Proper Electrical Grounding Redux
Dear RV Doctor:
In the “AC Electrical Query” letter that appeared in the October 2013 “House Calls” column (page 22), you indicated it was imperative that electrical connections to shore current be properly grounded. My question is …
Category:
House Calls
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No Refrigeration At High Altitudes
Dear RV Doctor:
I have been camping at high altitudes in Colorado for 40 years and never had a problem until I bought a new motorhome recently. The owners manual for my Norcold refrigerator says … -
Dear RV Doctor:
We just bought a motorhome and discovered that the previous owners put automotive antifreeze instead of RV antifreeze in the fresh-water tank when they winterized it. How can … -
Dear RV Doctor:
In the “Tech Talk” column that appeared in the June 2013 issue of Family Motor Coaching, the answer to the “‘New’ Motorhome Problems” letter (page 21) offered information about pressure testing the fresh water system for leaks. -
Debilitating Deadbolt
Dear RV Doctor:
I own a 1998 Thor Residency, and I need to replace the deadbolt. What I thought would be an easy job has turned out to be a nightmare. I can't seem to find the correct deadbolt. I’ve been to different hardware stores and … -
Rotten Roof
I just purchased a used 2005 motorhome. After paying the previous owner and driving five hours home, I got up on the roof to check it out. I found that the roof around the bathroom vent is soft and has a "crunchy" feeling under the rubber. -
AC Electrical Query
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a quick electrical question. My friend was cleaning his motorhome, and when he touched the rims, he received a slight tingling sensation or shock. When I came over, we first checked the shore power outlet at his house and it was fine. But … -
Anode Rod Insulation
I am writing in regard to the “Finicky Fittings” question that appeared in the April 2013 issue (page 26) about the connection of the anode rod to a steel water heater tank. To work effectively, doesn't the rod need to … -
Stubborn Sealants
Dear RV Doctor:
My motorhome is 12 years old, and it has developed rooftop leaks around the areas where the horns, TV cables, and vents are mounted. I am having a difficult time removing the old caulk sealant. Is there anything I can use to soften the old caulk? I have tried acetone, but it does not seem to work very well. -
A Pressurizing Alternative?
Dear RV Doctor:
I watched your video about the SealTech device used to determine the location of possible water leaks in a motorhome (www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOQ-cJWGY-o). Instead of paying for this service, couldn't one effectively accomplish the same test with the roof vents in the motorhome? -
Pinpointing Water Entry
Dear RV Doctor:
It appears that I have a leak in the sidewall or roof of my motorhome. I bought the motorhome last year. The dealer said that they performed a "bubble" test that showed that the coach didn't leak. Shortly after I bought the coach, I found water damage in a drawer that slides to the outside wall area.
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Why ABS?
Dear RV Doctor:
Why do RV manufacturers use plumbing made of ABS material instead of PVC? -
Corroded Conduits?
Dear RV Doctor:
My wife and I have been full-timers for about three years and have a 2008 Fleetwood Providence. Lately my wife has complained about the water pressure being very low, particularly in the shower. -
Relocate A Smoke Alarm?
Dear RV Doctor:
We live in our unit full-time. The smoke alarm in our motorhome is so sensitive that I cannot cook a meal without it going off. -
Lubrication And Solar Charging
Dear RV Doctor:
I’m looking for the name of a lubricant that won't attract dust. Also, how do I determine whether the solar panels on my motorhome roof are working and whether there is a charge controller? -
Manually Extending A Slideout
Dear RV Doctor:
The slideout motor on my Challenger motorhome is not working, which means I have to manually operate the slideout. The owners manual does not give instructions on how to do this. Do you know how? -
Patch, Repair, Or Replace?
Dear RV Doctor:
We own a 1999 National RV Tropi-Cal motorhome. The gray water tank leaks when it reaches about two-thirds full. The tank was installed on the chassis over the gas tank. The floor and bathtub were then installed over the water tank. Because of this installation, there is no way to get to the gray water tank to repair it.
