One of the biggest dangers to your RV may exist without you even noticing it. It is called dry rot, and it can deteriorate the inside of your RV’s walls from the inside and leave you to have to get inside and fix it. Dry rot, ironically enough, actually takes hold from water damage that can occur in your RV’s insulation and wall supports and spread throughout the entire body of the RV.
So how do you stop a menace that you can’t see? Well RV Tip Of The Day has some advice to help keep dry rot at bay.
Dry rot in an RV can be caused by an undiscovered plumbing leak but is usually caused by a leak in the outer skin which lets rain water in.
Almost everyone is good about re-caulking the roof seams but that’s only part of prevention. Cracks can develop in the rim of plastic roof vents well above the seam.
Windows are a major source of water leaks. Especially the front overhang window on class Cs. RVers with RVs over ten years old should consider having all the windows removed and resealed.
Check all cargo and access doors for damaged caulk and loose screws.
Marker lights can be a neglected source of leaks. Make sure you check them each time you reseal the roof. And be sure you replace any broken or missing lenses.
Be sure to look for leaks after large storms or washing your RV. Dry rot can act like a cancer. It may start in one small isolated spot, but left unchecked it can spread throughout your entire RV. If you allow dry rot to spread it may make your RV unusable. You should be OK if you follow these tips, but if you would like some more information, stop by Tacoma RV Center and let us take a look.
