Forum Discussion

Bowhunter61's avatar
Bowhunter61
Explorer
Apr 13, 2020

Finding my leak

I had posted about a leak I had back in 2016, took it to a dealer and they supposedly used a SealTech and found the issue. Well only a couple months later when I brought it down to my land in TN, I found the leak was still there. I have been keeping it under cover the last 4 years in a pole building at our TN property so I haven't worried about it until now. Our house is built now and we are ready to start using it again. So I took it to a dealer here and they again supposedly fixed it, said it was the corner trim on the back edge of the garage. Left it out in the rain yesterday and leak is still there.
Here is the original thread
TH Link

it's a fuision TH, So I wanted to throw my plan out here and see if people could give me some recommendations.

Plan: I am going to tackle finding this myself. I figure I can rig up my own "SealTech" type of system. First I am going to seal the garage area because that is where the leak seems to be coming from. I have a big slider door that isolates the garage from the rest of the unit. I am going to use an electric leaf blower with a dry vent tube hooked to it and run it into the side vent of the garage (vent that can be opened to let our fumes). I will tape the seams on the ramp door. Then use a mix 1-3 soap to water to spray on all the windows and corners then up to the roof.

Anything else I would need to be aware of?

Thanks
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Apr 13, 2020
    Best of luck finding that leak. It's not always anywhere close to where it shows up on the inside.

    Getting enough pressure inside the rig to find that leak is unlikely, but ya got nothing to lose for trying. Again, best of luck. You will be amazed to see how many air vents you have that you never knew existed.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Apr 13, 2020
    The FIRST thing I would do at our shop would be to pull the window right above the damage. That will tell you a lot. I will bet it is coming in the window due to the leak damage below it. Doug
  • Bowhunter61's avatar
    Bowhunter61
    Explorer
    Apr 13, 2020
    dougrainer wrote:
    The FIRST thing I would do at our shop would be to pull the window right above the damage. That will tell you a lot. I will bet it is coming in the window due to the leak damage below it. Doug
    I am thinking of pulling both windows, there are 2 big ones right there one on top of the other. Could the awning mount also be suspect> it is right there next to both windows, I checked the mounting bolts and they are all covered but not sure behind the frame
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Apr 13, 2020
    find a place that can do a pressure test,with smoke is better. it,ll show all leaks.
  • Bowhunter61's avatar
    Bowhunter61
    Explorer
    Apr 13, 2020
    midnightsadie wrote:
    find a place that can do a pressure test,with smoke is better. it,ll show all leaks.


    Last place I had it was a registered SealTech test location. So either they didn't run the test or they found one leak and stopped there and they had it for over a month. So I am done with dealerships and going to try to fix this myself, I can get the unit back in the pole building under cover now and take my time. I am confident the leak is originating in the garage area, if you read my original post the water was traveling down the back corner but them running forward and across the floor because the unit was parked on a slant forward and to the right. So I hope that narrows it down to the windows, awning, or roof seam. But the roof seam was just addressed by the dealer. I am going to spend a couple weeks on it and if I can't find it I will find another place to try and fix it.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Apr 13, 2020
    I,d bet the dealer didn,t do the test ,sounds like you got a plan. had a buddy worked for our local big dealer said they short cut everything ,hee had to move on couldn,t stand seeing all the people being ripped off.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Apr 13, 2020
    Use a box fan to pressurize the RV.

    Invite a smoker friend for a visit, and buy them a pack. Follow the smoke and observe the outside.

    There may well be multiple leaks.
  • Thermoguy's avatar
    Thermoguy
    Explorer II
    Apr 13, 2020
    In building leaks they do a smoke test, that is actually a smoking piece of material that you pass over the seams and edges and the smoke will blow when you find the leak. The pressure idea is correct, but not sure if your leaf blower can give it enough force to pressurize the room. You might want to get a thermal camera, put a heater in the room, suck air into the room, and look for cool spots. Might be too many air leaks for this to work. Campers aren't built very well.

    I had a leak that showed up in the rear bunk house. Turns out it was from the fridge roof cover. Not sure how it worked its way back to the bunk house, but it did. Had an RV shop fix it and it hasn't leaked since.
  • Dusty_R's avatar
    Dusty_R
    Explorer
    Apr 13, 2020
    Take a vacuum cleaner that you can put the hose in the exhaust of it, then use a piece of the plastic that they use to make signs, its like corrugated cardboard. And put it someplace like an open window, and put the other end of the vacuum hose threw the corrugated plastic. Then run water over your mh and watch for bubbles.

    Good Luck, Let us know how you make out.
  • Big_Katuna's avatar
    Big_Katuna
    Explorer II
    Apr 13, 2020
    I have a floor dryer fan that would do the job. Big squirrel cage fan.

    Maybe rent one? When the window is out make a gasket out of plywood for the fan.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,188 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 18, 2025