Preventing And Repairing Water Damage In Your RV
Posted on: 26 March 2015
For seasoned RV enthusiasts, battling the elements is simply a way of life. But what do you do when bad weather infiltrates your home away from home, leaving your walls and floor a water-logged mess? Almost every RV springs a few leaks during its lifetime; catching the signs early and making adequate repairs can protect your RV from thousands of dollars' worth of water damage and keep you warm, dry and on the road where you belong.
Maintaining an RV to Prevent Water Damage
When running down the checklist of RV maintenance before a trip, many new owners overlook their roof entirely. This is an easy mistake to make, but it can be costly. Traveling down roads causes your RV to flex and strain against its various components, eventually breaking seals and forming cracks. Periodically resealing the roof of your RV can help control leaks, but it is nearly impossible to prevent all of them.
Spotting Signs of Water Damage
When leaks go by unnoticed, water enters the RV through the roof and quickly spreads down the walls and into the floor. You may notice some discoloration on the ceiling or rust streaks left by wet screws and bolts. The walls and floor of your RV may feel soft and spongy, and you might also smell a musty odor inside. All of these are signs that it is time to start investigating for water damage.
Finding and Sealing Leaks
Once you have confirmed that your RV has suffered water damage, your first step should be to find and fix the leak before it can let in more water. In some cases, you will be able to follow the trail of discoloration right up to its source, but at other times a leak can be difficult to spot. If you have trouble locating the leak or are uncomfortable putting down a new seal, take your RV in to an RV repair professional to have the problem assessed.
Replacing the Walls, Floor and Ceiling
With any luck, your water damage will not have extended beyond a small spot on the ceiling, but typically you will need to replace a few panels and the wood underneath. Any lingering water rot will eventually continue to spread, so you must be thorough, even if it means taking up your ceiling, walls and floors. An auto body repair garage that specializes in RVs like http://autobodyomaha.com may be your best bet to take care of the water rot as quickly, efficiently, and affordably as possible and make your RV roadworthy once more.
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