Gas & Heating
What are External Flue & Vents?
The small outside grilles that let gas appliances breathe safely.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
Every gas appliance that burns fuel inside the van — the fridge, the heater — needs a dedicated route to draw in fresh air and vent exhaust gases straight outside, never into the living space.
How it works
A sealed duct runs from the appliance's combustion chamber to a grille on the outside of the van, keeping intake and exhaust completely separate from the air inside.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Vent grille blocked by mud, snow, insects or a wasps' nest — check before every trip
- ⚠Discolouration or soot marks around the vent — get the appliance inspected before using it again
- ⚠Appliance won't run properly — a blocked flue is one of the first things to rule out
Rough UK cost
Usually a low-cost clean or grille replacement — £10 – £40; a full flue kit replacement runs £60 – £150 fitted.
Ballpark only — depends on your van, converter and local labour rates.
Heads up: CamperAutonomy is for general guidance only. Anything gas-related must be signed off by a Gas Safe engineer with LPG endorsement.