Possible RV Restore
1990 Georgie Boy Cruise Air III Does this model have metal framing(roof/walls)? Thanks in advance
Forum Discussion
I certainly recognize that those are valid issues. I don't disagree with you one bit. And yes, 'totally gut' an mold infected rig.
One of the things I learned fron a building inspector that was also participating in "The National Converstion on Public Health and Toxic Exposures" was that black mold started becoming a problem in homes when building codes required that they were tightly sealed against drafts. Since that increased the condensation in bathrooms and laundry rooms they also required exhaust fans. The problem was that the exhaust fan has to 'draw' the air from somewhere. It will draw from the path of least resistance. In homes, thats the sewer vent stack. Black mold feeds on waste, especially animal (human) waste. Its "necrotic." Have you ever cleaned a drain and found all kinds of black slime? That's black mold. Its a good thing it exists, in its proper place, or we'd be drowning in dead animal material. It became a chronic health problem when we started drawing air back through the sewer vents for exhaust fans. The spores were being drawn into our indoor air and we were breathing them in, where they started feeding on the lungs of people, causing chronic illness. The answer is to slightly open a window, in houses, so the air draws from there and doesn't pass over the sewer black mold colonies in the drains. I think the same thing could be occurring in RVs when we run the exhaust fan over the toilet. We open the hatch and suck up the mold spores out of the sewer tank. Then those spores are dispersed around the inside of the RV on the air currents.
So, we need to establish practices that combat the problem. 1. Don't run the exhaust fan when the drains are open. I plug all my drains unless I'm using them. 2. Use enzyme based tank cleaners. Those enzymes keep a health colony fighting molds and bacteria where chemical disinfectants and deoderizers increase mold growth over the long term. 3. Run a UV air purifier, it ruptures and destroys spores. 4. Air out problematic spaces and in those warm damp climates, use a dehumidifier. 5. Clean with tea tree solutions, enzymes, or hydrogen peroxide in mold suceptible areas.
As far as your friends getting sick, there are a lot of indoor air pollutants in an RV. In homes, the CDC says indoor air can be 100-1000 more toxic than outdoor air. Of course that depends on whats going on in both situations, but you get the idea. Autos and RVs are even more toxic. Taking steps to minimize the toxic materials and fumes in their RV would help a lot. Never use toxic cleaning chemicals or fragranced products in your RV. Fragrances contain hundreds of toxic ingredients, including pesticide. The toxic chemicals continue to volatize long after you initially used them. You are shut in there with all those fumes. I never stay hooked up to the sewers, either. The chemicals (and mold spores) in the septic system would be volatizing back into your living space through the tanks. Think about all the toxic stuff people wash down their drains! Then there's the methane from the decaying natural material, ammonia, and sulpher or carbon dioxide. All those toxins rises out of the slurry as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Many times as people travel they are unknowingly exposed to pesticides. If you run your air (as you drive) on "outside air" you suck in the pesticides. I've experienced it myself. If the hwy roadside spraying rig has applied a herbicide like 2,4-D anytime in the 2 weeks before you drive past, you'll be exposed to the pesticide. Those toxins are sucked into your rig and stay there! One beautiful RV park I stayed at did something toxic every single day. Usually it was within 2-50' of the guests! The 'disinfectant' they used on picnic tables and playground equipment was so horrible it cause me respiratory problems from 50' away. Then there was herbicide and insecticide spraying! If you are outside and those chemicals get on you, they are brought back into your RV on your clothes, skin and hair. So you see, your friends reaction to their RV environment is complicated, but it could be considerably improved.
One of the things I learned fron a building inspector that was also participating in "The National Converstion on Public Health and Toxic Exposures" was that black mold started becoming a problem in homes when building codes required that they were tightly sealed against drafts. Since that increased the condensation in bathrooms and laundry rooms they also required exhaust fans. The problem was that the exhaust fan has to 'draw' the air from somewhere. It will draw from the path of least resistance. In homes, thats the sewer vent stack. Black mold feeds on waste, especially animal (human) waste. Its "necrotic." Have you ever cleaned a drain and found all kinds of black slime? That's black mold. Its a good thing it exists, in its proper place, or we'd be drowning in dead animal material. It became a chronic health problem when we started drawing air back through the sewer vents for exhaust fans. The spores were being drawn into our indoor air and we were breathing them in, where they started feeding on the lungs of people, causing chronic illness. The answer is to slightly open a window, in houses, so the air draws from there and doesn't pass over the sewer black mold colonies in the drains. I think the same thing could be occurring in RVs when we run the exhaust fan over the toilet. We open the hatch and suck up the mold spores out of the sewer tank. Then those spores are dispersed around the inside of the RV on the air currents.
So, we need to establish practices that combat the problem. 1. Don't run the exhaust fan when the drains are open. I plug all my drains unless I'm using them. 2. Use enzyme based tank cleaners. Those enzymes keep a health colony fighting molds and bacteria where chemical disinfectants and deoderizers increase mold growth over the long term. 3. Run a UV air purifier, it ruptures and destroys spores. 4. Air out problematic spaces and in those warm damp climates, use a dehumidifier. 5. Clean with tea tree solutions, enzymes, or hydrogen peroxide in mold suceptible areas.
As far as your friends getting sick, there are a lot of indoor air pollutants in an RV. In homes, the CDC says indoor air can be 100-1000 more toxic than outdoor air. Of course that depends on whats going on in both situations, but you get the idea. Autos and RVs are even more toxic. Taking steps to minimize the toxic materials and fumes in their RV would help a lot. Never use toxic cleaning chemicals or fragranced products in your RV. Fragrances contain hundreds of toxic ingredients, including pesticide. The toxic chemicals continue to volatize long after you initially used them. You are shut in there with all those fumes. I never stay hooked up to the sewers, either. The chemicals (and mold spores) in the septic system would be volatizing back into your living space through the tanks. Think about all the toxic stuff people wash down their drains! Then there's the methane from the decaying natural material, ammonia, and sulpher or carbon dioxide. All those toxins rises out of the slurry as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Many times as people travel they are unknowingly exposed to pesticides. If you run your air (as you drive) on "outside air" you suck in the pesticides. I've experienced it myself. If the hwy roadside spraying rig has applied a herbicide like 2,4-D anytime in the 2 weeks before you drive past, you'll be exposed to the pesticide. Those toxins are sucked into your rig and stay there! One beautiful RV park I stayed at did something toxic every single day. Usually it was within 2-50' of the guests! The 'disinfectant' they used on picnic tables and playground equipment was so horrible it cause me respiratory problems from 50' away. Then there was herbicide and insecticide spraying! If you are outside and those chemicals get on you, they are brought back into your RV on your clothes, skin and hair. So you see, your friends reaction to their RV environment is complicated, but it could be considerably improved.
