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10-03-2021, 01:40 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
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Insect covers over furnace vents
Given that many of us have had issues with insects nesting in our propane heater vents why doesn’t the manufactures of the appliances designed the systems to prevent that from occurring? They apparently recommend not to put screens on because it might decrease the air flow and thus cause a premature failure of the appliance. I say BS to that. What do you think a bunch of insect do…..ya….decrease the flow of air and cause the heater to fail. They should be able to design a propane heater to tolerate the minimal air flow issues that a screen would cause. Seems like kind of a manufactures’ modified planned obsolescence. Ive lost two heater to this issue and I live in the Pacific NW with minimal insect as opposed to many other areas.
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10-03-2021, 04:51 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester MI
Posts: 109
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Maybe they just don't want you putting a fine window screen (metal) over them, that might be reatrictive. I put the bigger mesh "bowl" screens that attach with springs, over my vents. I don't see how they would be restrictive, and they don't seem to have affected the furnace so far.
__________________
2019 Rockwood MiniLite 2104S
2017 F150 3.5 EcoBoost 10 spd 4x4
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10-03-2021, 06:09 AM
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#3
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I Break Everything
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lampasas, TX
Posts: 512
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Cover them or don't, we do. However if you don't you will find out why eventually people do and it will probably cold outside when you find out. Dirt daubers.
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2015 Georgetown Forest River 351DS Class A
2008 Keystone Cougar 293SAB 5th Wheel
2007 Jay Flight 30.5RLS 5th Wheel
2006 Jay Flight 29BHS TT
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10-03-2021, 06:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 587
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I use the bowl shaped screens and never lost a heater yet
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10-03-2021, 07:03 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Saint Cloud, Florida
Posts: 324
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I had a similar problem on my old fiver.
__________________
2018 Georgetown XL 377TS
2020 Jeep Gladiator "Toad"
CAMPING - When you walk the dog in your pajamas with a cup of coffee in one hand and a bag of dog poop in the other while striking up a conversation with total strangers.
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10-03-2021, 07:07 AM
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#6
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Part-Time Campground Host
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 2,187
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We cover our vents and have had no issues so far.
__________________
Craig & Cath
2018 2902WS Rockwood Ultra Lite (with tons of Mods)
2022 F250 Lariat Super Cab, 7.3 gas w/10 Spd Xmsn
Equalizer Hitch w/4-Point Sway Control
Days camped since 2015(retirement): 1264
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10-03-2021, 07:25 AM
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#7
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Cousins
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cboss
We cover our vents and have had no issues so far.
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I bought the same screen cover kit. The flat rectangular pieces for the refrigerator cover do not fit very well. I haven’t zip tied them on yet but need to install them soon. They leave little gaps at the ends as the radius on the screens doesn’t match the radius on the plastic cover.
If it has a little hole somewhere, a dirt dauber will try to start his nest in the hole.
__________________
2015 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf Limited
2011 F150 Supercrew Ecoboost Lariat 4WD
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10-03-2021, 07:51 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 2,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie and Catherine
I bought the same screen cover kit. The flat rectangular pieces for the refrigerator cover do not fit very well. I haven’t zip tied them on yet but need to install them soon. They leave little gaps at the ends as the radius on the screens doesn’t match the radius on the plastic cover.
If it has a little hole somewhere, a dirt dauber will try to start his nest in the hole.
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I put those on my refer a few years ago and used quite a few zip ties to attach. I thought they worked good.
Had cooling issues this year
as did many here . Ended up taking it to dealer who said that might have been a contributing factor
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2016 Flagstaff 27VRL Emerald
14K Equalizer
2020 Silverado 2500HD CC 4X4 6.6L gas 3.73
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10-03-2021, 12:39 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 606
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmittyCorp
Maybe they just don't want you putting a fine window screen (metal) over them, that might be reatrictive. I put the bigger mesh "bowl" screens that attach with springs, over my vents. I don't see how they would be restrictive, and they don't seem to have affected the furnace so far.
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X2. I've never had an issue with the screens restricting air flow. I just make checking the screens part of my daily check list, but even so I have yet to find a clogged screen.
__________________
DrLewie
Flemington, NJ
Former: 2007 Cardinal 30W LE
Now:2018 Arctic Fox 27-5L
2008 Ford F-250 Long Bed Diesel
Total of 30 Months on the Road Since 2008
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10-03-2021, 12:40 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,362
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Screens
I spoke to Suburban techs @ the FROG rally. He said it does restrict air flow slightly and Axcel/Suburban does not recommend, but if it were his trailer he would put them on. It is more critical on the Insta heat heaters, 60K BTU VS 25K on the standard heaters. I have on. my Insta hot, no problem.
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10-03-2021, 01:04 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 285
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In 50 years of RVing, we have never had a failure, all my outside vents are screened. And that's operating from Alaska to Fl. to Texas coast to the East coast and now middle Tennessee. Your choice.
