American Coach American Allegiance, Owner'S Manual

Page: 61 / 114

Bathing – An average shower can put
between
1
⁄
4
-
1
⁄
2
pounds of water into the air.
Dish washing – Doing the dishes for a
typical day’s meals can add up to one
pound of water to the air.
Floor mopping – When an 8’ x 10’
kitchen floor is mopped and rinsed,
almost 2
1
⁄
2
pounds of water can be
released into the air.
Clothes drying – After 10 pounds of
clothes have been washed and spin-dried
in a washer, they still contain about 10
pounds of water. If these clothes are
dried inside, that water is released into
the air in the RV.
Propane appliances – When Propane is
burned, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water
are given off into the air. For every 1000
cubic feet of Propane burned, nearly 88
pounds of water is released into the air.
Humidifiers – Humidifiers are designed
to put moisture into dry air – up to two
pounds per hour. So in a 24-hour period,
an uncontrolled humidifier can put almost
50 pounds of water into the air.
House plants and aquariums – Plants
give off almost as much water as you put
on them. Open aquariums permit higher
rates of evaporation than closed types.
People and animals – A large source
of water in the RV is the inhabitants
themselves. A family of four can put up
to 12 pounds of water into the air per day
through breathing and perspiration.
As you can see, just the normal course of
living adds a great deal of water to the air.
Q. – What will all this water do to my RV?
A. – The least it will do is fog your windows. If
it is really cold outside, frost or even clear
ice could form on the inside of the glass.
Excessive moisture in the air could show
up as water running down or dripping off
walls, ceilings or fixtures. It may look like
your roof or windows are leaking. This
water may stain woodwork, carpeting,
ceiling panels or even furniture.
But the most damage is caused by water
you can’t even see. Water will penetrate
almost any material – except glass and
metals. Water vapor in the air always
wants to move toward dry air. Scientists
call this “vapor pressure ” action. It
will go through walls, floor covering ,
plywood, paint – just about anything.
The water that gets trapped in these
materials can cause warping, mildew,
paint failure and rotting.
The damage caused by excessive humidity
can be invisible , and worse, expensive to
fix. Please remember that this damage is
not covered under the warranty.
Q. – What can I do to reduce or eliminate
condensation problems in my RV?
A. – The two most important things are:
Reduce moisture released into
the air and increase ventilation
To reduce moisture released inside the RV:
1. Run the vent fan when cooking and the
bath vent fan (or open the bath vent)
when bathing.
2. Avoid making steam from excessive
boiling or use of hot water.
3. Remove water or snow from shoes before
entering to avoid soaking the carpet.
4. Avoid drying clothes inside (except in
the dryer, if equipped). The water drying
out of the clothes goes into the air.
5. Vent appliances to the outside. Your
clothes dryer should always be vented
according to the dryer manufacturer’s
installation instructions. (Some dryers
are designed to be ventless and do not
require a vent to the outdoors.) Check
the vents periodically to be sure they
are not blocked.
Living With Your Motor Home
05-8