RVGUARD RV Flying Insect Screen, RV Furnace Vent Cover Bug Screen 2 Pack 2.8 x 1.3 Inch Stainless Steel Mesh with Installation Tool and Silicone Rubber

Why I Added Screens to My RV Vents

Mud daubers, wasps, and other opportunistic bugs love RV furnace vents. If you’ve ever opened a service panel and found a nest, you know the mess they make—and the risk to airflow and combustion. I installed the RVGUARD vent screens on a Suburban furnace to keep pests out while preserving airflow. They’re simple wire cages with spring attachments and a silicone edge. Nothing fancy, just the right form factor and material choices for the job.

What You Get and First Impressions

The kit is straightforward:
- Two stainless steel screens sized for typical RV furnace vents (about 2.8 inches in diameter, 1.3 inches tall)
- Two stainless spring hooks per screen
- A small installation tool
- A silicone rubber edging pre-fitted to the screens
- Basic instructions

The wire mesh is rigid enough to hold shape without being heavy. The welds on my set were clean, and the spring hooks were neatly formed with enough tension to stay put. The silicone edging is soft and slightly tacky, which helps it hug the surface and not rattle.

Stainless construction is a must for anything that lives on the exterior of an RV. Between road spray, winter salt, and heat cycles, cheaper metals corrode quickly. After weeks of rain and a couple of highway runs, these still looked new and wiped clean with a hose.

Installation: Truly a Two-Minute Job

Installation is genuinely fast if your vent dimensions match. Here’s what worked for me:
1. Dry-fit the screen to the vent so the silicone edging fully contacts the surface.
2. Hook the springs onto the screen’s edge loops first.
3. Use the included tool to grab the spring end and anchor it into an opening or lip on the vent housing. Slight diagonal tension keeps the screen centered and snug.
4. Gently press the silicone edge all the way around to seat it.

Each screen took under two minutes. The included tool makes it easy to fish the springs into a louver or punched hole without scratching paint. I didn’t need to pre-bend anything or drill. Once tensioned, the screen didn’t shift.

If your vent is slightly out of spec or has an irregular lip, expect to spend a couple more minutes adjusting spring tension or rotating the screen to find the best purchase points. In one test on a different coach, I had to reposition a spring to avoid a thin sheet-metal tab. Still an easy fit, just not a drop-on.

Fit and Compatibility Notes

These are designed around common Duo-Therm and Suburban furnace vents. On my Suburban furnace, the fit was spot on. The silicone edge met the vent face fully, and the springs found secure attachment points without fuss.

A few caveats from use across two rigs:
- If you try to use these on a water heater or refrigerator vent, coverage is hit-or-miss. Many water heater vents are larger or differently shaped, and the round profile may not fully cover the opening. The screens are intended for furnace vents, and that’s where they excel.
- Measure the vent face and confirm you have a landing surface for the silicone edge to grip. You want full contact so the edge damps vibration and protects paint.
- The mesh opening is sized to stop larger flying insects that build nests (mud daubers, wasps), not tiny gnats or fine dust. That’s the right trade-off for furnace airflow.

If your vent layout is unusual or oversize, there are other screen formats in the market. For standard round furnace ducts, this is the right shape.

On-the-Road Performance

I left the screens installed through several highway days at typical towing speeds. They didn’t budge or buzz. The silicone edge really does a lot here: it prevents metal-on-metal contact, eliminates rattles, and avoids paint scratches. The springs kept consistent tension without stretching.

I also ran the furnace with the screens on during a cold snap to check for any impact on performance. Flame quality and cycling seemed normal, and I didn’t notice any hot spots or soot marks that would suggest restricted exhaust. That aligns with the screen’s relatively open mesh—big enough to pass air freely, small enough to keep the big pests out.

Still, a note of common sense: any add-on to an exhaust or intake deserves a quick inspection after the first few hours of operation. Look for discoloration, unusual cycling, or soot. If your appliance manual forbids accessories on vents, follow the manual. On my Suburban unit, the screens were a non-event from an operational standpoint.

Durability and Maintenance

Stainless steel is the right material here. Mine shrugged off rain and winter road grime, and I haven’t seen any rust tea stains on the siding. The silicone edge remained pliable in cold weather. On one particularly low-temp morning, I did re-seat a small section of the edge that had lifted slightly at a vent corner; a firm press solved it. If your vent face is oily or dusty, wipe it first to give the silicone something clean to grip.

Cleaning is as simple as a rinse. For baked-on soot or bug residue, a nylon brush and mild soap do the trick. Avoid harsh chemicals that might degrade the silicone.

Safety and Practical Extras

• The screen adds a tactile barrier that keeps curious hands and paws off the vent opening. The mesh itself can still get warm, so don’t treat it as a guard you can lean against—just a deterrent.
• The springs grip well, but give them a tug after installation and at the start of each trip. Vibration can find weak points in any hardware over time.
• If you store the rig long term, leaving the screens on reduces the chance of pests making a winter home in your ducts.

What I Liked

• Fast, no-drill install with all hardware included
• Secure spring system that holds under vibration and wind
• Silicone edging that prevents rattles and paint damage
• Stainless mesh that resists corrosion and cleans easily
• Open mesh that preserves airflow while stopping the pests that matter

Where It Could Be Better

• The silicone edging is on the thin side; a slightly thicker profile would bite even better on uneven vent faces.
• Strictly sized for standard furnace vents. That’s by design, but if your rig uses a nonstandard opening, you’ll need a different form factor.
• The mesh isn’t fine enough for tiny insects, which is appropriate for airflow, but worth noting if you expected a gnat-proof screen.

Value

You get two screens, springs, the install tool, and a protective edge in the box. Considering the material quality and how much trouble it prevents, the kit is a solid value. If you’ve priced single-screen options at brick-and-mortar RV stores, this two-pack is an easy decision.

The Bottom Line

The RVGUARD insect screens do exactly what I want: keep mud daubers and wasps out of my furnace vents without compromising airflow or adding install headaches. The stainless construction holds up, the silicone edge stops noise and scratches, and the fit is right for the most common furnace vents I’ve worked with.

Recommendation: I recommend these screens for RV owners with standard Duo-Therm or Suburban furnace vents who want a simple, durable way to prevent insect nests. Measure your vents to confirm compatibility, and plan on a quick post-install check after your first furnace run. If your vent openings are nonstandard or you’re trying to cover a larger water heater or refrigerator vent, look for a model designed for those shapes. For furnace duty, this kit is an easy, effective upgrade that pays for itself the first time it blocks a nest.