Screen wire on AC cover

[OldCoot]

Has anyone put screen wire on the inside of the louvers to prevent mud daubers from building nests? When we used the AC on our 08 Flagstaff 831RLSS in FL in Jan/Feb this year, we had a horrible vibration when we turned it on. Upon investigation, found a large mud dauber nest on one of the compressor fan blades. Would like to prevent it on our new trailer and was wondering if the screen wire would cut down the air too much.

[Witch Doctor]

I'm a old ac man, wire would not hurt anything, but not screening material that would cause a problem. think something like chicken wire. you do not want to cut down the sq.in's

[OldCoot]

Don't think chicken wire would stop mud daubers. But I could make a couple of alum. louvers or buy some soffit vents to increase available air. Going to cover the frig and water heater louvers also. Those critters can and do get into every where to build nests.

[roanmountaincampers]

Been wondering about covering the water heater and frig vents. Would it be safe to do?

[OldCoot]

Took the cover off the AC and just covered the area between compressor and condenser on 3 sides and taped the screenwire down with alum tape that is used on duct work. Should be able to use it on the frig and water heater also. Don't see it restricting air in any way. If it does, it will be easy to remove.

kb4srn, don't see any reason it wouldn't be safe. I think one of the admin. on this forum or the old forum did it.

[JimChow]

You can purchase wire covers for the water heater outlet. I would think that anything small enough to stop the wasps from getting into the AC area might plug up and cut down on air flow. Being on the roof it won't be too easy to check. At least on the refrige vents you could check them and clean as needed.

[LKicklight]

We have used the plastic screen wire material on the inside of the frig.vent cover, seems to work really well...and less expensive than the ones you can purchase..

[OldCoot]

Got some alum screen wire and covered the water heater intake & exhaust vents.

[B47]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Has anyone put screen wire on the inside of the louvers to prevent mud daubers from building nests? When we used the AC on our 08 Flagstaff 831RLSS in FL in Jan/Feb this year, we had a horrible vibration when we turned it on. Upon investigation, found a large mud dauber nest on one of the compressor fan blades. Would like to prevent it on our new trailer and was wondering if the screen wire would cut down the air too much.

dunnc - good idea for the AC screen. When we brought our 29rk, the techican doing our walkaround suggested we install screens on our refrig acress panel located on the rear of the unit to prevent insects from getting in there.

We used some fiberglass screening that we bent to fit into each opening and used hot glue to secure them. Works well. Makes one wonder why the RV manufactures don't do simple things like this for their customers.

[TURBS]

camco makes screens for about everything on your camper .
RV PARTS OUTLET

[B47]

Thanks - I will take a look at what they offer.

[OldCoot]

Covered AC, refrigerator & water heater for less than $10.00. Took the screen off the old trailer for the furnace.

[youroo]

Put screen over bumper holes as well,snakes & bees love the bumper caps. Youroo!!

[flyguy]

I just finished putting screens on the refrigerator outside panel. They just mount in all three slots and ty-wrap in. I think camco has them.

[myredracer]

I just bought the screens for the furnace. Am thinking of making my own for the fridge and water heater for the inside of the panels. These ones are so expensive for some reason.

Now I am wondering about not only the A/C unit but what about the fridge vent on the roof? Anyone have trouble with the fridge roof one? Nobody seems to make one for that. Or perhaps there is already one on it??

We get nasty wasps around here that build paper nests under things. Like the big one in a roof vent on our house when I was building it. I was 20' up on scaffolding and I decided to poke it off with a long stick. Really bad idea...... I hate wasps.

[trudinator]

Manufacturers recommend against doing this. They restrict the airflow too much. In fact, it says this in your owners manual for your appliances.

[OldCoot]

Have been putting screenwire on AC,refrig & waterheaters since 1976 on 9 different trailers/5vers and have never had any problems with the performance of any of the units. I cover the area between the compressor and the evaporator on the ac under the cover and it works just fine. I do not cover the intake vent slots in the covers or the outside of the evaporator coils. I just forgot to do it on the 08 Flagstaff 831RLSS and ended up with a major vibration due to mud dobbers building a big nest on one of the blades of the fan. About an hrs job in the hot sun removing the blade and cleaning it. Won't happen again.