Escapees November-December 2022

mark, my words

Your RV Questions By MARK NEMETH #45776, Escapees Technical Advisor Send your questions via e-mail to techquestions@escapees.com

Tank Sensor System

Fiberglass Roof Repair Q. There are many prod ucts and much infor mation about the care and repair of rubber roofs. However, I cannot recall ever

Q. This is our second rig that has a black tank sensor issue. I deliberately asked about this when we bought our fi fth wheel,

and I received all sorts of advice such as use baking soda, use crushed ice and use certain chemicals in the tank cleaners. We still have the problem. Occasionally, it clears up a bit, but, then, reads full again after the tank is dumped. Is there any true way to fi x this? Norma A. This problem has plagued RVers for decades. That’s primarily because the typical tank sensor system has not changed much since the 1980s. Most RV tank sensors utilize small metal probes that are in actual contact with the tank contents. Over time, the buildup of “yuck,” or even one errant piece of toilet paper getting hung up on a sensor, will cause false readings. There are wide assortments of tank cleaning “I think the best way to address this common problem is to invest in a replacement tank monitoring system.” concoctions on the shelves of your local RV store and there are dozens of home-brew cleaning ideas out there, and some work better than others, but nothing will fi x the problem permanently. I think the best way to address this common problem is to invest in a replacement tank monitoring system. There are several different ones on the market and they all work without any electrical probes inside the tank. Some systems simply require a sensor or two be placed on the outside of the tank body. The system then reads the level of the contents of the tank through the tank wall. Since the tank contacts never touch the sensors, they tend to be very reliable. Other systems use a pressure sensing method to determine the level in the tank. Here are links to a couple systems that I have played with and found that they both provide accu rate tank level readings using sensors that are af fi xed to the outside of the tank. • iSeries: https://tankedge.com/ • SeeLevel: https://www.garnetinstruments.com/rv-shop/ I have purchased and installed several of the iSeries (originally sold under the name Acu-gage) systems for my RVs over the last 20 years and I have personally been pleased with them. These systems are very accurate and linear, and can be installed by the average do-it-yourselfer.

seeing a product or process for the care and maintenance of a fi berglass roof. Can the same products be used? I recently had a tree branch carve a niche in the corner of my roof and I am concerned as to what products I may use to repair it. Thomas A. Fiberglass roofs are fairly easy to repair, as most common roo fi ng repair materials will stick to them. First, scrape off any old caulk or sealant. Then, thoroughly clean the area to be repaired. I like to use a spray-on cleaner like Windex or 409 to remove the dirt. Once that dries, I follow up with acetone to remove any soap residue or oils. (Be careful with the acetone around any painted surfaces!) If the damaged area is small, a self-leveling roof caulk can be used to seal it. In cases where a larger area is involved, you can use standard roof patching compounds and some reinforcing tape, or a specialized roof repair tape. One product that I am fascinated with is a tape product called Eternabond. This is a repair tape with a high-tech adhesive that sticks permanently to just about anything. You can fi nd it at most RV parts stores and I have yet to fi nd anything it won’t adhere to! In fact, it can even be used to repair holding tanks. Take a look at www. eternabond.com for more info.

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ESCAPEES Magazine November/December 2022