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KayLarGo · 12-16-2008, 07:10 AM

We have a Ge Profile Spacemaker microwave combination in our 2005 Mountain Aire. We had a cold snap and wind here in Texas. We discovered a lot of cold air coming out of the upper and lower oven vents. It also was coming from the mount areas. I put foil over the vents for a temporary fix but is this normal? Most oven vents have a flap that closes when the fan is not on.

KayLarGo · 12-16-2008, 07:10 AM

We have a Ge Profile Spacemaker microwave combination in our 2005 Mountain Aire. We had a cold snap and wind here in Texas. We discovered a lot of cold air coming out of the upper and lower oven vents. It also was coming from the mount areas. I put foil over the vents for a temporary fix but is this normal? Most oven vents have a flap that closes when the fan is not on.

Fred and Bonnie · 12-16-2008, 11:40 AM

One solution:

Our microwave is mounted above the stove. The bottom vents let in a lot of cold air when the wind blows. Cut two pieces of thin cutting board material, the size of the vents. Magnetic material is attached to the cut outs with double stick tape. Place the cut outs over the vents. A small amount of cool air gets by, but manageable.

I put a Post-A-Note reminder on the microwave door to remind me the vents are covered.

Fred

Gary RVRoamer · 12-16-2008, 12:34 PM

The GE Spacemaker can be vented either inside the coach or outside - it's up to the installer. If Newmar vented yours to the outside, then its up to them to provide a flap to keep out the weather. Even with one, you often will get a draft. A Southwind we had did have a flap, but the Dolphin LX we replaced it with did not and it let in a lot of cold (and occasionally rain if it was windy enough). On the current coach, the Spacemaker is vented inside and the problem is eliminated. Have to run the Fantastic vents to get rid of cooking odors, though.

doc · 12-16-2008, 12:46 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Cold Draft from Microwave </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was wondering how that worked. Turns out we are not talking the same draft. duh!

KayLarGo · 12-16-2008, 04:30 PM

What would be a pretty good trick. Kinda like a thermos

- how does it know?

Lindsay Richards · 12-16-2008, 06:32 PM

My vent will swing up in a stong wind and make a small banging noise. This of course lets in a lot of outside air. It happens only when I am broadside to a strong wind on the curb side. I usually catch it as I am in bed and forget to come up with a fix in the morning.

RV Wizard · 12-16-2008, 11:15 PM

You could always replace the outside vent with one that has a flap in the hood and can be latched for such occurrences in the weather or when traveling.

exrench · 12-17-2008, 06:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RV Roamer:
The GE Spacemaker can be vented either inside the coach or outside - it's up to the installer. If Newmar vented yours to the outside, then its up to them to provide a flap to keep out the weather. Even with one, you often will get a draft. A Southwind we had did have a flap, but the Dolphin LX we replaced it with did not and it let in a lot of cold (and occasionally rain if it was windy enough). On the current coach, the Spacemaker is vented inside and the problem is eliminated. Have to run the Fantastic vents to get rid of cooking odors, though. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
"Have to run the Fantastic Fan to get rid of cooking smells"What a sad state of affairs when the owner of a high end coach has to make such a statement.Even my '89 Pace Arrow vented outside but not so with my present rig.I Took the micro wave apart,and found that there is a well designed fan and housing blowing back into to the coach.These RV manufacturers have been taking a few lessons from the Big Three and will probably come begging for support from the Public Purse when people start look around before laying their hard-earned cash down for what the RV manufacturers say they should have.

Gary RVRoamer · 12-17-2008, 05:14 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> What a sad state of affairs when the owner of a high end coach has to make such a statement </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Like everything else in an RV, venting the microwave in or out is a tradeoff. Outside venting gets rid of cooking smells and excess heat (if convection cooking) but lets in outside heat or cold, no matter how well the vent is designed. Inside venting is less effective as a stove vent but helps the heating and air conditioning when the micro isn't running (which is 98% of the time). And with the Fantastic Vents, there is a good alternative method for exhausting hot or smelly air.

I've owned both types and still have no opinion which is better. Some days I prefer one style and at other times the opposite. Ya pays your money and ya takes your choice...

mygrayhound · 12-19-2008, 04:05 PM

Not about the cold draft issue but thought I'd mention this about "over the stove" microwaves. Might save someone some money.

I needed to warm up the coach interior quickly late last fall so I cranked up the furnace and turned on the three burners of the stove-just for five minutes and I was right there. No problem until a week later just before leaving on a trip I found out the Sharp microwave push button (to open/close door)-would stick in. Couldn't relieve the "catching" of the plastic button and door wouldn't stay closed-had to duct tape it for the trip! Nice. Cost me $125.00 for new one delivered and installed after we returned. Repairman says he's seen it a few times before-too much heat from the burners distorts the plastic button permanantly. Just a cautionary suggestion...

'05 Suncruiser 37B W24 8.1

ET · 12-19-2008, 04:10 PM

Kaye & Larry

I replaced the factory installed microwave in my 02 Dutchstar and found NO vent door leading away from the squirrel fan to the outside top vent. I didn't put the vent door from the new microwave in because of this but really didn't see any reason why they left it out on purpose except for the fact that they require a vent to be open when using the dryer and figured this would make it fool proof. I would contact Newmar tech support and ask why they do this for a more solid reason.