Convection/microwave oven external venting

[Ge01]

Had my dealer cut a hole in my 2023 Quantum and install a vent so the hot air would exhaust outside. Im on a current RV trip and turned on the microwave only to find the air is still exhausting inside the RV. I went outside to stick my hand up in the vent and try to feel air. None. I contacted the dealer and was told this:

Good afternoon,

What you are touching underneath that flap is a baffle that directs the air down and back up out of the vent. Its a metal plate designed to prevent back draft.

Its not just a direct hole from the oven to the outside of the RV.

This is also an exhaust vent.
Meaning there is no forced induction for the air flow.

By the time the hot air rises through the duct, up the baffle and actually exits the RV you most likely will not be able to feel the air coming out.

I assure you that the technician assigned is very meticulous and experienced with this repair.

Why would I want a vent installed if the air will not vent to the outside?? I spent $500 for this?? When I get back home I will be taking this in and jump up and down on somebody's desk.

Anyone ever have experience with this issue? To be clear, this is a Contoure 500-otr unit. Instructions state to rotate the motor so it blows out the rear. I don't think they did. I can't feel and opening but metal.

 

[16ACE27]

this is a Contoure 500-otr unit. Instructions state to rotate the motor so it blows out the rear. I don't think they did

Unless you specified modifying the exhaust in the oven they probably just installed the vent. Rotating the motor would have been a separate line item.

 

[Ge01]

I specified i wanted the air to exhaust outside. The reply from the dealer said yhe tech is experienced. Wouldn't think I'd have to state the obvious, like "follow the installation instructions", right??

 

[16ACE27]

I specified i wanted the air to exhaust outside. The reply from the dealer said yhe tech is experienced. Wouldn't think I'd have to state the obvious, like "follow the installation instructions", right??

You don't have the "work by book hour rate" mentality. Do what the work order says and nothing more as quickly as you can. There were no instructions on the vent installation paperwork about doing anything with the multitude of possible ovens that may be in the RV. Hopefully, rotating the motor IAW the oven instructions will resolve the issue.

 

[Ge01]

So the paperwork says the customer wants a vent installed on his microwave oven so hot air exhausts outside. What wouldn't the tech understand there? Cut hole, install vent, check to see if air vents. Simple enough. Looking at what you posted, if you are an RV tech, I would not use you!

 

[16ACE27]

So the paperwork says the customer wants a vent installed on his microwave oven so hot air exhausts outside. What wouldn't the tech understand there? Cut hole, install vent, check to see if air vents. Simple enough. Looking at what you posted, if you are an RV tech, I would not use you!

I am not, I'm just try to help you understand the mentality in the RV construction and repair world.

Now you can go back to the dealer with guns ablazing,

and have them generate a work order for the additional work, and put your RV in the 2 month queue, OR

You can take a page out of Duckface's playbook and show up with pizza and nicely ask them to explain how the air is supposed to exit the vent if the motor wasn't rotated (if indeed, that is the problem) and they may pull the oven, rotate the motor, and send you on your way right there in the parking lot in 15 minutes, gratis.

 

[Ge01]

I already have an appt scheduled when I get back. It's a "wait" appt. They know im not happy .

 

[ducksface]

The op hasn't said that she
actually turned on the exhaust fan for the microwave.
' no fan' venting is how my stupidly expensive microwave vents UNLESS I TURN ON THE MULTISPEED VENT FAN.

OP;
does your microwave have a button that says
'Fan'¿

And
The dealer is exactly correct in their return email.
That's how a passive vent works, that is a baffle, and chances are the air is cooled enough by the time it hits the outside for you to not notice any heat.

To check for actual venting;
Use a very thin 3" long strip of toilet paper held with two fingers in the vent outlet flow.

I think you'll be surprised.

And
Tha baffle may/probably/definitely is going to make a bunch of clacking noise when you hit a crosswind just right. Be forewarned.

 

[Ge01]

No baffle. Just a thin piece of aluminum flap (flue) inside the plastic vent cover. I stuck my hand up behind the flap and felt nothing but metal of the back of oven unit. No air flow at all. Air is still venting inside. Yes I have a fan button, two speed.

 

[Ge01]

Diagram

 

[ducksface]

Did you push the fan button?
And
When you go into the dealer please remember;

No one has ever said
When I grow up I want be a service writer or an rv repair guy.

Be civil.
If it was a mistake, don't compound it by being a complete failure at understanding how things work or might just happen wrong.

Pizza
and
"I need some help understanding this vent thing".

 

[Ge01]

Uh, yeah.

And I already have a "wait" appt when I get back. I have a good rapport with these folks but they gotta understand these "oopies" cannot be tolerated with just a "we're sorry ", especially when im on a 5 week trip to the Keys and can't use my exhaust fan as desired. Btw: they say all work is QC'd by another tech b4 releasing. Hmmmmmm.

 

[ducksface]

You still haven't said if you have tried the fan button and tell us what happens when you do use it vs when you don't.

Third ask is a charm.

 

[Ge01]

Fan on. Air blows inside my RV. Nothing outside at all.

 

[Mattandjulie]

Had my dealer cut a hole in my 2023 Quantum and install a vent so the hot air would exhaust outside. Im on a current RV trip and turned on the microwave only to find the air is still exhausting inside the RV. I went outside to stick my hand up in the vent and try to feel air. None. I contacted the dealer and was told this:

Good afternoon,

What you are touching underneath that flap is a baffle that directs the air down and back up out of the vent. Its a metal plate designed to prevent back draft.

Its not just a direct hole from the oven to the outside of the RV.

This is also an exhaust vent.
Meaning there is no forced induction for the air flow.

By the time the hot air rises through the duct, up the baffle and actually exits the RV you most likely will not be able to feel the air coming out.

I assure you that the technician assigned is very meticulous and experienced with this repair.

Why would I want a vent installed if the air will not vent to the outside?? I spent $500 for this?? When I get back home I will be taking this in and jump up and down on somebody's desk.

Anyone ever have experience with this issue? To be clear, this is a Contoure 500-otr unit. Instructions state to rotate the motor so it blows out the rear. I don't think they did. I can't feel and opening but metal.

You cut a hole in the side of your Motorhome?

 

[16ACE27]

You cut a hole in the side of your Motorhome?

Not unusual for upgrades and modifications.

 

[The Rookie]

I am not, I'm just try to help you understand the mentality in the RV construction and repair world.

Now you can go back to the dealer with guns ablazing,

and have them generate a work order for the additional work, and put your RV in the 2 month queue, OR

You can take a page out of Duckface's playbook and show up with pizza and nicely ask them to explain how the air is supposed to exit the vent if the motor wasn't rotated (if indeed, that is the problem) and they may pull the oven, rotate the motor, and send you on your way right there in the parking lot in 15 minutes, gratis.

Rootin’ tootin’ varmints!

 

[Lt Keefer]

Too late now, but I wouldn't pay an RV dealer to do any modification.

 

[16ACE27]

Too late now, but I wouldn't pay an RV dealer to do any modification.

Ain't that the truth! But some people don't have the skills, know how, tools, or gumption to do it themselves. But there's always the mobile RV tech route.

 

[bry899]

If the fan/motor needs to be rotated it is so easy to do yourself in about 15 minutes.
The only issue is the weight of the microwave so I would suggest having someone help, though I have done this about 10x myself.