Overhead Vents; Effects Of Prolonged Occupancy; Controlling Moisture Condensation - Fleetwood Bounder 1987 Owner's Manual

brightness. The shade may be removed for clean-
ing or bulb replacement. Replace the bulbs with type
1076 dual bayonet.
Utility style fixtures may be either single or dual.
A slide switch selects either single or dual brightness.
Clean the lenses in soapy water. Replace the bulbs
with type 1141.
Overhead Vents
Overhead vents located in the galley and bathroom
areas help circulate fresh air through the motor home,
and exhaust galley and bathroom odors and vapors
from cooking and bathing.
Turn the crank in the center of the vent to open and
adjust it. Some vents may also be equipped with a
12-volt fan. A toggle switch controls fan operation.
Be sure to turn the fan OFF before closing the vent.
If you travel in heavily wooded areas or other places
where overhead clearance is restricted, close the vents
or lower them so they don't strike overhead
obstructions.
The vents may be cleaned from the top of the motor
home. Use soapy water on the vent cover. The
screens may be vacuumed or lightly brushed to
remove accumulations of leaves or other debris.
Lubricate the gears and mechanism yearly with a
light, water resistant grease.
EFFECTS OF PROLONGED OCCUPANCY
Your motor home was designed primarily for recrea-
tional use and short term occupancy. If you expect
to occupy the motor home for an extended Period, be
prepared to deal with condensation and the humid
conditions that may be encountered. The relatively
small volume, and tight, compact construction of a
modern recreational vehicle mean that the normalliv-
ing activities of even a few occupants will lead to rapid
saturation of the air contained in the motor home and
the appearance of visible moisture, especially in cold
weather. If you know the signs of excessive moisture
and condensation, you can minimize their effects.-
Just as moisture collects on the outside of a glass
of cold water during humid weather, moisture can
condense on the inside surfac!ls of your motor home
during use in cold weather when humidity of· the in-
a
the small
tio,,"'Ic,f,'-'!'h',,"'Vehicle allow aquick'bUlld\i'pof high
IlJOi$Wr.II,¥!I!.v!i!I~41'\,;!tI!l,~,(lside
air.
"'ill"j,.;M"Jt¥'''~w"~,,,,'i' ~,
',·'fhe air. in,side !I"recreation!ll.vehicle can cpnt<tin a
surprisingly"large, <tmount ofwaterYlIPor. Estimates
indicate that a family offour can 1i1lPorize up to three
g<tIlOh~',of
"w!)ter
daily.th~ough'bfeathing,
'cooking,
b<tthing,'andwashing. Unlesstl'lls water.vaporis car-
'ried outside by 'ventilation, or condensed by a
dehumidifier, it will condense on the inside of the' win-
dows and walls as moisture, or' in cold weather as
frost or ice. It may aiso condense out of sight within
the walls or the ceiling where it will manifest itself as
stained panels. Appearance of these conditions in-
dicates a condensation problem.
CONTROLLING MOISTURE CONDENSATION
You can reduce or eliminate interior moisture con-
densation during cold weather by taking the follow-
ing steps:
Ventilate with outside air.
Partially open one or more roof vents and one or
more windows to provide controlled circulation of
outside air into the interior. While this ventilation
will increase furnace heating ioad, it will greatly
reduce, or eliminate, water c~ndensation.
Note: Even when it is raining or snowing. ventila-
tion air from outside will be far drier than interior
air and will effectively reduce condensation.
Install tight fitting storm windows to reduce or
eliminate condensation on window glass.
The interior surface of the storm window will be
at least 20 degrees warmer, reducing moisture con-
densation. DO NOT COVER THE EMERGENCY EXIT
WINDOW. This window must be left accessible at
all times for emergency exit,
Reduce moisture released inside the motor home.
2B
Run the range ventfan when cooking and the bath
vent fan (or open the bath, vent) when bathing to
carry water vapor out of the motor home. Avoid
making steam from excessive boiling or use of hot
water. Remove water or snow from shoes before
ehtering to avoid soaking the carpet. Avoid drying
overcoats or other clothes inside the motor home.
WARNING: DO NOT HEAT THE MOTOR HOME IN-
TERIOR WITH THE RANGE OR OVEN. In addition to
the hazards of toxic fumes and oxygen depletion
whieh make heating by the range or oven very
dangerous; open flames add moisture to the interior
air, inereasing eondensation. Do not use an air
humidifier inside the motor home. Water put into
the air by the humidifier will increase eondensation.
Ventilate closets and cabinets
During prolonged use in very cold weather, leave
cabinet and closet doors partially open to warm and
ventilate the interiors of storage COf(lp!lrtmepts built
"'again.st.,exti3rio(waIJ$~:~The; ~1~i~,\§~~}!!.W)arttt~t~~
exterlor,wall
surfaeel'ireduclng'Q1i.iI~!j:\IIUl,tll)g~oh.
densation and preventing possll:Jle'lce"formation.
Installll-'tiehumidifier
appliaii'ce!""!¥>~'ii-"1i",\':-
"f<' . :
Dur.ing prolonged, continuolis use, a.dehumidify- ,
ing appliance may be more comfortable and effec-
tive in removing excess moisture from the interior
air. While use of a dehumidifier is not a "cure-ail",
and ventilation, storm windows" and" moisture
reduction continue to 'be important, operat.iQn of the
dehumidifier will reduce the amount of oLitsideair '
needed for ventilation. Heating ioad on the furnace,
will be reduced, and the intilrior will'be'less drafty.