Stove Venting in Montana HC

[tomkat2]

Hi Guys
So I pulled the trigger on a 2020 Montana HC 294RL recently. Waiting for delivery.
When I was researching and trying to learn all I could about Montana fivers, I noticed they all seem to lack any kind of external stove venting in the kitchen slide. Yet I noticed in my model (and others) that the convection microwave has a functioning stove light and vent fan, and looking underneath, noticed they have filtered intake screens (again, at least in the 294 we're getting)
Where in the world does that vent exit the trailer?? It's in a slide so I doubt it vents on the roof. Any thoughts?
Seems unlikely that Keystone would design a dummy stove vent into what otherwise seems to be a very well designed rig! Maybe this is a good "Ask the Factory" question! Thanks in advance! Safe travels to all!

[JRTJH]

Unfortunately, you've "stumbled upon one of the weaknesses" in modern trailers. Years ago the "non-vented range hood" became commonplace in apartments, spread to single family homes and nobody "rebelled". Now, it seems "commonplace" in lots of homes... So, the "natural progression in the RV business" was to follow the home industry with similar products. So, today we have multiple models in all price lines that are being produced with "non-vented range hoods"... Your Montana model is just one of many that "feature that feature"...…

[flybouy]

They do not exhaust outside. The "filter" is typically a grease trap and may incorporate a thin carbon filter layer. The fan recirculates the air back into the kitchen.

[LewisB]

They do not exhaust outside. The "filter" is typically a grease trap and may incorporate a thin carbon filter layer. The fan recirculates the air back into the kitchen.
I think John is right - it is model dependant. Our 2018 Raptor 353TS has a microwave/convection oven in the kitchen slide and it includes a range and hood with an external vent (and the "flapper" valve) to the outside of the slide. Would it be possible for the OP to add an aftermarket hood vent?

[JRTJH]

Would it be possible for the OP to add an aftermarket hood vent?

That's a good question:

The answer is: Certainly, but at what expense and with what compromises, if any????

The convection oven/range hood model in his trailer may not be "adaptable" precluding modification unless he buys a complete different oven/range hood. It may be adaptable, but the location is directly in line with a "major structural frame component" making it difficult and expensive to modify.

Then, it may be that his convection oven/range hood is the type with a simple baffle to convert from "ventless to vented" and it's mounted in a location in his slide where there's nothing in the way of cutting the hole, installing the vent and reinstalling the oven, complete with outside venting....

Every model, every appliance, every installation differs, and what's easy to do on one trailer can be "far too expensive to even consider" on another.... There's no way to know, "Off hand" which answer best fits his trailer.

[bobbecky]

Even with our outside exhaust through the flapper outside, we still have to run our Fan-Tastic fan at the ceiling vent near the kitchen if we are cooking causing smoke. That may be the easiest option when cooking.

[tomkat2]

That's the reason it's not a deal breaker for me... the fantastic fan is in the roof directly above the stove. The FF in my previous Cougar did a much better job than the vented stove hood...

[tomkat2]

They do not exhaust outside. The "filter" is typically a grease trap and may incorporate a thin carbon filter layer. The fan recirculates the air back into the kitchen.

Thanks Marshall, that does make sense... but is that a theory on your part or do you know this to be true?

[flybouy]

Thanks Marshall, that does make sense... but is that a theory on your part or do you know this to be true?

I'm not there to see you're camper to confirm but it's easy to tell. Go outside and look at the sidewall where the microwave/range hood is. If there's no vent there then it doesn't vent outside. There are no units that vent to the roof or that are ducted to another location that I've ever seen or heard of.

[Ken / Claudia]

My stick built home had venting to outside when built in 1954. Lived here for 25 years and not since I moved in has it been vented outside. Beach house, 2008 not vented. 2013 RV vented. House and RV both set off alarms unless door or window is opened.

[Mikendebbie]

Our unit has the outside vent, and like BobBecky we run the fantastic fan when needed. Our outside vent is visible - see pic below.

[sourdough]

We just picked up a new HC 3-4 days ago. It has no outside vent either - an irritation to me but not insurmountable. I try not to cook inside at all but if I do I try to limit it to boiling etc. The unvented fan has 2 (mine does) filters under it. They are charcoal filters that do as Marshall suggested; catch grease and help with the smoke. We also have the fantastic fan above but worry about covering it with "stuff" from the stove top - hence I don't fry inside.

Some thoughts to hopefully help with the no outside vent situation; obviously don't fry inside - I carry a Weber Q2200 with griddles that I cook bacon etc. on. It also does all the grilling etc. We use a crockpot, instant pot, air fryer, rice cooker etc. to be able to cook without "frying" or anything else that smokes. We also carry 2 NuWave induction cookers (portable) that allow me to cook anything I want outside by placing them on a table (plastic is OK). All that stuff works OK for us and I don't miss frying inside, and....my "overhang" can attest to that.:lol::lol:

[Spletbr]

We have a new HC 294 RL as well! �� Enjoy

[Bill-2020]

Our 195 Jayco single axle had an outside vent (small inexpensive couples camper), now our bunkhouse passport doesn’t (nearly $5 more). Made no sense to me. But there’s an outside kitchen on the passport so there’s the outside vent I suppose?

