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Foretravel Owners Manual
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
MANAGING MOISTURE (WHICH CAUSES MOLD
& MILDEW) IN YOUR MOTORHOME
Included with this topic is an excellent article taken from the Internet en-
titled "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home." This article was
published by the Environmental Protection Agency, and there are many, many
more available. Just type in "mold and mildew" in a search field. Almost ev-
erything in this included article applies to your motorhome as well as your
home. Remember that molds are part of the natural environment, and are ev-
erywhere.
Molds produce tiny spoors to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the in-
door and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot in-
doors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in
order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and
foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth
will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or
un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores
in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to con-
trol moisture.
We must point out that there are a few major differences between a home
and a motorhome. Differences such as:
•
Mobility: Moisture control procedures will change according to your loca-
tion.
•
A motorhome has six(6) exposed surfaces; two(2) sides, one(1) top, one(1)
bottom, and two(2) ends. All six surfaces are exposed to air and tempera-
ture. Homes generally have only the exterior walls exposed. The attic may
function as insulation and a conduit for air circulation.
•
A motorhome has steel and aluminum in its entire structure. Steel holds
temperatures, both hot and cold, longer than wood and other building ma-
terials.
•
A motorhome does not have the same interior air circulation as a home
does. The home HVAC system brings in air, and exchanges the air on a reg-
ular basis. The motorhome does not have the air exchange ability that a full
HVAC system does.
These differences may require that you pay more attention to the amount
of moisture in the air than you would in your home. The amount of glass in the
motorhome as well as the steel and aluminum in the construction can cause
more condensation, especially if moisture is allowed to remain inside. In addi-
tion to the suggestions in the EPA article, we suggest that you do the following:
Rev. 06-02
Section 11 - Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
TIPS
Page 11-1
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