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01-23-2017, 02:55 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Western NC
Posts: 25
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furnace air and wasps
I was recently helping my son with a furnace issue in a vintage Airstream. His furnace would not run correctly. The first thing I observed was a wasp nest in the furnace exhaust vent pipe. Cleaned that out, and still couldn't get it to run correctly. Ended up taking out the galley cabinet to get the furnace out. Then I discovered almost fully obstructed intake and exhaust vent pipes. Both wasps and mud daubers had built nests in the pipes. They had gotten in through the wall vent openings.
Checked out my 2017 FR toy hauler with a similar furnace. The vent openings were almost identical. So I made a screen of 1/8 wire mesh. (similar screens are available on line.
So my point is: watch for obstructions in your furnace combustion air supply, no matter how old your camper is. These kinds of obstructions will affect combustion efficiency, and potentially your health. Propane usage can increase, carbon monoxide will increase and the furnace will deteriorate faster (or result in a trip to the shop). Keep the critters out.
Here's some photos:
A wasp nest in my furnace combustion air exhaust pipe.
Mud dauber and wasp nests that I dug out of the intake and exhaust vent pipes of the furnace. Note the size of the mud dauber nests in the foreground compared to the size of the exhaust pipe behind them. Almost full obstruction.
The furnace vent openings on the side of my 2016 FR camper. Wasps can easily get into the furnace through these openings.
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2017 29HFS
2018 Ford F350 4x4 6.7L
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01-23-2017, 03:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BoCoMo
Posts: 2,784
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__________________
Brother Les
2013 Forest River Salem Hemisphere SBT312QBUD
2001 CrewCab F-250 7.3 PowerStroke Diesel
SuperChip, BTS transmission, 6.0 Trans Cooler
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01-23-2017, 06:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 197
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Les
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X2, if we did not have these on the vents would be blocked solid. I have said many times that we have so many daubers here that if the house were to burn and adobe version would still be standing.
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John & Mary Jo
Enjoying the adventure
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01-23-2017, 06:47 PM
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#4
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Akron, Ohio
Posts: 1,894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Les
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x3 You don't need to worry about airflow as the open area of the screen is usually about 125% to 150% of the open ares of the furnace tube. You should also cover the water heater grill as they can get in there too.
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.Write a blog on RV tire application RV Tire Safety. 48 years experience as tire design & forensic engineer. My RV Freelander 23QB on Chevy 4500 chassis. Giving seminars on RV Tire applications (not selling)@ FMCA Conventions. Mar 20-22 Tucson AZ
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01-23-2017, 06:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Posts: 3,225
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x4, cover the furnace, hot water heater and refer vent with screens designed for this available online.
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2017 Salem Villa Estate 395RET-
2011 Coachmen Freedom Express 295RLDS- Sold
2015 F-250 FX4
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01-24-2017, 01:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 365
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Vent screens
I have screens on all my vents, however I have often wondered about the actual Fridge vent on TOP of the RV. Is there a screen for THAT? It is large, and open and leads direct to the back of the unit.
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01-24-2017, 05:39 PM
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#7
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Akron, Ohio
Posts: 1,894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpac
I have screens on all my vents, however I have often wondered about the actual Fridge vent on TOP of the RV. Is there a screen for THAT? It is large, and open and leads direct to the back of the unit.
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If you pull the curved water cap you should find screen.
__________________
.Write a blog on RV tire application RV Tire Safety. 48 years experience as tire design & forensic engineer. My RV Freelander 23QB on Chevy 4500 chassis. Giving seminars on RV Tire applications (not selling)@ FMCA Conventions. Mar 20-22 Tucson AZ
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01-24-2017, 07:44 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 365
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fridge sceens
Thanks, that answers that. Is that standard on all of them?
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01-24-2017, 07:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpac
Thanks, that answers that. Is that standard on all of them?
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Everyone I've seen has a screen. You can buy inlet cover screen inserts for the low side access cover on your fridge too.
