About Molds; What Are Molds; What Factors Contribute; How Can Mold Growth - Airstream 2017 Interstate Owner's Manual

About Molds

What are molds

Molds are microscopic organisms that naturally
occur in virtually every environment, indoors and
out� Outdoors, mold growth is important in the
decomposition of plants� Indoors, mold growth is
unfavorable� Left unchecked, molds break down
natural materials, such as wood products and fabrics�
Knowing the potential risks is important for any type of
homeowner to protect their investment�
What factors contribute to mold growth
For mold growth to occur, temperatures, indoor or
outdoors, must be between 40°F and 100°F and also,
there must be a source of moisture, such as humidity,
standing water, damp materials, etc� Indoors, the most
rapid growth occurs with warm and humid conditions�
How can mold growth be inhibited
By controlling relative humidity, the growth of mold
and mildew can be inhibited� In warm climates, use
of the air conditioner will reduce the relative humidity�
Vents are located in the bathing and cooking areas
and constant use is advised during food preparation
and bathing, even during colder weather� Additionally,
opening a window during these activities will assist in
ventilation� In extremely humid conditions, the use of
a dehumidifier can be helpful. If using a dehumidifier,
please read and follow all manufacturer instructions
and recommendations to the use and cleaning of the
dehumidifier.
Frequent use of your touring coach or cleaning
regularly is an important preventive measure� Further,
any spills should be wiped up quickly and dried as soon
as possible� Avoid leaving damp items lying about�
On safe surfaces, use mold or mildew killing cleaning
products� Check sealants regularly, and reseal when
necessary to avoid water leaks� Proper preventive
maintenance to the touring coach and its accessories,
as described both in this manual and in accompanying
literature, will provide the best protection to the touring
coach�
2017 Interstate
General Information

Waste Water System

The main parts of the waste water system are the
toilet, dual holding tanks, and tank dump valves (see
Section 9 - Maintenance for dump valve information)�
The system is designed to provide complete self-
contained toilet facilities, while on the road or parked,
without being connected to a sewage line� It may also
be used when parked while connected to a sewage
hose�
Keep the dump valves closed with either method and
empty the tanks when they are nearly full� The idea is
to send a large volume of water through the tanks and
hose at the same time to float solids away.
After the sewage tank has been emptied, close the
gate valves and put approximately 5 Gal of water in the
sewage holding tank� This will help prevent solids from
building up in the sewage holding tank� The addition
of a deodorizing agent like Aqua-Kem will help prevent
odors�
Should you ever have a buildup of solids, close the
valves, fill the tanks about 3/4 full with fresh water,
drive a distance to agitate the solids, and drain the
tanks�
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