Atwood refrigerator insect screen?

Just a heads up, Atwood was bought up by Dometic. Dometic announced that they are not contnuing parts support on the Atwoods. Once the existing parts are gone, they're gone.

I put on screens after the first time I removed the cover to do some maintenance and was meet by a swarm of yellow jackets. Only stung by one thankfully.
I have had no trouble with airflow on any of my units and summer in Texas the temps are over 100 degrees.

Where I store my trailer, there is only about 1 foot of clearance between the driver's side and a fence. I have to sidle through there pretty slowly when doing maintenance, which invariably results in wasp stings. I think I've finally gotten screens on all of those appliance vents. When I redo the roof later this year, I'll be adding screen to the AC shroud too.

I learned something new today, I had never heard of a fridge inlet screen. We've had several rv's over the years with either Dometic, Norcold and our current Atwood unit and never had bug issues. Could be a regional thing.

LarryJM wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Why would you need a insect screen over a fridge vent?

The insects can't get into the RV from there and any nest they build would be easy to see and remove. It also would not block the airflow.

But, that is assuming that you have one of those big roof top vents like my TT has. Maybe yours is different.

For the same reason you put them on furnaces and they are basically already on WH to start with (BTW neither of those have accesses direct to the interior of the RV) ... to prevent insects especially mud daubers from building nests and interfering with the designed air flow which can effect the designed working of the appliance.

IMO it would be a big PAIN to clear a bunch of nests in the middle of the cooling fins up near the top of a refer.

So there are at least my answers to your questions on why;)

Larry

OK, I see you point. I have had problems with wasps building nest in my furnace vents but, I have never had a problem with them in the fridge. Maybe some wasps are more aggressive at building nests in some area of the country.

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Why would you need a insect screen over a fridge vent?

The insects can't get into the RV from there and any nest they build would be easy to see and remove. It also would not block the airflow.

But, that is assuming that you have one of those big roof top vents like my TT has. Maybe yours is different.

For the same reason you put them on furnaces and they are basically already on WH to start with (BTW neither of those have accesses direct to the interior of the RV) ... to prevent insects especially mud daubers from building nests and interfering with the designed air flow which can effect the designed working of the appliance.

IMO it would be a big PAIN to clear a bunch of nests in the middle of the cooling fins up near the top of a refer.

So there are at least my answers to your questions on why;)

Larry

Why would you need a insect screen over a fridge vent?

The insects can't get into the RV from there and any nest they build would be easy to see and remove. It also would not block the airflow.

But, that is assuming that you have one of those big roof top vents like my TT has. Maybe yours is different.

I did contact Atwood who does not recommend adding screens. I did suggest to them that since insect issues are a commom RV problem that they modify their exterior vent and/or offer an accessory to address the problem.
I do have screen material over their vent when not in use.
Thanx ALL

Nutinelse2do wrote:
Fridge vent screens

I have had those for over 6 years and they do the job well and do not cut the air flow as the fridge works great.

I got mine off Amazon. :h