Table of Contents
Advertisement
WARNING: NEVER RIDE IN A SEAT NOT FUR-
NISHED WITH A SEAT BELT. ALWAYS USE SEAT
BELTS WHILE TRAVELING.
Interior Lighting
Both decorative and "utility" style 12-volt lighting
fixtures may be used in your motor home.
Utility style fixtures may be either single or dual.
A slide switch selects either single or dual brightness.
Clean the lenses in soapy water.
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 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 ac-
cumulations 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 surfaces of your motor home
during use in cold weather when humidity of the in-
terior air is high. This condition is much greater in
a recreational vehicle than in most houses because
the insulated walls of the vehicle are much thinner
than house walls, and the small size and tight con-
struction of the vehicle allow a quick buildup of high
moisture levels in the inside air.
The air inside a recreational vehicle can contain a
surprisingly large amount of water vapor. Estimates
indicate that a family of four can vaporize up to three
gallons of water daily through breathing, cooking,
bathing, and washing. Unless this water vapor is
19
carried 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 also condense out of sight within
the walls or the ceiling where it will manifest itself
as stained panels. Appearance of these conditions
indicates 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 load, it will greatly
reduce, or eliminate, water condensation.
Note: Even when it is raining or snowing, ven-
tilation air from outside will be far drier than in-
terior 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.
Run the range vent fan 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
entering 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 deple-
tion which make heating by the range or oven very
dangerous, open flames add moisture to the interior
air, increasing condensation. Do not use an air
humidifier inside the motor home. Water put into
the air by the humidifier will increase condensation.
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 compartments
built against exterior walls. The air flow will warm
the exterior wall surface, reducing or eliminating
condensation and preventing possible ice
formation.
Install a dehumidifier appliance.
During prolonged, continuous 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-all",
and ventilation, storm windows, and moisture
reduction continue to be important, operation of
Advertisement
Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
