RV’s- that is recreational vehicles, double as vacation homes, getaways, motel rooms, shelters and primary homes. Yet they aren’t manufactured the same as a stick built house or even a trailer home.
If you purchased a new RV, you probably don’t notice all the tubes coming up out of the roof. If you purchased a used RV and have to work on the roof, you’ve noticed them, but their purpose may have eluded you- until now.
Different items in the RV need ventilation. This allows the inside of the RV to breathe, and allows airflow to the occupants. Without it, anyone in side would suffocate.
The Main Air Vent:
Most RV’s have an exhaust fan mounted in the roof. This pulls the air inside the RV to the outside. Having the windows cracked open allows fresh air to be pulled in. On a nice day, the air conditioner isn’t needed.
Many models are available on the RV market and can be purchased at an RV supply store or online. Some units run on AC power, others use 12 volt systems that run off your battery, and other vents are solar powered, which use the sun for free.
Choose a covered vent that allows it to be open in the rain. There are days when it’s nice to have air flow, but you can’t have the vent open because rain will come inside. Close the vent, and you have to turn on the A/C because it will become stuffy. There are a couple of vent fan covers on the market now that will allow existing vents to open in the rain.
Not every RV has a refrigerator vent and an exhaust fan. If yours doesn’t, it should have one.
It removes the heated air from the space behind the refrigerator where the coils are. If the coils are consistently in heated air, the refrigerator’s motor has to work harder. Most RV refrigerators burn out far before their time because of this.
Install one, or have one installed. It’s a small price to pay considering the cost of a replacement refrigerator.
These vents and fans are available as 12 volt, AC, or solar. I’ll always choose solar for free power.
Gas Vents:
Your propane stove and oven has an exhaust fan, which carries the odors and smoke to the outside through the roof. It should never be plugged up or clogged. When you cook, you have to turn the exhaust fan on. When you finish cooking, just turn the fan off.
Plumbing Vent Fan:
In a regular house, the main plumbing vent is connected to the main drain system, and goes up through the roof. It’s a pipe few if any, people notice. The sewer lines carry waste through city drains to a treatment plant.
In an RV, the septic tank is part of the unit. Odors build up, and can make life miserable inside. The plumbing vent helps carry odors out of the RV, and when you open the drain plug, it allows gravity to take the gray and black water out of the RV tanks.
As with the other fans, choose from AC power, 12volt or Solar power.
If you are restoring a vintage RV, consider the need for ventilation for occupants, appliances, and systems.
If you are one of those bold individuals who is determined to build your own from scratch (I admire your courage), don’t forget the vents. You don’t want all your hard work wasted on forgetting the basics.
Having the sun power the vents instead of my wallet is the main reason I choose solar. Tapping into the solar system’s biggest nuclear reactor free is fun.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects and more.
