DIY RV Vent Cover Upgrade

Let’s be honest, how often do you think about the vent covers in your RV?  Probably rarely if ever, considering the bigger issues that RV owners tend to worry about, such as fuel budgeting, water tank care, etc.  Even air vent covers and floor vent covers are small, they can cost big if you have to replace them all.  (They can cost between $5-$20 apiece, which quickly adds up if you want to replace them all.)  Fortunately, there are ways to update your RV vent covers without busting your budget.  Signal Connect is here to share these tips to help you improve your RV life.

Prepping the Vent Covers in Your RV

You know when you really take notice your vent covers?  When you redecorate the interior of your RV, and those covers no longer match your rig’s décor.  That’s when these small items become a huge eyesore.  To make those RV vent covers can tie the whole room together, we recommend you spray paint them.  Before you grab the nearest spray paint can, you need to know that there’s more to it than that.  Before we explain the process, let’s take a quick inventory of what you’re going to need:

  • Microfiber Cloth
  • Sandpaper
  • Spray Paint in Color of Choice
  • Primer spray paint (optional)
  • Clear spray paint sealer (optional)

Once you have what you need, it’s time to get started.  The first step is to remove all the vents from your RV.  Once you do that, wipe down the vent covers to remove any dust that might have gathered on them.  (You also might consider vacuuming out the RV vents now that you have the covers off.)  Once your covers are dust-free, wipe them down with alcohol and the microfiber cloth.  (You can also use soap and water in a pinch.)

Spray Painting RV Vent Covers

Once your vent covers are clean, it’s time to paint them.  It’s best to set them up in your garage on an old piece of plywood or painting tarp.  If you want to do it right, we recommend you use three or four coats of white paint or primer on your vent covers.  Just make sure that each coat is completely dry before you apply the next.  If you rush it, things could get messy. 

The next step is to spray paint your cover vents with the actual color you want them to be.  (Make sure it matches your new interior design.)  Again, many RV DIYers recommend using three to four coats, letting each coat dry before you apply the next.  (For total coverage, paint with vents open and closed.)  If you’re really concerned about scratching, you can add a coat or two of clear matte sealer to finish the job.

RV Vent Maintenance Tip

Are you tired of having to vacuum out all the dirt and other crud that gathers in your vents?  If so, we have a super easy fix.  Believe it or not, it’s as simple as covering the vent with knee-high panty hose.  Yes, we’re serious!  Covering your floor vents with pantyhose will keep most of the dirt and other debris from falling through the vents and gathering inside your ductwork.  It’s as effective as it is easy to do.  Here’s how:

  1. Unscrew the vent cover and remove it.
  2. Clean out your vent with the suction hose of your vacuum cleaner.
  3. Stretch a single panty hose over the vent.
  4. Put it back in place so that any excess pantyhose is beneath the vent cover.
  5. Screw back into place.

It might sound a bit silly, but it will save you from having to vacuum out your floor vents every week.  Try this tip.  You’ll thank us later!

RV Tips: Why We Share Them

After reading this post, you might wonder why we care so much about RV owners.  There’s an easy answer to this question: the RV tips and tricks we share is one more way we can help you.  Look, we could push satellite TV sales to you all day long, but that’s not how good blogs our created.  We believe in providing information and advice that helps RV enthusiasts with the day-to-day issues they face with their vehicles.  The rest, as they say, will take care of itself.

Do you want to know more about satellite TV for RVs and campers?  If so, we’ve made it easy for you to reach out to our in-house mobile satellite TV experts.  It’s not like stepping onto a used car lot and being swarmed by sweaty, overly-eager salespeople who only care about your credit rating.  To get the help you need, just fill out the form below, and click “submit.”  This sends your question(s) to us so one of our reps can follow up and get you the help you need.  If you have any question about satellite TV for recreational vehicles, we’d love to hear from you!

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.