Forum Discussion

Itisme's avatar
Itisme
Explorer
May 23, 2013

Water heater screen(s)

Hello all,

FTP

I have a 2014 heritage glen lite with a 6 gal suburban water heater. I found a screen to cover the larger vent opening on the water heater door, but what about the smaller vent opening. Shouldn't it also have a screen over it?

This is our second tt. Our first one was a 96 prowler which had not been used in a while. Needless to say, the dirt dabbers projects had to be removed from the water heater and furnace.

Should the refrig vents also be covered? I've even read that the Ac units should be dirt dabbered protected, but I haven't seen much discussion about it

Thoughts?

Thanks
Frank

9 Replies

  • sljkansas's avatar
    sljkansas
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    I just found the screen your looking for 2 weeks ago at my local RV parts store. Yes there are 2 vents on a suburban gas/electric water heater. One is by the burner on the right side of the door, and the smaller one is on the left side. The right side one is fairly easy to find but there hadn't been one for the smaller louvered vent until recently (according to the part house.) I know I could not find it listed anywhere. I'll see if I keep the packaging for it, and get beck with you on the manufacture and part number.
  • slarsen's avatar
    slarsen
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    I used the screens shown for the furnace openings, but didn't know what to do with the water heater or refrig screens. I ended up using hot glue and purchased window screening, applied to the back side. It's virtually invisible to the casual observer. Put it on three years ago and it's still doing the job very well.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 24, 2013
    Whatever you use.......just make sure that those screens are kept clean.

    A lot of problems with furnaces/fridges/water heaters are due to improper air flow.
  • Itisme's avatar
    Itisme
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    On the second smaller vent opening, did you find a screen pretty close to the right size and use it, or did you find a screen made just for the smaller side?

    Thanks
    Frank
  • Chuck_Gail's avatar
    Chuck_Gail
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    My water heater ALSO has two vents. I covered them with two seperate screens from Camco, along with fridge vents and furnace.

    Lots of mud daubers here, but so far they've not been in my A/C on TT roof. Normally they like to stay sort of low I think.
  • Itisme's avatar
    Itisme
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    Here is a link to a water heater door similar to mine, which shows the smaller vent with loovers that I'm asking about.

    http://www.dyersonline.com/suburban-colonial-white-v-series-6-gallon-radius-corner-door.html

    Thanks
    Frank
  • F105's avatar
    F105
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    downtheroad wrote:
    I may be confused, but I think the smaller vent you are talking about is the furnace vent - not the water heater door.

    If so, yes, there are screens available for this too. They come in two styles.





    X2 - a good rule of thumb here is that if there is an opening DDs and other inserts can get in it and gum things up.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    I may be confused, but I think the smaller vent you are talking about is the furnace vent - not the water heater door.

    If so, yes, there are screens available for this too. They come in two styles.



About DIY Maintenance

RV projects you can tackle on your own with a few friendly pointers.4,397 PostsLatest Activity: Dec 04, 2025