Interesting about the furnace exhaust. I've 'roasted out' a few nests before. A couple minutes of furnace operation pretty much BBQ's the critters.
Just don't stand by the exhaust, it stinks while cooking. 
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01-25-2017, 04:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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I went so far as to put a screen on the inside of the exhaust for my water heater access door where the heater exhausts as well as furnace and refrigerator access door vents. I had mud daubers in the exhaust AND the squirrel cage of my furnace many years ago.
Nary a once since
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2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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01-25-2017, 05:14 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Wasps are one thing, how about Stinkbugs? I take it not everyone has the extreme displeasure of having to deal with these illegal immigrants.......Yet. We're polluted with them here in western PA. An extremely cold winter a few years ago knocked them back a lot, but this past summer/fall they are back in full force. When it starts to chill down at night in the fall they come a looking for a place to hide and the damn things can get in the smallest crack you can imagine. Wait until you suck in and roast a few in the furnace. Keep the Febreeze handy. I bet I sucked up 1000 from the fridge compartment in November even with the screens. The covers for the furnace vent seem to fit tight enough to keep them out of there but I think they get through the crack around the fridge access /vent cover even though it seems impossible.
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01-25-2017, 05:34 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Farmer
Posts: 4,988
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp
Wasps are one thing, how about Stinkbugs? I take it not everyone has the extreme displeasure of having to deal with these illegal immigrants.......Yet. We're polluted with them here in western PA. An extremely cold winter a few years ago knocked them back a lot, but this past summer/fall they are back in full force. When it starts to chill down at night in the fall they come a looking for a place to hide and the damn things can get in the smallest crack you can imagine. Wait until you suck in and roast a few in the furnace. Keep the Febreeze handy. I bet I sucked up 1000 from the fridge compartment in November even with the screens. The covers for the furnace vent seem to fit tight enough to keep them out of there but I think they get through the crack around the fridge access /vent cover even though it seems impossible. |
We had a local news station do a story on a man a who made "stink bug" traps that work pretty well out of a 2 liter plastic bottle. You tube has several videos on those darn things.
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2016 Coachmen Apex 250RLS Ultra Light 2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn Sport 3.73 
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01-25-2017, 07:43 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tapex
We had a local news station do a story on a man a who made "stink bug" traps that work pretty well out of a 2 liter plastic bottle. You tube has several videos on those darn things.
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And they do work to a point. What I have found though is if you live close to farms and woods as I do you can not build enough of them.
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01-25-2017, 08:09 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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we use 'sink strainers' that you can find at any grocery or hardware store to cover the furnace exhaust, slip them in behind the exhaust cover and you are done...(you can also turn them backwards if you need to)
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The Turners...
'07 Rockwood Signature Ultralight...
two Campers and two Electric cars : )
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01-25-2017, 08:23 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
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Might as well add "Lady Bug" look -alikes to the List! They just "Lay in Wait" around Door Frames!  Youroo!! 
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01-25-2017, 08:56 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 621
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I was evicting stink bugs all fall. I have come to believe that they can fly through a solid wall.
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01-25-2017, 03:29 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Farmer
Posts: 4,988
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How about Earwig's :what:
__________________
2016 Coachmen Apex 250RLS Ultra Light 2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn Sport 3.73
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03-05-2017, 04:24 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Les
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I put the Camco 42141 screens on my Suburban Mfg. model NT20SEQ furnace intake and exhaust a short while ago. Today I fired up the furnace and noted that it was burning yellow and sooty. I took the screens off and the flame returned to the correct bright blue.
If you read Suburban's operating and troubleshooting guide, there's a bolded warning against use of screens.
I'm leaving the screens off and considering using something like a refrigerator magnet to cover intake and exhaust when not in use. It'll be a pain in the ass but less damaging to the furnace or setting fire to my trailer.
As an aside, the NT16 and NT20 do not seem to have an air control shutter for adjusting fuel/air mixture.
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