Posted 2006-11-22 9:18 AM (#51782) Subject: Condensation or a leak?
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Kernersville, NC
We have an all steel trailer that we have had for 2 years now with never any trouble. Two weeks ago we went on a trip only to discover while setting up camp that our mattress and all our bedding was soaked. All the moisture seemed to be coming from the bottom up, not from any leak that we could see from the ceiling. The paneling under the windows was wharped and moldy in spots.
We got it dried out by the time we went to bed, but by morning my husband noticed that the carpet on his side of the bed was wet again.
We got home, got the mattress out, which will have to be replaced because of mold, and got the trailer dried out again. My husband looked over the trailer and caulked anything that he thought could possibly be a source of a leak.
It rained yesterday so I thought I would go out today and take a look. IT IS SOAKED AGAIN!
Could this much moisture be coming from condensation, or do we have a leak somewhere that we just can't find?
Posted 2006-11-22 11:02 AM (#51787 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 671
Location: THE GREAT NORTHWET, OREGON(THE REAL GODS COUNTRY)
No I think you have a good leak somewere...one thing I have done is,if you have an air compressor,apply soapy water to the outside of windows,seams,etc and blow from the inside with the air hose.If your lucky bubbles will show up where any leaks are.
I have also used a leak detection fluid in water,when applied it will show up under a ultraviolet lamp(black lite)
Also make sure it is dry and have someone spray water on a spot at a time while you look for leaks.
Sometimes a leak will start somewere else and run down to the easiest spot to drain.
Posted 2006-11-22 11:10 AM (#51790 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 671
Location: THE GREAT NORTHWET, OREGON(THE REAL GODS COUNTRY)
For instance...My new LQ trailer leaked water on a side compartment,I assumed it was the seal and tightened the door....wrong....there was a neat crome and rubber strip that ran along the side and under it was a seam.......well it wasn't sealed and water leaked past it and into the compartment under the feed manger.
I removed the fancy and sealed the seam with silicone.Then replaced the strip.No more leaks.Look at everything and don't assume anything like I did.
Posted 2006-11-22 12:04 PM (#51794 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Oregon
I had the same problem with my 2002 Trailswest trailer. My leak was coming from a seam where the roof meets the walls of the trailer. The roof overlapped the walls so it looked like the water would run off, we sealed it anyway and presto the leak was one. I'm learning that each spring, I check all the seams to make sure the silicone has survived the winter in good shape. Good luck to you! Hope this helps.
Posted 2006-11-22 2:28 PM (#51801 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Expert
Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina
Hi Wendy ...
From my experience, the amount of water you're describing is a leak. I would suggest after looking at the roof, look at the windows. Some windows have a scupper to drain any water that gets into the channels. If the scupper is clogged, the water overflows inside the trailer. The other path is the top of the window frame channel.
PS ... Silicon is good but polyurethane is a better caulk choice.
Posted 2006-11-23 8:25 AM (#51825 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by Wendy on 2006-11-22 9:18 AM
We have an all steel trailer that we have had for 2 years now with never any trouble. Two weeks ago we went on a trip only to discover while setting up camp that our mattress and all our bedding was soaked. All the moisture seemed to be coming from the bottom up, not from any leak that we could see from the ceiling. The paneling under the windows was wharped and moldy in spots.
We got it dried out by the time we went to bed, but by morning my husband noticed that the carpet on his side of the bed was wet again.
We got home, got the mattress out, which will have to be replaced because of mold, and got the trailer dried out again. My husband looked over the trailer and caulked anything that he thought could possibly be a source of a leak.
It rained yesterday so I thought I would go out today and take a look. IT IS SOAKED AGAIN!
Could this much moisture be coming from condensation, or do we have a leak somewhere that we just can't find?
If it leaked WHILE STANDING STILL, but apparently from the bottom up, I'd guess you don't just have a leak, but a major HOLE somewhere. You might be able to figure out where it is if you know the direction of the prevailing wind - you know which way the trailer was parked at the time.
Your problem could even be a piece of weatherstrip that has come adrift and actually left the scene, so you might not even notice that it is gone (-:
Check around all doors, access hatches, etc.
Posted 2006-11-23 9:30 AM (#51831 - in reply to #51782) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Veteran
Posts: 247
Location: NW
My guess is going to be leaking around your windows. I had a steel trailer years ago that did that...& can't remember what the one previous poster called it, but was in that area. I was told to drill "weep holes" in the metal rim around the windows so that when they filled up w/water, they would drain thru & stay OUTSIDE the trailer, instead of welling up & going inside.
Posted 2006-11-23 12:38 PM (#51838 - in reply to #51831) Subject: RE: Condensation or a leak?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: washington
I have a 95 Charmac steele gooseneck trailer with sealed tack area... it has a leak, I believe at the edge of the window seam. Man was it ever wet in there... my mattress was soaked on one side, even the floor was wet, which had a bit of hay scraps on it (now moldy). What a big mess. I can't see any holes anywhere and there are no vents, so I think it's the window seam on one side. I caulked and covered with a tarp for a temporary solution. I am waiting for a dry day (I am near seattle and it's winter - not too many dry days) I also noticed the trailer does collect a LOT of condensation, both in the gooseneck tack area and in the horse area. What do you do about that? I put in one of those little humidifiers and am hoping that helps. I don't think I can safely leave anything in that trailer over the winter if this continues. That's disappointing because I don't have my own barn to store stuff.