I plan to do a "leak test" on my trailer soon. A buddy of mine has all the stuff needed to do such a test. He ask, "How much pressure you want?" "1/2 psi?"
He joke and said, "I can go to 10psi like I do when we test jet airplanes?" I think he said around 9.2psi is equal to 25K feet, but don't hold me to it. I can't see my Airstream flying at 25k feet, but it would be cool.
So, the question is, "How much pressure should be needed to test for leaks?"
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Paul Waddell Region 2 VAC Guy WDCU "Past Prez" (In the words of Richard Nixon "You won't have me to kick around anymore!")
Be careful here..even a half PSI would push on a flimsy UV damaged 17 inch square skylight with 140 lbs pressure. At 10 PSI I can see lots of points of failure
I plan to do a "leak test" on my trailer soon. A buddy of mine has all the stuff needed to do such a test. He ask, "How much pressure you want?" "1/2 psi?"
He joke and said, "I can go to 10psi like I do when we test jet airplanes?" I think he said around 9.2psi is equal to 25K feet, but don't hold me to it. I can't see my Airstream flying at 25k feet, but it would be cool.
So, the question is, "How much pressure should be needed to test for leaks?"
First of all, I sort of disagree with that leak test method. It does have it's values, but it also has severe drawbacks.
If you use more than 1/2 psi, you will cause leaks where you do not have leaks now.
First of all, an Airstream is not a submarine, and neither is your home.
If you used that test method on your home, you would find leaks galore, and the same is for your Airstream. As an example, your window gaskets are designed to handle pressure from the exterior of your trailer. not the interior.
Some areas of the trailer, are like your home. Of course they leak. That does not mean that water will enter.
One of the biggest leaks you will find, that your pressure system will not show, is the sewer vent pipe covers.
Any test method or system, should be carefully used, and interpreted, of what you found, and why.
Use considerable caution with the pressure system.
I don't think I would apply air pressure to the inside of my Airstream.
Like Andy says, Airstreams are built to keep water etc. out, not in. There are so may places that items go through the skin and floor. Wires for lights, lines for propane and plumbing. I don't think they put any type of air tight seal around the perimeter of the floor.
If you do give it a try, and you don't do any damage, I think all you are going to find is that your unit will not hold air pressure. It's an Airstream, not an Air Liner. You will still not know where the air is escaping.
I think it will all go our the roof vent as you put it in anyway. And if you tape that down, it will ust escape somewhere else.
It is not pressure you need it is volume. There is no way you can seal an Airstream enough to run a static air test. If you do seal the windows, door, roof vents, back and top of ref., you still have to be concerned with the floor and all it penetrations.
Yes if you could seal everything to a reasonable condition and started introducing a controllable volume of air you run the risk of doing damage as you increase the volume of air chasing a leak that may not be there.
I plan to do a "leak test" on my trailer soon. A buddy of mine has all the stuff needed to do such a test. He ask, "How much pressure you want?" "1/2 psi?"
He joke and said, "I can go to 10psi like I do when we test jet airplanes?" I think he said around 9.2psi is equal to 25K feet, but don't hold me to it. I can't see my Airstream flying at 25k feet, but it would be cool.
With those 2 hot air balloons you have, you could hook one to each end and have a unique gondola to ride to rallys.
Reason for the test is to look for leaks that I may not know about. I understand there are many people who have used this method to finds leaks. You have a source of air coming into the trailer, spay the outside with a soap/water solutions and start looking for bubbles. I just wanted to make sure I did not use to much air volume/pressure.
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Paul Waddell Region 2 VAC Guy WDCU "Past Prez" (In the words of Richard Nixon "You won't have me to kick around anymore!")
Pressurizing an airstream sounds like crazy idea. The forces will grow to incredible levels with even 1 psi. A 24x36 window with 1 psi on it would be forced outward with a force of about 864 lbs! Fortunately, I think that there would be so many little leaks that it would be impossible to reach much pressure without a huge compressor. Maybe the shop vac idea would work, and be safe.
You could always go with some plumber`s smoke bombs,though you would have to air it out for a few weeks afterwards,cause they sure do stink.I wouldn`t do it and I have the bombs in my van.Dave
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Hi, if you don't know there are any leaks why look? If it's not broken, don't fix it.
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