Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-02-2017, 09:26 AM   #1
Rivet Master
 
The Colonel's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 712
Blog Entries: 2
One time leak

We were camped, middle of night a bad storm came threw with A lot of rain. Got up in the middle of the night during the storm to find very small leak coming from the ceiling in the bathroom. Overnight it only amounted to a couple tablespoons. I looked on top of AS when we got home, checked all rivets around that area and higher, no luck. Seals around vents seemed fine, they were also lower than leak.
It's been four months and many more rains but no leak has shown since then. Could this have been a fluke due to torrential rains that night or is it a future problem I should act on?
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
The Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 10:00 AM   #2
Rivet Master
 
Belegedhel's Avatar
 
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,314
Well, it is safe to say that you have a leak. It may be the sort of leak that only shows up when the rain is coming down in buckets, or when the rain is traveling horizontally, but it is a leak.

Could you ignore it and go on about your business? Maybe, and it might never get any worse.

But, if peace of mind is what you crave, take it to an RV tech and ask them to do a positive pressure test. This is where they insert a high volume air mover into one of the vents or access hatches, and attempt to blow the trailer up like a ballon (hence the name "positive pressure"). They then wipe the exterior down with soapy water and wait to see bubbles.

good luck!
Belegedhel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 10:03 AM   #3
Rivet Master
 
The Colonel's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 712
Blog Entries: 2
Thought about it, my dealer is about 3hrs away in Gulfport and I know that they do this test. It's just a matter taking the time.
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
The Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 10:15 AM   #4
Rivet Master
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor , New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
Worth diagnosing, as the leak may still be happening and getting the ceiling insulation wet, but not enough to drip through the ceiling and be observable. Insulation which repeatedly gets wet, without a chance to dry out thoroughly, produces mold and mildew inside the ceiling, especially in the South where high humidity is often the norm.

Not sure what your travel schedule is, but we always keep a couple of Dampp Chasers plugged in when we are on shore power. One lives under the bed, and another in the bath. These low wattage 120-volt units have been around for ages, and are used to keep pianos from absorbing too much moisture, and also to dry out closets and basements in old houses without A/C:

https://www.amazon.com/Dampp-Chaser-...s=dampp+chaser

Keeping these on during our winter storage (with shore power) really keeps the AS fresh and dry. They come in various lengths, and our local hardware store actually carries them. There are other brands also.

I would consider leaving a Dampp Chaser on under the leak you saw, especially when the trailer is stored. It will drive out hidden moisture, if any, from the insulation.

Good luck!

Peter

PS -- If are using your A/C that will also dry things out obviously.
OTRA15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 12:42 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
The Colonel's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 712
Blog Entries: 2
Thx, I'll look at that. we've had a lot of rain this week so I have reason for concern.
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
The Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 12:46 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
Belegedhel's Avatar
 
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,314
You have a new trailer--just be sure to go after this while it is still under warranty!
Belegedhel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 02:28 PM   #7
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15 View Post
... we always keep a couple of Dampp Chasers plugged in when we are on shore power. One lives under the bed, and another in the bath. These low wattage 120-volt units have been around for ages, and are used to keep pianos from absorbing too much moisture, and also to dry out closets and basements in old houses without A/C:

https://www.amazon.com/Dampp-Chaser-...s=dampp+chaser

...

I would consider leaving a Dampp Chaser on under the leak you saw, especially when the trailer is stored. It will drive out hidden moisture, if any, from the insulation.
A Damp-Chaser is NOT a dehumidifier. It is a heating element that raises the ambient air temperature. The device appears to reduce the relative humidity and thus people think that it is acting as a dehumidifier. In reality the warmed air can hold more moisture than colder air and thus accounts for the reduction in %RH. Much better to get a real dehumidifier (which can also be a desiccant if you don't have power.)
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 02:36 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
The Colonel's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence , Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 712
Blog Entries: 2
I'm going to try to set up an appointment at Gulfport to get their leak check done in a couple weeks as I'll be over that way with AS.
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
The Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 02:43 PM   #9
Rivet Master
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor , New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adventure.AS View Post
. . .
The device appears to reduce the relative humidity . . .
. . .
That was my only point, as was fairly clear IMO. The Dampp Chasers work very well as low-wattage background devices which require no active management like a dehumidifier often does.

Just one tool in the tool chest . . .

OTRA15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Taken it...one leak at a time Trex Leaks - Weatherstrips, Gaskets, Caulks & Sealants 27 11-30-2010 11:49 AM
To 'Time Delay' or not 'Time Delay' FordTruck Jacks, Stabilizers, Lifting and Leveling 11 05-20-2008 02:58 PM
A time to buy, a time to sell Argosyfan Member Introductions 2 03-12-2008 10:39 PM
first-time poster.....long-time reader ("lurker") happyfella Member Introductions 3 08-21-2006 08:55 PM
Part Time vs Full Time (Days/Year) InsideOut Community Polls 30 10-23-2005 09:43 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.