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Motorhome Heater Problem
Dear RV Doctor:
I own a 2008 Suncruiser, and the coach furnace suddenly stopped working. There is power leaving the circuit breaker, but there is no power at the toggle switch. -
Whistling In Dixie
Dear RV Doctor:
We turn on the water heater only when we need hot water. However, when we do, within a couple of minutes we can hear a whining sound, which seems to come from the propane tank area. -
Elusive Water Tank Drain
Dear RV Doctor:
My wife and I recently retired and are new to the RV lifestyle. We love it so far, but for the life of me, I cannot find the outlet to drain the water out of the fresh water tank so I can sanitize it. -
Burner Orifice Redux
Dear RV Doctor:
I enjoyed your “RV Water Heater Maintenance” article in the May 2012 issue of FMC magazine (page 40) very much. I do have one question. When I remove the water heater main burner orifice to clean it, should I use any pipe thread compound, sealant, etc. when screwing it back in?
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Load Bearing
Dear RV Doctor:
How do you put a load on a generator in the winter? You recommend running the air conditioners to exercise the generator, but that doesn't seem practical during the cold winter months. -
Temperature A-Risin’
Dear RV Doctor:
How do I raise the water temperature on my Precision Temp continuous water heater? I see no adjustable thermostat. The water heater is working, and it’s suitable for a quick shower in the summer, but the water is not hot enough for washing up. -
Graphic Description
Dear RV Doctor:
I recently purchased a 1985 motorhome that has a weathered exterior. It has a lot of vinyl graphics that are baked on, cracked, and peeling. I would like to remove the graphics to clean up the appearance but have yet to find anything that helps release the bond of the decals. -
The Law Of Gravity
Dear RV Doctor:
I have an Itasca motorhome and have run into a problem filling my fresh water tank when dry camping. There is no gravity feed inlet to fill the fresh water tank. -
Holding Tank Installation
Dear RV Doctor:
I recently bought an older Type C motorhome and just noticed that the dump valves on the gray and black water tanks had been broken off at one time. -
Furnace Inefficiency
Dear RV Doctor:
I have an older motorhome with two sideways-mounted propane tanks in the compartment. My furnace was working fine until one of my propane tanks ran out and I turned the other one on. Must both tanks be turned on at the same time for the furnace to heat properly? -
Dear RV Doctor:
I am interested in adding solar panels to my motorhome to help power it when I’m dry camping. My motorhome uses four (U2200) golf cart batteries. I typically run them down to approximately 50 percent charge overnight. -
Adding A Battery Disconnect Switch
Dear RV Doctor:
My new motorhome did not come with a disconnect switch for the batteries. I want to install one, but I’m unsure of the proper way. -
Support Needed
Dear RV Doctor:
We just purchased our first motorhome, a preowned 2006 28-foot model. The unit is in great shape, and I would like to keep it that way. I want to clean the roof, but I have heard that you can’t walk on all motorhome roofs.  -
Showerhead Separation
Dear RV Doctor:
Our outdoor showerhead has broken off from the hose on our new coach. Not only did the head break off, but the connector to the hose broke as well, so simply replacing the head isn’t an option.  -
Up Or Down?
