I want to do some testing for leaks, drafts, and airflow in and around my travel trailer. What makes a cheap, safe, easy to use source of smoke?

You could get this smoke pen:smoke pen or more cheaply this:aerosol can

If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.

Nunyadamn wrote:If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.I think it would be very difficult to seal a RV or a house tight enough to pull that off. Every electrical outlet, wire run and every pipe penetration would leak as well as many nails and screws

rent the fans they use for drying carpet and flooded area, I think could be done.

agesilaus wrote:Nunyadamn wrote:If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.I think it would be very difficult to seal a RV or a house tight enough to pull that off. Every electrical outlet, wire run and every pipe penetration would leak as well as many nails and screwsThis sort of pressure testing is done quite commonly for RVs. You do need a blower that can maintain a reasonably high airflow at a steady but low pressure. Sealtech is probably the biggest commercial purveyor of this gear, but people have had success with various thrown together setups using things like leaf blowers, shop vacs, residential furnace fans, etc.Here is one good thread on DIY pressure testing.

Smoke Machine | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 13, 2016
Oh and I would not use a smoke machine cause you are going to be left with SMOKE to clean up. Major mess.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 13, 2016
Sealtec they seal the vents (Defroster/heater and such) holes that are designed in (Plumbing and electric) then pressurize the interior (A leaf blower can do this) and give the rig a bath with very soapy (dish soap) water.. Bubbles = Leaks.

When you find leaks, Fix 'em and do it again.. After you run out of leaks... WAX
westend
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Between RVnet's issues and Photobucket, I'm not going to take the time right now to list the whole DIY process for a pressurized leak test. It is easy to do and will show up even the smallest pinhole.

I may compile the whole shebang into a new thread in the DIY section or the OP can PM me for details.
gbopp
Explorer
May 12, 2016
agesilaus wrote:

I think it would be very difficult to seal a RV or a house tight enough to pull that off. Every electrical outlet, wire run and every pipe penetration would leak as well as many nails and screws

RV Leak Test
GordonThree
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Ask at your rental place for a FLIR camera, commonly used for leak testing. Either turn up your heat or ac full blast and look for hot/cold spots.
TomG2
Explorer
May 12, 2016
agesilaus wrote:
You could get this smoke pen:
smoke pen or more cheaply this:

aerosol can

Thanks for the links. I am not wanting to do a whole house leakdown test like some assume. Lots easier to watch smoke than stick a wet finger in the air near a wall vent for instance.
DrewE
Explorer II
May 12, 2016
agesilaus wrote:
Nunyadamn wrote:
If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.

I think it would be very difficult to seal a RV or a house tight enough to pull that off. Every electrical outlet, wire run and every pipe penetration would leak as well as many nails and screws

This sort of pressure testing is done quite commonly for RVs. You do need a blower that can maintain a reasonably high airflow at a steady but low pressure. Sealtech is probably the biggest commercial purveyor of this gear, but people have had success with various thrown together setups using things like leaf blowers, shop vacs, residential furnace fans, etc.

Here is one good thread on DIY pressure testing.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
May 12, 2016
rent the fans they use for drying carpet and flooded area, I think could be done.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 12, 2016
Nunyadamn wrote:
If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.

I think it would be very difficult to seal a RV or a house tight enough to pull that off. Every electrical outlet, wire run and every pipe penetration would leak as well as many nails and screws
Nunyadamn
Explorer
May 12, 2016
If you are testing for leaks in your roof, I think you just need to pressurize the inside with a fan and spray the roof seams with soapy water. Is that what you are working on? Generally, I think you just have to close all the windows and doors, figure out how to add a good fan to blow into your trailer (get a good seal for the fan in a window or in a door) from the outside. The pressure will send the air out any openings. The soapy water will bubble at any leaking point. I am guessing others will be able to give better details than this if this is what you are looking for.