Updating an old RV ceiling vent with an undersized 12-volt fan with a new power ceiling fan/vent combo is a great way to improve airflow inside your RV. A powerful ceiling fan like the Fan-Tastic Vent 4000R (Item #1631) helps pull fresh air in or push stale air out to eliminate odors and control temperatures in your RV. It’s a job that a handy RVer can do at home, using some basic tools.

1. Unscrew and remove the interior trim ring and the crank handle on the old vent.

2. On the roof, scrape away the old sealant and unscrew the old vent. (If the vent has a cover, you will likely need to remove it to get to the vent mounting screws.)

3. After unscrewing the old vent assembly from the roof, carefully lift it from the opening. Mark the 12-volt wiring to the old vent so it will be easy to reconnect the new power vent. Use wire cutters to snip the wiring to the old vent, leaving enough to splice the new vent’s wiring to it.

4. With the old vent removed and the vent opening exposed, scrape away the remnants of sealant left on the roof surface.

5. Carefully measure and mark the placement of the new vent. If the new vent is square and the old vent had radius corners, you will have to saw out the corners of the roof opening to accommodate the new vent.

6. After making any needed adjustments to the vent opening, apply sealant tape to the underside of the exterior flange (the area that comes into contact with the roof surface) and place the new vent assembly into the opening. Check the fit and wire routing path, inside and out. Tip: a Universal Vent Installation Kit (Item #8491 for fiberglass or metal roofs, #31553 for rubber roofs) includes new mounting screws and sealant tape to simplify vent replacement.

7. Back on the roof, carefully screw the new vent into place using the new mounting screws in the Universal Vent Installation Kit (see above).

8. Back inside the RV, reconnect the 12-volt wires to the leads on the new vent, making sure you leave enough slack to gently tuck the wires into the space between the ceiling and vent sleeve. Tip: crimp-style connectors provide the best connection between the vent and coach wiring, protecting the wire splice and helping prevent short-outs; their slim design makes them smaller to tuck away than twist-type connectors.

9. Before applying sealant around the exterior flange of the new vent, test the vent and fan operation. If there is a problem that requires removing the vent assembly, it will be easier to do now than after the sealant is applied.

10. If all functions check out, carefully slip the interior trim ring into place. Depending on the thickness of your RV’s roof, you may need to trim away part of the interior sleeve of the trim ring for a proper fit. Tip: to get the proper depth on the interior sleeve, insert the trim ring and mark it at the ceiling surface. Remove the trim ring, measure the distance from the top of the interior sleeve to the mark you just made, then re-mark the sleeve at the correct depth all the way around. Use tin snips to trim away the excess portion of the sleeve.

11. Install the new interior trim ring with the included screws.

12. Back on the roof and with the new ceiling fan/vent installed and working properly, apply a high quality self-leveling sealant (Dicor Self-Leveling Sealant, Item #32125) liberally around the edges of the new vent flange and over the screw heads.

Your new power ceiling fan/vent is now ready to keep you cool and comfortable in your RV. Save the warranty information and owner’s manual for your new power vent, storing it with your RV owner’s manual.

If you are not comfortable climbing on your RV roof, or if you want to install a power ceiling fan/vent in place of a non-powered vent and need additional wiring, let the professionals at any Camping World SuperCenter install it for you. Find all SuperCenter locations nationwide at CampingWorld.com/stores.