RV Vent Fans: How to Compare and Choose

While a ceiling vent fan may appear to be the least exciting aspect of your RV, it can actually be one of the most important. A good RV vent fan can not only help to provide cool air, but it can also keep the air both clean and fresh inside your RV.

An RV vent fan can help your vehicle in a variety of ways. For example RV ceiling vent fans can help:

• Extract fumes, gases and even stale air from the interior
• Reduce excessive heat to keep your vehicle comfortable and cool
• Minimize condensation and protect against mold growth
• And protect against carbon monoxide poisoning

If your RV came equipped with a basic original equipment manufacturer (OEM) fan or it didn’t come equipped with a fan at all, you may want to consider purchasing a new, high-quality RV fan replacement. A basic “stock” fan can not only be noisy but it also won’t actually move much air at all. And by not even having a fan, your RV will retain moisture, smells and heat, leading to a very uncomfortable experience.

We’ve put together an easy guide to help you compare various feature options and choose the proper vent fan for your RV. Remember, everybody has their own needs and wants. One RV vent fan does not fit all. Determine what aspects are most important to you and your family when enjoying your RV.

Noise Level

If you’re someone who likes a white noise when they’re sleeping or doesn’t mind a constant hum, this characteristic won’t really be a sticking point for you. But if you want a quieter model, this is something you really need to take into consideration when choosing an RV vent fan.

You should determine how much time you’ll actually be spending in your RV. Are you going to be living in it year-round or using it just twice a year? You should also think about the climate, and when and where you’ll be using your RV the most. If the vent fan is going to be acting as your main cooling component and you’ll be in warm climates most of the time, you’ll be using your vent fan during the majority of the day.

While you may be able to put up with the constant hum of a fan, remember that the point of camping is to get away from noise and enjoy some peace and quiet. Most people wind up getting an RV vent fan replacement because the OEM fan can be incredibly loud and doesn’t move much air. The Fan-Tastic vent fan is arguably the best-known RV vent fan on the market and is a great option for those looking for a noiseless model. It’s known for being an extremely quiet, quality fan.

Ventilation

Have a pet that joins you in your RV travels? Plan on spending a lot of time inside of your RV? You’ll want to look at RV vent fans that take ventilation and comfort into consideration.

Your RV is similar to a car in that it heats up fast. If you leave your pets inside for a period of time, they can potentially be put in harm’s way if it gets too hot. To avoid harm to your pet or even uncomfortable time spent in your RV, you should choose a fan that has a rain sensor and/or a built-in rain guard or vent cover. A vent fan that’s able to provide ventilation in any weather is key.

• Rain Sensor: While rain sensors are a nice feature for an RV vent fan replacement, keep in mind that they’re prone to staying wet even after the lid has closed. The lid won’t open again until it’s completely dry. While this can be frustrating, it won’t necessarily happen every time and is a smart choice to avoid moisture in your RV.
• Vent Cover: A cover can easily be installed over your Fan-Tastic vent fan, allowing you to keep the lid open and the fan ventilating your interior even while it’s raining. It’s a great option for simple ventilation.

Cover Type

There are two types of vent covers available when it comes to RV vent fans: a manual lid lift or an electric cover (with remote).

• Manual: If you’re in the market for a manual lid lift, you need to determine if it’s even feasible. Can you easily reach the ceiling in order to manually open the RV vent fan? Keep in mind that it can get exhausting having to constantly get a step stool in order to open or close the cover.
• Electric: If you can’t reach the ceiling or simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to constantly be opening or closing the cover, you should consider getting an electric cover with a remote and/or rain sensor.

Vent Fan Power

Overall, vent fans for RVs don’t actually use up a lot of amps. These fans run off your 12V batteries. The most powerful RV vent fans will still only draw a maximum of 3-4 amps at full speed. When set to a lower power setting, they’ll run at about 1 amp.

Keep in mind that, depending on the size of your rig, more powerful fans will pull quite a bit of air around your RV. This is why some RVs have two vent fans; one to pull air in and one to draw air out.

Regulated Temperatures

Some RV vent fans have the option of a built-in thermostat. This allows the fan to remove any stale, stuffy air from your RV while simultaneously drawing in clean, fresh air.

How does the thermostat work? To activate the fan, your built-in thermostat needs to be set to a lower temperature than the current interior temperature. Once your RV reaches the selected temperature, the fan blades will turn off and the cover will remain open until you choose to close it, or it begins to rain.

Having a built-in thermostat on your Fan-Tastic vent fan is a great way to ensure you, your family and any pets remain cool and comfortable.