All the RVs have been integrated into the vents to promote fresh air comes into the RV areas and remove odors, protect campers away from fumes or gases. The vents are defended with covers, but over time they can be broken down, leaked, worn out, or stopped moving fresh air as well since the vent covers are often exposure constantly to hail, rain, and blazing sun.
That is the reason why the campers should replace the vent cover if necessary to maintain air flowing in the RV. Luckily, changing the RV’s roof vent cover is an easy task for everyone to do. So in this article, I am going to share my own experience about how to replace vent cover most quickly and how to install a new vent in your RV.
Table of Contents
Choosing the Right RV’s Roof Vent Cover
If this is your first time to replace the vent cover, you should equip with the following important information to choose a good replacement for your RV.
Measure roof vent opening
If you want to install a new vent cover on your RV’s roof, the prior action you should do is measuring the vent opening. The standard size of a vent is 14 – ¼ x 14 – ¼ inches. Then, you can cut the vent opening from roof joists to set the new one.
Measure the garnish
Different from the cover outside the RV, a garnish is a trim piece to cover the roof vent opening inside your RV for a clean. Normally, the garnish can slip in a channel or groove on the vent, and it is connected with screws to the RV ceiling. This information can support you in installing a new vent.
Each garnish will have different dept or size so that campers should measure it to fit with roof thickness and vent model. Measuring the roof thickness from inside your RV, after that, you can check the dimensions of garnish.
Choosing the Materials of the Vent Cover
Currently, the manufacturers have offered two popular kinds of vent covers are metal and plastic. If you want to use the vent covers for a long time, you can choose metal lids because they are the most durable items. They provide a low profile, flat for additional clearance. However, they will block out the light when closed.
Otherwise, the plastic vent covers are designed as white colors or tinted smoke colors so the light can filter through. Additionally, they have a dome shape to allow water runoff and remove ice dams. Nonetheless, they are easily broken by environmental factors than metal covers.
Steps to Replace the Roof Vent Covers
Step 1: You need to use a tool to remove the trim panel, crank handle and the screen.
Step 2: Unscrew the crank from the crossbar. Then, detach the arm from the lid.
Step 3: Change the old cover and apply the new vent cover by sliding the hinge on the cover into the rail of the vent.
Step 4: Reinstall other items in reverse order.
These steps introduced how to replace the vent covers most easily and quickly. Moreover, if you want to install a new vent, you can follow these steps below.
Steps to Install the Roof Vents
Before installing the new roof vent or replacing the old one, the camper should prepare these supplies:
- Ladder
- Screwdriver or nut driver
- Marking pen
- Drill
- Drill bits sealant
- Jigsaw
- Screws
- Straight edge
- Measuring tape
Step 1: Design new opening or remove old garnish
If you are changing an enduring vent, remove the garnish piece from inside your RV. If you are designing a vent in a new position, make sure to mark the desired position for your vent. Then cutting a hole with dimensions are 14-1/4″ x 14-1/4″.
Step 2: Remove sealant on the old roof vent
If you are installing a new vent, you can skip this step and continue to Step 3.
If you are replacing the old vent, you have to peel off an old sealant around your old vent. Take off the old vent. Make sure to turn off camper power. Scrape off the residual sealant to clean a surface completely.
Step 3: Seal new RV roof vent
Apply sealant or butyl tape to your new vent location. Install the new vent into the hole and remember covering the entire holes. Screw into position with attached mounting screws, then apply a sealant over screws.
Step 4: Install new garnish
If you want to attach the garnish piece inside the RV, you need to buy a suitable size of the garnish with your roof. Otherwise, you can buy a longer one with your roof and cut it to fit with tin snips or fine-tooth saw unless you couldn’t find any items suitable with your RV’s roof. Screw the garnish in place.
Conclusion
If you are successful in Step 4, you will have a new vent and can start to enjoy the fresh air.
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Hi, I am Paul, a full-time RV, and digital producer. I am currently the chief editor of Riverside Trailer, aspiring to bring my experience on the move into creating high-quality content for beginner and seasoned RVers.