Fantastic Fan is leaking — how come?

[WhereStream]

The front Fantastic Fan in our 2017 19-footer is dripping water when it rains.

What can I do?

Drips are coming from inside the fan, not from the edges.

How could this water get in?

This is happening with the trailer parked with a drizzling rain, no high wind.

[tbrowne]

Might be coming from elsewhere and dripping down the electric wires to the fan motor. It might take some disassembly to find the cause.

[jaybauman]

I experienced a bad sealing job on a Fantastic Fan from the factory in my 2019 FC. Upon inspection, it was obvious to see how they missed a few gaps. In a heavy downpour, it leaked much like you’re saying.

[BayouBiker]

I took my fan apart a short time ago for a different reason. I can see how both explanations can work especially Jay's. The outer frame is inside the bezel and the bezel can trap the water and cause it to drip out the center where the screen is, but so too can a leak from another source as tbrowne suggests.

[Andy Squared]

We had this problem a few months back, the exterior seals are leaking. The water can sit in the internal housing and it won't be initially obvious where it is coming from. the short term fix was spray sealant around the unit on the roof until a better patch could be applied in better conditions.

[Backfortyjoe]

The water drips could be starting just about anywhere up on top. Water will always take the route of least resistance. I’ve been fooled more than once. It can follow wires, edges of the metal or not. Maybe just a slight crack in the plastic could be the trouble. If it stops raining there is no need to fix it but if it is raining it’s too wet to fix.

[ScottOldre]

I use the fantastic fan vent cover, so we can leave ours open in any rain. Don't have to worry about it closing when it starts raining. I bought 2, can only use 1 on our 28 with factory solar. If anyone is in the SC area, let me know you can have the other new one. We keep our fan vent cracked 100% of the time with the cover on.

[Melucy2airs]

I had to remove the inner decorative frame of the fan from inside the AS and noticed the water dripping from the metal screws. Used Sika flex caulk from the inside on each screw and use the white self leveling caulk recommended by AS (forgot the name) from the outside, no more leaks since.

Hope this helps.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by Melucy2airs

I had to remove the inner decorative frame of the fan from inside the AS and noticed the water dripping from the metal screws. Used Sika flex caulk from the inside on each screw and use the white self leveling caulk recommended by AS (forgot the name) from the outside, no more leaks since.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. This is helpful.

The cap has minor scratches, no obvious breaks, but in a hopeful attempt to fix I ordered a new cap (and for now wrapped a garbage bag over the whole unit).

Maybe the scratches are deeper than they appear and are letting some water in.

Sealant around the fan looks good ... but, who knows! Whole adventure is frustrating and stressful.

[marcusmark]

Originally Posted by ScottOldre

I use the fantastic fan vent cover, so we can leave ours open in any rain. Don't have to worry about it closing when it starts raining. I bought 2, can only use 1 on our 28 with factory solar. If anyone is in the SC area, let me know you can have the other new one. We keep our fan vent cracked 100% of the time with the cover on.

Hi Scott, our Fantastic fan lift cover is cracked beginning from the hinge rivets. We could use the vent cover mentioned and gladly would pay something for it. Probably don’t still have it but if you do we’ll be coming north on I-95 to I-26 to Ohio on about 5/30/2021.

Kindly, Mark

[WhereStream]

I contacted the makers of the Fantastic Fan, and they sent me a replacement dome under warranty. They were good about it – no arguments, and I did not have to ship them the old one.

Now I need to get over my nervousness about climbing up on the roof of the Airstream and get up there, unscrew the old dome and screw in the new.

Before I do, a question: Do I need to seal the screw holes with anything before I lash down the new dome?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by marcusmark

Hi Scott, our Fantastic fan lift cover is cracked beginning from the hinge rivets. We could use the vent cover mentioned and gladly would pay something for it. Probably don’t still have it but if you do we’ll be coming north on I-95 to I-26 to Ohio on about 5/30/2021.

Kindly, Mark

^
X2

Both ours were also leaking, along with the skylight, tv & radio antenna mounts, and black tank vent.

Best to do a thorough roof check, JC thinks only Eagles & Angels see the roof.

WS....ONLY PUT WEIGHT ON THE RIVET SEAMS when on the roof. I use 3m 4200 for all semi-permanent AS sealing. Yes. I use it on all screws & rivets. It's also available in the larger 'gun' tubes.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Bill M.]

I would suggest taking the inside bezel for the fan off and leaving it off until it rains. Then look to see if you can tell what is happening. I use the add on plastic cover over the fan. Easy to put on. Might not work if the problem is the sealing around the fan flange on the roof. Might stop most other leaks. If you just do not like the cover it is easy to take it back off. Beats trying to wrap it up in plastic, in my opinion.

[Al and Missy]

Roof is curved, fan flange is not. Mine wee installed with a foam gasket which had long since hardened. I put aluminum angle flange inside between skins around mounting perimeter, sealant under fan flange, screwed flange through roof into aluminum angle. No more leaks

[Wazbro]

Hopefully he got it fixed at some point in the 4 years since starting this thread.

[WhereStream]

Yes, in fact, I fixed the leak.

Fantastic Vent folks sent me a new lid for free. Once I replaced it, the leaks stopped.

The old vent was full of tiny cracks, but no breaks. Hard to see these cracks until you took off the vent.

Though small and slight, the cracks were enough to let rain through.

Swapping out the lids proved to be a pretty easy task.