Keep wasps, mud daubers, and other nesting insects out of your RV water heater vent before they cause a blockage or burner damage. The Camco 42145 slips over the exterior louver and locks in place with the included install tool -- no drilling, no adhesives, no hassle.
Nesting insects -- especially mud daubers and wasps -- are one of the most common and overlooked causes of RV water heater failures. They pack vents tight enough to restrict combustion air, trip thermal cutoffs, and contaminate burner tubes. A clogged vent can also create dangerous carbon monoxide buildup inside the water heater compartment.
The Camco 42145 flying insect screen installs over the exterior louver opening of compatible Atwood and Suburban water heaters. The heavy-duty stainless steel mesh lets combustion air flow freely while blocking insects, debris, and small critters. It is sized specifically for the most common residential-style RV water heater louver configurations.
Heavy-duty stainless mesh resists rust, corrosion, and distortion from heat cycling near the water heater exhaust zone.
Sized at 6 x 8-1/2 in. to match the louver opening on Atwood 6 and 10-gal and Suburban 6-gal water heaters. Also fits most standard RV battery vents.
Package includes one insect screen and a dedicated installation tool that seats the screen clips securely without bending the louver fins.
Clip-on design requires no screws, adhesive, or modification to the vent or siding. Removable for seasonal cleaning or inspection.
The most destructive offenders are mud dauber wasps, which build solid clay nests inside vent passages within a single camping weekend. Paper wasps and yellow jackets also nest in these cavities. Once a nest forms inside the burner tube or thermocouple area, repairs can involve replacing the entire burner assembly. A 0.45 lb. screen is far cheaper insurance.
This screen is also compatible with most RV battery compartment vents of similar size, where acid fumes and hydrogen gas need to vent freely but insect intrusion can short terminals or damage wiring.
Beyond water heaters, this screen fits most standard RV battery compartment vent openings of comparable size -- a simple way to protect battery terminals from insect nesting and debris ingress.
Measure your existing louver opening before ordering. The screen body is 6 in. wide x 8-1/2 in. tall x 1-5/16 in. deep. Louver openings that are significantly smaller or larger than 6 x 8-1/2 in. will require a different Camco screen size. Camco offers several screen sizes in the 42140-series to cover different vent configurations.
The screen uses a clip-retention system that engages the louver fins from the outside. The included plastic install tool hooks the clip tabs and seats them without bending or cracking the fins. Most installs take under five minutes. No sealant or fasteners are needed. The screen can be removed, rinsed clean, and reinstalled each season.
Inspect and clean the screen at least once per camping season and after any extended storage. Mud daubers can begin building nests within 24-48 hours if the screen is missing or damaged. Rinse with water and a soft brush -- do not use wire brushes on the stainless mesh or you may distort the openings.
If insects have already nested inside the vent passage or burner tube, install this screen only after fully cleaning and inspecting the water heater. Installing a screen over an existing nest traps the problem inside and does not resolve a combustion or venting issue.