[Hamops]

In our 2014 Avalanche, Keystone didn't put in a vent to the outside on the cooktop fumehood. Instead we had to use a power vent in the ceiling to exhaust any cooking odors, which was essentially useless. Both my wife and I became fed up with the fire alarm forever going off when cooking. I finally did a little research on U-Tube and found a presenter who installed an outside vent on his trailer for the cooktop using the existing fumehood. I purchased the necessary parts from Amazon and made the modifications to the fumehood to vent directly to the outside. It's about a 2 beer job, which included cutting the hole in the back of the fumehood, and the trailer wall, making the needed mods to it. Aluminum tape needs to be used to form a clean connection and seal any gaps between the fumehood and to the newly installed vent.

[Keystoned]

Hi Hamops, nice job. Did you take pics, or have a parts list or link to the youtube?
We discovered we also have no exhaust in ours also...

[jimborokz]

We have a 3731FL with vented hood. We used for a full season before I discovered the flapper on the outside had tabs to hold it shut. Vents much better now.

[Happy Camper Bobby]

I'm a retired appliance service tech, so i think I can help here. 99% of all micro/hoods can be set to recirculate or exhaust from the rear through an external vent cap. The case cover needs to be removed in most cases so the blower motor can be rotated toward the rear of the unit to allow it to exhaust from the back of the unit. A "transition, or flapper" is screwed to the rear of the unit to align it to and to connect it to the outside vent cap.

YouTube offers many videos or how to properly vent these units. Removal and re-installation will be necessary which can be very difficult in an RV. I hope this helps.

Bob

[Keystoned]

Thanks Bob, I'll have to add this to my 'to do' list.

[Hamops]

Hi Hamops, nice job. Did you take pics, or have a parts list or link to the youtube?
We discovered we also have no exhaust in ours also...

This is the Youtube video that I used to help me install the vent. The video comes in 3 parts.

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np5xNpxxEwY
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qojhFOTju8Y
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FdfGnrIPGs

I didn't need to use any flashing that the fellow used because the back of the our hood was flush to the wall. I used aluminum duct tape instead.

[Keystoned]

Thanks, I'll have to verify nothing is in the wall behind my stove before doing this mod. It seems like it should be standard...

[Rambo]

I have the 2020 high country also, and I just bought an outside vent from amazon. I will be installing it in the next 2 weeks. I will get some pictures when I do. Right now it seems to just try to blow around the edges of the microwave I don't care for that.

[Keystoned]

Looking forward to your mod, Rambo.
I just looked at mine closer and it would be nice if it blew up and thru the microwave vents.
But no...there are side outlets right next to the fan, which is even dumber than before.
I guess those could be aluminum taped over, but if not, then a new fan box would be needed.

[McRod]

I'm a retired appliance service tech, so i think I can help here. 99% of all micro/hoods can be set to recirculate or exhaust from the rear through an external vent cap. The case cover needs to be removed in most cases so the blower motor can be rotated toward the rear of the unit to allow it to exhaust from the back of the unit. A "transition, or flapper" is screwed to the rear of the unit to align it to and to connect it to the outside vent cap.

YouTube offers many videos or how to properly vent these units. Removal and re-installation will be necessary which can be very difficult in an RV. I hope this helps.

Bob

I am not an appliance guy, but I did replace my convection microwave/vent Hood in my Big Sky and Bob is right.

The motor had to be rotated so that it would blow out my wall vent. Is very easy job, unplug microwave, pull four bolts to drop it down. Configure the new motor direction, just a couple of bolts and it tells you how in the install instructions. Then put the new microwave line up with vent. I took this opportunity to better insulate the wall around the square coupling and seal using thermal tape. Reinstall 4 mounting bolts and plug in new microwave and your done. 1 hour job for DIY no experience.

Also remember, the outside vent flapper has rotating levers to keep in closed when not in use (storage?), maybe keep the critters out?

[dutchmensport]

I also have a Montana High Country with the microwave that has the vent fan and light and it does not vent outside. Actually, my prior Keystone Outback was like this too. Never had a problem cooking anything on the stove. Those exhaust fans really don't do much anyway, and they are ALL horribly noisy.

If you have one, turn on your roof vent fan. That will do more to pull water vapor out of the camper than anything else. If you are cooking greasy stuff, grease will splatter with a vent or without one. Either way, you still have to wash everything down when done with a grease removing soap (We use Dawn Dishwashing liquid).

Opening a window will do more for venting the kitchen stove top than anything else you can do. If you are cooking and it's smoking so much you have to pull the smoke out with a fan, it might be easier to simply cook outside. Afterall, you're camping ... remember?

[Keystoned]

Yeah, but some people cook by smoke alarm...lol