Vents
Hello
We have recently returned to caravanning. We store our caravan on a lovely site in Cornwall, But unfortunately its like everywhere in Cornwall. Surrounded by farm land.
Every time we go to the caravan and open a cupboard door or drawer we get bombarded with flies. These are coming in through the vents for the fridge.
Can i put gauze over the inside of the vents or will this effect the flow of air in and gases out.
Would be really grateful if any one has any tips or could tell me if there is already a product on the market that will solve this. I have tried washing inside the vents and spaying fly spray behind the vents after persuading the flies to vacate the area but they still keep returning.
Comments
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There should be a gauze fly screen inside the outer cover on your fridge vents. Every caravan we have owned has had them! If it is a new caravan under warranty talk to the dealer who sold you it.
If you bought it second hand they must have been removed at some time and you need to find the fridge model number so you can obtain replacements from a dealer or on the internet sales sites.
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Have you thought about fridge vents covers which are available for Dometic and Thetford fridges? They would certainly reduce the area for flies to get in. However this would only be a solution whilst the van is in storage at least in the main touring season.
David
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Thanks ForestR. We bought the caravan second hand and its a 2003 and has no gauze in the vents, So may need to add some gauze to them.
Thanks David will look on those sites and get covers for the vents whilst in storage.
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Just been looking at this issue on other forums and it would appear that some caravans have not been fitted with fridge vent fly screens in recent years but can be bought as an optional extra. Obviously we have been lucky to always have them.
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Thats Great thanks for the info
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I thought a correct installation of the fridge is sealed from the interior of the caravan, therefore flies should not have access to the inside of the caravan through them.
Maybe dependent upon age of van
Anyway, winter covers should sort the fridge vents but there are other vents that might allow access.1 -
Hi DaveFL2.
The flies arent coming through the fridge, Luckily. They are coming through the vents on th side of the van and then making thier way in to the cupboards.
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But Dave is saying that the back of the fridge should be sealed from the interior of the caravan ie if there was a combustion issue running on gas, any gasses at the back of the fridge should be vented outside ...and not find their way inside.
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Can you be sure the flies are entering via the fridge vents, Kitchy? There's generally plenty of room around the hab door, for instance, for them to find a way in. If mice can get in beside water pipes, it'll be no trouble for flies.
Fly problems are often caused by the flies laying their eggs in the van. Then, when you leave it shut up, they hatch and wait to greet you on your return.
By the way, farmland in Cornwall is good, not unfortunate. It helps make the county what it is for visitors to enjoy.
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A look in the Fridge manufacturers installation / user guide paperwork will allow you to know there should be a sealed aluminium sheet all the way around the rear of the fridge, sealing the area between side wall and fridge. It is a unfortunate fact that many manufacturers just don't bother fitting these. ( Pointed out to me by a friend in the trade ) many have complained of draughts around the fridge this is the same problem. I advise anyone purchasing a new 'van to turn the thumb screws and check if the fridge is correctly fitted, if not walk away.
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Gaffer Tape - £5 a roll!
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Most Certainly the standard fridges in motors and towed 'vans should have the vents sealed off so that the burned gases are vented to the outside only. For your safety there should be no draughts from the outside past the fridge into the living area!! The Gauze inside covers are to keep flies, midges & mice etc out of the van.
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Hi, When i take the vents off the side of the van there are various pipes and electric cables visable. I can also see the back of the fridge through a hole in a piece of wood. Should this be covered with something.
Love the Cornish farm land, Just those flies.
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Sorry, I can't say without seeing it but I can guarantee the flies will get in through more than one place. I doubt you'll ever stop them entirely but they'll die off in winter.
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Just been out to the caravan and taken off a vent cover and the inner fly screen. Back of fridge with coolant circulation pipes and finns clearly visible together with electrics and combustion gas flue but no wooden cover on our 3 year old Coachman. The fridge is sealed around the outer casing to prevent leakage of any sort into the caravan.
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Thanks very much. Will investigate further when i get to caravan on saturday.
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You can buy a spray-on 'Insect Blocker' which keeps insects away from vents and similar gaps. Comes under names like Bug Block or Home Defense. It works for up to twelve months, and you just spray it around. You can also use it if you have a problem with ants - spray the steadies, for instance, to stop them crawling up.
Try it - and let us know if you find it effective. We keep ants away from our French house, using it, and in eighteen months, haven't had any problem at all.
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It's worth also mentioning that some people get reactions to all sorts of poisonous sprays, so no matter how effective, we have to avoid using them. I did try something like that years ago in our house, but it repelled me as much as the insects, so washed it off!
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We don't spray it inside the house - but on window frames, door frames, and 'ant pathways' on the outside the house. This stops them in their tracks without affecting us at all. However, as a bonus, we've discovered that it also prevents flies wanting to come in, too!
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Thats great many thanks will give it a try
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Could well be these little darlings. Will give them a suck with the hoover and persuade them to cluster somewhere else. many thanks
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Thanks to everyone for the great advise. Went to the caravan at the weekend and the weather was great so opened the sky light and decided to have a look out of it. The roof is greener than my lawn at home. Having it valeted this week so hopefully this will solve most of the problems.
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Cluster flies are the main culprit in many areas. They seek out cosy places to hibenate in Autumn and vans are ideal. One will find a way in and then the rest follow. Interesting life cycle to these little beasties!
A couple of years back my van was 'hibernation central' for these flies whilst in storage. When we took it out at Christmas once the heating was on they emerged one by one and then, during the next few days by the dozen! A right nightmare.
https://www.rentokil.co.uk/blog/the-strange-life-of-cluster-flies/#.WeUJy-t4WrU
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Also, these cluster flies are attracted to warm vehicle engines in rural areas during early/mid summer when they are looking to lay their eggs on unsuspecting earth worms. What appears to be an infested area on arrival at a site soon becomes clear as the vehicle engine cools down. They then 'disappear'.
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