Escapees May-June 2024

mark, my words

Dehumidi fi er andAC Q. I run a dehumidi fi er when I leave my fi fth wheel in Naples, Florida, for a few weeks. Would you recommend also putting theA/Con? Al A. My home in Livingston is pretty humid, too, so I run adehumidi fi er inside the rig when it is not on the road. It produces a lot of water, so I plumbed in a dedicated drain for it that lets the water drip under the RV. Most dehumidi fi ershavea fi tting for an optional hose to drain the water, as opposed to letting it collect in the built-in tank. If you choose to drain it into a tub or shower, be aware that several quarts of collected water a day are possible. Make sure you won’t over fl ow the grey tank by leaving the dump valve open if you are connected to the sewer. I do not run the A/C when I have the dehumidi fi er running, I think it is an either/or situation. If you run the A/C, you don’t need the dehumidi fi er. here’s my worry: anytime we’re plugged into shore power, the panel in the stairway starts buzzing. Not only is it distracting, but it’s concerning. The panel is where the fuses, and possibly the inverter, are located. When you open the cargo space, it is even louder. I called my dealer and the service representative said not to worry because it’s under warranty if anything should happen. What can happen? Could this eventually cause an electrical fi re? Is there anything I should do? John A. What you are hearing is most likely the converter: that is what provides 12V power to the RV when you are plugged into shore power. It also charges your batteries. Most transformer-based RV converters hum or buzz to some extent, but if the noise is loud enough to be annoying or distracting, then something is not right. It could be as simple as a loose mounting screw on a component inside, or something that is in contact with the case of the converter that is amplifying the sound. It could also be something in the 12V system that is caus ing an abnormal load on the converter and, although the fi re risk is probably low, I wouldn’t discount it. Since your RV is under warranty, I suggest that you ask the dealer to diagnose and correct the problem. You do not have to wait until it fails to ask for warranty service! One hint: you could ask them to plug a similar rig on the sales lot into AC power and see if the converter sound is as loud as yours. If nothing else, it would establish what the “normal” sound level should be. RV Converter Q. We just bought a new fi fth wheel that we love, but

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARK? Submissions must not contain commercial advertising or consumer advocacy issues. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, we may be unable to reply or acknowledge receipt of your material. Material will be edited. Questions and answers with the highest general interest may be repeated in subsequent issues. Questions can be sent by mail to “Mark, My Words” Column, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351-9300 or to techquestions@escapees.com. oxidizes over time, as part of the natural aging process. This surface oxidation is in the form of a chalky material, and rain washes some of it off and down the sides of the RV, where it dries into a streak. These streaks don’t indicate a problem, and several streak-cleaning products for RVs will help remove them. You can also wash the roof to help remove that layer of oxidized rubber. This will reduce the streaking problem. Use a rubber roof cleaner or a mild soap and water solution, and a scrub brush, and rinse it thoroughly. BE CAREFUL on the roof, especially when it is slick with sudsy water. It’s best to do one small area at a time and start at the front of the rig and work back to the ladder. The accumulation of dirt and dust on the rear of the RV is caused partly by oils on the surface of the road that get sucked up into the turbulent air behind the rig as you’re driving. There’s not much you can do to prevent it, but keeping a good coat of wax on the rear of the RV will make it easier to clean. If the residue seems quite oily, it may indicate a leak of oil or fl uid from your RV. An occasional drip from the engine or transmission will get atomized by theair fl ow underneath and wind up on the back of the coach. Stubborn Streak Removal Q. My motorhome often gets streaks on the wind shield, windows, and wall after rain. What causes these dirty streaks? Are these the results of aging rubber roof coating or aging paint coating above the window and windshield? What can we do to minimize these dirty streaks? Also, I often get a lot of dust and dirt accumulated at the back wall of our motorhome on the highway, and they are quite di ffi cult to remove. How can you reduce the stubborn dirt that accumulates on the back of the motorhome? Philip A. If those streaks are white, they are most likely coming from the rubber roof. The rubber membrane

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May/June 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine