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| English: A Class A motorhome with the slide-out extended (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
So
I spoke about the woes of damp inside an RV or trailer and advised
that you perform regular maintenance to avoid the problem of mold,
but how exactly do you maintain the seals? Let's find out!
It
is very important that you maintain your seals and adhesives within
your Recreational vehicle in order to avoid dampness from getting
into and doing damage to RV elements. When cleaning your Recreational
vehicle, examine the seals for signs of drying out and general wear
and tear. Be aware that weather conditions, sunlight, and road
vibrations will affect seals, making them dry out, split, or
separate. If you're unclear about things to search for, have your
dealership advise you, as well as demonstrate the right way of
renewing the seals. Should you prefer, your dealer should be able to
conduct seal maintenance for you instead.
Some
experts, suggest that you caulk the seals twice every year, once at
the start of the travel season and once more before packing away at
the end of the season. The first step is to wash down the entire RV
with mild soap and warm water. Inspect your entire camper for any
damage to the seals. This includes those that are cracked or coming
loose. It is useful to pay particular attention to areas where the
fixtures meet roofs or walls. Any existing caulk should be removed by
using a very strong citrus based cleaner. You will likely need to
invest in a good quality scrapper tool to help with this. Once
removed, wash the cleaner off with more soapy water as it will
dissolve the new caulk if left. With the help of a caulk gun, seal
the body and the roof of the RV. You will then need to wipe away
excess caulk and the best way I have found is to use a spray ottle to
dampen your fingers with soapy water.
It
will then need to be left to dry for a minimum of two hours. It is
essential the RV is not exposed to rain during this time. Some brands
of caulk may need up to 24 hours to set properly so check the
packaging. If you carry this out properly twice a year you should be
able to eliminate the problem of mold in your RV.