I moved my motorhome to the Oregon coast and will leave it there for two to six weeks between visits. Should the hydraulic levelers be left up or down? When I store it for the winter, six months at a time, I always retract them. Considering the saltwater air near the coast, I would assume they should be … -
Stripped-Out Awning Lag
Dear RV Doctor:
Is there an easy fix for a stripped-out lag bolt on the bottom bracket for the awning arm on my motorhome? -
Possible Fresh Water System Freeze Damage
Dear RV Doctor:
We are purchasing a 2007 Winnebago motorhome with 16,000 miles on the odometer. Unfortunately, it was exposed to freezing temperatures with fresh water still in the system, and the water heater froze and cracked. -
Perplexing Propane Problems
Dear RV Doctor:
I am having a problem with the pilot light on my motorhome’s hot water tank. I can light the pilot, but when I turn the dial to the “On†position, it takes a moment for the ignition. And when the propane gas finally reaches the pilot light area, the combustion is so strong that it blows out the pilot light and the main heating flame. -
Frozen Holding Tanks
Dear RV Doctor:
I think I really messed up. Last night the temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees. I thought about the fresh water and left it dripping at a faucet, but I never thought about the black and gray holding tanks. -
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Magnum inverter in a 2007 Monaco motorhome. On shore power and generator power, all the receptacles check “good†using a three-light plug-in tester. However, when the electrical system is on inverter power, the receptacles show an open ground on both circuits. -
Refrigerator Leveling
Dear RV Doctor:
We recently purchased a preowned 2007 motorhome. We haven’t actually camped in it yet but have done some local driving to get used to it. We’ve read about the need to level the motorhome so the refrigerator works properly and understand the necessity. -
Seeping Shower Stall
Dear RV Doctor:
We have a 2007 Damon Daybreak with a “hex†shower stall that is leaking. The leak is coming from somewhere in the glass section framing or where the shower sides, glass, and plastic connect to the bottom section. -
Foul Battery Odors
Dear RV Doctor:
On a recent camping trip, our motorhome was connected to 30-amp shore power. During the night, our carbon monoxide (CO) alarm went off. Since there was no stove or furnace operating, I concluded the alarm must be defective. I did notice the coach battery compartment was warm to the touch. -
In Hot Water
Dear RV Doctor:
I was told that it is best to drain your hot water tank after each excursion, so I replaced the anode with a petcock. I now drain the water out, but I am curious as to the soundness of this plumbing exchange. -
Blowout Plug
Dear RV Doctor:
I’ve heard about the dry method of winterizing a motorhome using a “Schrader valve” to blow the water out of the plumbing lines with an air compressor set to 20 psi, and then adding antifreeze in the kitchen, bath, and shower drains. Is this a good idea? -
Pump Problem
Dear RV Doctor:
I have a SHURflo 4.0 Smart Sensor water pump in my motorhome, and I get an air lock in the line. I have had the fittings tightened, and it still has to burp the air out to run right. -
Keep ’Em Clean And Dry
Dear RV Doctor:
You have taught me so much over the years. You have discussed every aspect of vehicle care, including the importance of taking proper care of your tires. I know you’ve mentioned that something should be placed between your tires and the concrete. What type of material should be used? -
LP Leak At Range
Dear RV Doctor:
I have an LP-gas leak around one of the compression fittings going to the stove/oven. I have done everything I can think of to fix it. Can I use some high-temp silicone around the tubing on the outside to stop the leak?
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Sodden Slideout Situation
Dear RV Doctor:
We purchased a 2004 motorhome three months ago. From the moment we got it, the slideout has leaked. It has leaked so badly that the wood trim around the interior of the slideout has all been removed because of mold, and the laminate on the dinette table is buckled. -
Boiled Batteries
Dear RV Doctor:
I just bought a used motorhome equipped with dual auxiliary batteries. I used my voltmeter to test them and got a reading of only 8.5 volts. When I checked the cells I found they all were almost dry. -
Waterless P-Trap
Dear RV Doctor:
Recently I was at an RV show, and I noticed that under the lavatory sink there was not a regular P-trap, just a straight fitting or adapter. Any idea what this was? I thought all sinks had to have a water lock to keep the holding tank fumes from getting inside the motorhome. -
Noisy Water Pump
Dear RV Doctor:
The water pump in my motorhome is turning on about every couple of minutes without any faucets calling for water. It is also very noisy and vibrates the pipes down the side of the RV. There are no apparent leaks, kinks, etc. What could be the problem? -
Prewired For A Generator?
Dear RV Doctor:
We are considering adding a generator to our coach. We have heard our model is prewired for one, but we are not sure. How do we tell, and what type should we get?