How To Dry Out RV Underbelly (Water in Underbelly After Rain)
If there is a small leak somewhere, water will find it eventually. Then it will use that leak to go where you do not want it to go. When it does, you may be in for a lot of work as you dry the underbelly before mold gets a chance to grow.
The first step will be to remove all the insulation from the area. Insulation dries slowly when in its cramped areas. And mold will grow before it gets dry. Also, use some fans to help remove the moisture as well as a shop vacuum.
To learn more about how to handle this issue, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can handle the problem quickly. The only thing you have to worry about will be your warranty.
RV Underbelly Flooded
These things do happen and the first word of advice is to check to see if you are under warranty. While dealers are not the most reliable for repair services, you have to make that option your first stop.
Let them handle the repair if you still have coverage. If you have an extended warranty plan, you may be able to skip the dealer and go to any approved and licensed repair shop.
One step you can take is to cut a slit into the underbelly to help facilitate the drying process but do not do any repairs if you are still under warranty. If you are still under warranty, give your dealer a call right away and let them know.
Then take photos and mark the date of the flooding. That way you can protect yourself in case anyone says anything contrary to what you have stated. The problem with water leaks is that they can come from anywhere.
It could be that the overflow vent line was placed wrong, or that the water is coming through the slide rails as they are in the wheel wells and many other locations. It will take time to find the source so be thorough.
Water in RV Underbelly After Rain
The reality of this issue is that you may never totally solve this issue. Water will find a way in and it will always go to the lowest point possible. That means that you may always have water in the underbelly issue if you live in a rainy state.
One suggestion to fix this issue, and this comes from one of the RV factories, is to poke a few holes in the underbelly to let the water out. You may need to poke more than a few holes and you need to make sure those holes are at the lowest point possible.
You shouldn’t have to worry about mold after poking the holes in the material. The holes will also help with airflow and keep the enclosed area fairly dry. Then it may not be rain which is your problem.
You may have a leak somewhere and instead of assuming it is rainwater that is causing this issue, check for leaks first. You will want to patch those leaks in your plumbing before you do too much else.
How To Dry Out The RV Underbelly
There are several tools that you can use to help dry this area of your RV or trailer. One option is to open up the underbelly and use the shop vacuum to suck up any excess moisture. These shop vacs are powerful, waterproof and handle a lot of water for you.
The next option would be to use fans. If you can lower your underbelly, set the fans on their top speed and position them in a way to covers the area completely. If you have a leaf blower, you can use that tool as well.
Blowers can drive the water out and at the same time, they will dry the area as it goes. It is a very handy tool as it can do the work with just a little opening. One option would be to make sure there is proper ventilation in the underbelly region.
You will want good airflow as that is the natural way to dry an area like this. You will not be able to seal up every gap, etc., as slide rails need gaps to function. To improve the airflow and poke a few small holes in the underbelly to let the water out and the air flow through.
Just do not make those holes large enough for mice or rats to gain access to your RV or trailer.
How To Seal an RV Underbelly
You will have several options to do this task but the first thing to remember is that you will not be able to seal all the gaps leading to your underbelly. One reason for this is that if your RV or trailer has slides, then you cannot seal those gaps if you want the slide to work.
To seal those areas you can close them up completely, one way is to use double-sided tape. Slide one part of the tape into place and let it stick, then pull off the protective coating on the other side and push the underbelly material up to it.
One-sided tape works well if it is strong enough to adhere to the materials under your RV or trailer. Then there will be areas that can handle silicone sealant. So look at the area you want to seal and choose the best product.
Some Final Words
Water is going to get inside your underbelly. It is a fact of RV life and every owner seems to have faced this problem at one time or another. Look for leaks first, patch any you find and then do your best to seal the gaps in the underbelly region. Poke a few holes to let the water run out as well.