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10-03-2021, 01:50 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 63
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Screen Advantage
One of the things I like about the screens is that they are on the outside of the body, that lets you see if anyone is trying to build a nest or crawl inside. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't think about checking as often as I should If I had to open a door or cover to check. 
__________________
Paul & Sherida Hodel and Coco Chanel, the Chocolate Cockapoo and the family's prized possession!
New TT: 2021 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2608BS, 570 watts of solar + 300 AH of Battle Borne lithium batteries.
TV: 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500
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10-03-2021, 05:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 170
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Short and sweet, if you dont have insect covers, get them ASAP, you'll eventually regret it if you don't...
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10-03-2021, 05:29 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Spring Valley OH
Posts: 831
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This past 7 days we have been experiencing the annual invasion of Shield Bugs, aka Stink Bugs. They get into virtually everything. The screens are a must here in Ohio. We've also had lots of wasps all summer long. I suggest the round screens on Suburban heaters. The rectangular ones are a little too big and rest on the paint instead of the stainless steel exhaust plate. Too much potential for rubbing through the paint.
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2018 Berkshire 38A
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10-03-2021, 05:57 PM
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#15
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Camping with Labs
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Jarrettsville, MD
Posts: 261
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vince and Charlette
This past 7 days we have been experiencing the annual invasion of Shield Bugs, aka Stink Bugs. They get into virtually everything. The screens are a must here in Ohio. We've also had lots of wasps all summer long. I suggest the round screens on Suburban heaters. The rectangular ones are a little too big and rest on the paint instead of the stainless steel exhaust plate. Too much potential for rubbing through the paint.
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X2 in MD! Have used the screens for years with no issues.
__________________
Chris, Paula, & camping Labs, Shasta (RIP 8/10/20) & Cammie
2005 Yukon XL 2500 with 8.1 Engine, Allison Transmission, and 3.73 Axle Ratio
2019 Rockwood Signature 8335BSS with Hensley Arrow Hitch
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10-03-2021, 06:12 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 831
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There is a very good reason why the screens are not supplied by the manufacturer, and YOU Should Know What It Is…. IT MAKES THE MANUFACTURER LIABLE IN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE ADEQUATE AIRFLOW TO THE APPLIANCE WAS REDUCED. There were a lot of those lawsuits back in the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s ….. don’t you remember??? (Do you ever research anything???) By making it so YOU, the Consumer has to buy the screen, it places the liability on YOU!!!! That includes death and disfigurement…. If you read the labels on the screens, there are warnings about their use, which you agree to ignore when you install them. Now…. I have them… have had them for years with no problem…. however, I am always conscious of the fact that if a fire starts… it is my fault because I read the warnings and went ahead to use the product.
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10-03-2021, 08:32 PM
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#17
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New to FR. Old to TT
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SW MI.
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BootsIshere
Given that many of us have had issues with insects nesting in our propane heater vents why doesn’t the manufactures of the appliances designed the systems to prevent that from occurring? They apparently recommend not to put screens on because it might decrease the air flow and thus cause a premature failure of the appliance. I say BS to that. What do you think a bunch of insect do…..ya….decrease the flow of air and cause the heater to fail. They should be able to design a propane heater to tolerate the minimal air flow issues that a screen would cause. Seems like kind of a manufactures’ modified planned obsolescence. Ive lost two heater to this issue and I live in the Pacific NW with minimal insect as opposed to many other areas.
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I had to put the screens on to stop birds from buildi g nests, luckily I saw one fly out and investigated. The bird had built it's nest all the way in the blower, what a pain to get everything out.
__________________
2018 GMC 2500 Denali HD ,Duramax with Allison trans.
2019 Cedar Creek 36ck2
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10-04-2021, 08:12 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Spring Valley OH
Posts: 831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tall frog
I had to put the screens on to stop birds from buildi g nests, luckily I saw one fly out and investigated. The bird had built it's nest all the way in the blower, what a pain to get everything out.
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Is there a professional cover that could go over blower intake? My homemade screens don’t stay on. (I have a bright red “Remove before flight” tag on my dash panel so I don’t make the very costly mistake of forgetting to remove it.)
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2018 Berkshire 38A
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10-04-2021, 01:59 PM
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#19
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AKA: 'tiredTeacher
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Villagerjjm
There is a very good reason why the screens are not supplied by the manufacturer,..
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Every time I read one of those warnings, I ask myself if it was put on by an engineer or a lawyer. 
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
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10-04-2021, 06:21 PM
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#20
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New to FR. Old to TT
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SW MI.
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vince and Charlette
Is there a professional cover that could go over blower intake? My homemade screens don’t stay on. (I have a bright red “Remove before flight” tag on my dash panel so I don’t make the very costly mistake of forgetting to remove it.)
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As others have talked about the round, domed screens that are on Amazon. I have traveled lots and lots of miles without losing one yet.
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