbon monoxide. 2. to vent the heat. 3. to vent any smoke.

I agree, I want my range hood to vent outside but a properly operating
gas stove does not produce enough carbon monoxide to be an issue.

Many homes have gas stoves with no outside exhaust vent over them.
It's not code mandatory to have the exterior vent.

It's good customer relations to have the vent but the RV makers often
don't consider what's best for us when they make these nickel and dime
decisions.

Reference the recent discussion where dometic has decided to remove
the user selectable anti-condensation switch thereby taking the
operation of the battery sucking heater out of our hands. Recent models
require the user to disconnect a hidden wire in order to do any amount
of dry camping.

[BradinOhio]

Our last TT (Keystone Passport) was the same way...no external vent from the range hood. We didn't notice it until after we purchased. Our current TT has an external range hood vent, which we greatly prefer.

[myredracer]

Another reason for wanting an exterior vent is the smell that is caused from cooking. In the small confined space of an RV, some cooking odors are going to be pretty obnoxious. Even with an exterior vent, we try and avoid cooking anything with strong odors like bacon, garlic, etc. and mostly use the cooktop only for boiling things like veggies if there is no room on the grille.

Wondering - is it possible to retrofit an exterior vent? Wouldn't it just be a case of installing a new hood, cutting a hole (assuming structure isn't in the way) and installing a vent hood on the outside?

[RV-J]

This is not a case of forgetting to unlock the exterior venting -- there is no exterior venting.

We were supplied with the documentation for all the components in the trailer and the installation instructions for the range hood indicate that it must be installed with appropriate exterior venting.

It appears that Shasta (Forest River) is installing components in a way not recommended by the manufacturer of said components.

In discussions now with our dealer regarding who will pay for this to be fixed.

[SpringerPop]

If they used the word "MUST", it just might be a safety issue, after all.

That's the angle I would take in getting this resolved.

Pop

[F and E Damp]

The apartment that our son and his wife lived in after they were first married had a big gas log fire in the living room. I was surprised there was no chimney - the exhaust came into the room. When I queried it, he said he'd had asked the management about it and they said that the CO output from the fireplace was actually less than from the gas stove in the kitchen and that wasn't vented either.

At my suggestion, they put an extractor fan through the wall to outside that came on whenever the fireplace was on.

In the RV, your kitchen extractor fan will take care of any CO emissions from the stove. Just remember to have it on whenever the stove is burning.

[RV-J]

Just an update -- our dealer has agreed to fix this. According to them the range hood must be vented to the outside.

It is not clear whether this is a one-off problem from the factory or not.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by RV-J

Just an update -- our dealer has agreed to fix this. According to them the range hood must be vented to the outside.

It is not clear whether this is a one-off problem from the factory or not.

Surprised because like Herk said the microwave in mine has filtering for removing air contaminants.
There's a Fantastic vent within a few inches of the stove. It can move much more cfm than the "vent" fan can produce.
Finally I would think the less cuts or openings cut in laminated walls the less changes of later year delamination due to water ingress. The worst damage of all. I had a vent in the side and had to change the hood and door twice in 8 years as it deterioated.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by myredracer

Another reason for wanting an exterior vent is the smell that is caused from cooking. In the small confined space of an RV, some cooking odors are going to be pretty obnoxious. Even with an exterior vent, we try and avoid cooking anything with strong odors like bacon, garlic, etc. and mostly use the cooktop only for boiling things like veggies if there is no room on the grille.

Wondering - is it possible to retrofit an exterior vent? Wouldn't it just be a case of installing a new hood, cutting a hole (assuming structure isn't in the way) and installing a vent hood on the outside?

Outside kitchen will remove all those odors ! Lol
One of the main reasons we have one.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Outside kitchen will remove all those odors ! Lol
One of the main reasons we have one.

Yea, we know, it's really your wonderful wife's way of keeping your sorry rear out of the trailer and out of her sight and it's probably not just the cooking odors either. I bet she makes you do the dishes out there also.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Yea, we know, it's really your wonderful wife's way of keeping your sorry rear out of the trailer and out of her sight and it's probably not just the cooking odors either. I bet she makes you do the dishes out there also.

Half true!
I do 90 % of the cooking so I don't mind.
I do my dishes only ! Lol