Stainless Steel Range Exhaust Vent

[Hoonanea]

I can't imagine this hasn't already been discussed but my search didn't turn up any specific threads on this.

I'm curious to know if anyone has the stainless steel range exhaust vent upgrade and if it works without any modifications allowing the heavier steel flap to open. Mine does not. I don't know how it could work since the Biraldi fan doesn't really move a lot of air.

I have a mod in mind that I'll try but I'm not optimistic. Heather at Airstream indicates they've not had this issue reported before. I have two of the Biraldi hoods and neither of them moves much air so I don't think anything there is working incorrectly.

[field & stream]

Airstream has not heard of this issue?! Ha, I think everyone has it. The steel flap is just too heavy for that fan. Simple workaround is a clip of some sort to hold it open while in use.

I was so dissatisfied with the one I bought for my first Airstream that I don’t have it on my current one. Therefore, I can’t go look to see if this idea is possible: can you install the plastic flap into the stainless body?

[waninae39]

I added the exhaust to my old sport 22fB. it included the stainless steel range exhaust vent in tghe kit

when i ordered my '23 FC 25FB from the factory, i requested the stainless steel range exhaust vent . It came from the factory with the stainless steel range exhaust vent as requested

[Hoonanea]

Waninae39 - but did either of the work? Did you ever turn the fan on and then go outside to see if the flap opened?

[Hoonanea]

Originally Posted by field & stream

I was so dissatisfied with the one I bought for my first Airstream that I don’t have it on my current one. Therefore, I can’t go look to see if this idea is possible: can you install the plastic flap into the stainless body?

It’s not an easy swap. Tabs on the stainless steel flap are used as a hinge. They would have to be bent so that the flap could maybe be pulled out of the slots that the tabs fit into. And I’m still not sure that would work. The whole thing is welded in a way that it cannot be taken apart.

[waninae39]

the metal vent has two tabs. when travelling, you move the tabs so that they cover the vent. that prevents it from flapping or opening.

when you camp, you simply move the two tabs out of the way.
when the fan goes go, the door opens

one can also manually keep it open by clipping a clothes pin and holding it open. that alos allows more air to exhaust out

[Hoonanea]

Originally Posted by waninae39

when you camp, you simply move the two tabs out of the way.
when the fan goes go, the door opens

Thanks waninae. I'm familiar with the two tabs that keep the door closed. I'm not sure if you're responding with how it is supposed to work or if you're saying you've verified that it actually works this way for you.

I have the Biraldi hood and when I turn the fan on, the metal flap on the outside exhaust opens maybe 1/32" -- and yes, the metal tabs are moved out of the way.

I have two of the Biraldi hoods. One is brand new and both are very clean. Neither of them moves much air. The metal door is just too much for it.

[Hoonanea]

I used some left over project board to extend the exhaust chute from the back of the Biraldi hood so that it brings it directly to the metal flap of the exterior exhaust cover. This was to prevent the exhausted air from filling the much wider space between the interior and exterior skins and losing the needed pressure to move the metal flap. Since this didn't work, I'll accept that the stainless steel upgrade part is simply not compatible with the low CFM of air movement provided by the Biraldi hood -- at least not models from 2012. Perhaps Biraldi has improved the CFM in later models. I don't know how Airstream couldn't be aware of this problem.

[SuperTrouper]

There's a thread somewhere showing what people use to hold the flap open. Some use a clothes pin, some use more extravagant methods. I use a red plastic potato chip bag clip so it catches my eye for the departure walk around. I find the clip useful because heat flows naturally out the vent when heating water in the early morning for coffee without any vent fan noise.

[waninae39]

mine have with a metal extension , that is so that the air leaves to AS and does NOT go between the walls. your shroud should work

try powering the fan inside your house with a spare 12v supply to see how much air flow it has. mine has a lot of air flow. see it there is a blockage some where.

while off, tape up or caulk any of the seams to prevent stray air leakage.

good luck

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by SuperTrouper

There's a thread somewhere showing what people use to hold the flap open. Some use a clothes pin, some use more extravagant methods. I use a red plastic potato chip bag clip so it catches my eye for the departure walk around. I find the clip useful because heat flows naturally out the vent when heating water in the early morning for coffee without any vent fan noise.

Since '05 when we got the SS upgrades.

The nice thing, if you forget the release mechanism when breaking 'camp' the wind release design automatically closes it when underway.

[Hoonanea]

Waninae39, thanks for the clarification. If I'm understanding correctly, you also modified yours to include an extension of the air exit chute to bring it directly to the metal door, right? And this was necessary because the OEM design did not work to open the door on its own?

There is no blockage on either of my hoods and both fan cage assemblies have been disassembled for inspection. A separate 12v EcoFlow power station has been used and there's no difference in air movement when compared to the 12v supply from the Airstream.

I have used some putty to block the area where the power supply wires enter the fan cage and go to the motor. A lot of air was escaping in this area. On both fans, the section of the fan cage that is closest to the exterior wall feeds air back into the hood rather than exiting. I know this from a simple test of holding a single square of tissue to the fan cage. Over about ⅔ of the fan cage, the tissue is held to the plastic cage. But on the remaining ⅓ (closest to the aluminum wall) the tissue shows air is being blown back into the hood area. I suspect yours does this as well unless the design has changed.

[Hoonanea]

And I neglected to mention that I have a friend nearby who has a '22 Globetrotter and he'll be making the same upgrade on his in early May. It will be interesting to see if the OEM Biraldi hood in that model moves more air. I'm not terribly optimistic.

[waninae39]

this is what mine looks like

i added aluminum tape ( NOT DUCT TAPE!) around the external mounting
ie where the box you built exits the exterior wall.
add tape around the edge so that the air cant leak back

[Hoonanea]

Waninae39, thanks for the pictures. The black plastic exhaust chute on yours appears to be much closer to the door/flap than it is on mine. Interesting.

When your fan is on, how far does the door/flap open?

[waninae39]

it opens 1/2 to 2/3 the way with the fan on.

when we need a lot of ventilation , i click it in the open position as others also do

[PatLee]

I have the stainless steel upgrade and it works fine i.e. flap stays open when stove top exhaust fan is on, closes when fan is off. One of the two flip locks to secure the flap during travel is difficult to slide in place so I usually use just one of them.

[PaulinVA]

Slightly off topic but related- I broke off one of the exterior plastic closure tabs, and cannot find a replacement without ordering the next higher assembly. Any ideas on where those little plastic bits can be found?

[nelsonh]

Originally Posted by PaulinVA

Slightly off topic but related- I broke off one of the exterior plastic closure tabs, and cannot find a replacement without ordering the next higher assembly. Any ideas on where those little plastic bits can be found?

There are several alternatives mentioned in this thread:


https://www.airforums.com/forums/f45...er-182291.html


.

[Hoonanea]

Originally Posted by PatLee

I have the stainless steel upgrade and it works fine i.e. flap stays open when stove top exhaust fan is on, closes when fan is off. One of the two flip locks to secure the flap during travel is difficult to slide in place so I usually use just one of them.

Thanks PatLee. I'm beginning to wonder if Airstream made some design changes in the exit path cutout when the stainless steel option became an offering. My Airstream is a 2012 model year and pre-dates this particular upgrade. I also wonder if Biraldi made some changes that increase the CFM of air moved.

I'll likely find an over-engineered solution for my situation but only because I like to tinker.