Imagine this – you’re admiring the view from the window inside of your camper, and all of a sudden, you notice black spots all around the frame… and you realize that somehow, you have mold growing around your RV’s window frame!
Many campers are puzzled by this, and are concerned they may have to tear everything out. Depending on how much the mold has spread, you may be able to check this one common issue and then replace things as needed.
Let me show you where to check to prevent any further problems from happening in your camper!
How Your RV’s Window Frame is Designed
It’s always easier to troubleshoot something when you understand how it works! I found an excellent leaking window inspection video that had a good visual for how the weeping ports and such work.
As you can see in the picture below, the water and condensation is all funneled to the lower part of the frame that leads to the exterior of the camper. As you can also see, the channel and weep port is super small and prone to small defects/clogs.
Check Your RV’s Window Frame Drains or “Weep Ports”
Believe it or not, many RV mechanics say that the frame drains are the #1 cause of leaks and mold around camper windows. Whether they were never open to start with, are gunked up with residue, or are simply non functional, frame drains and weep ports are what diverts the water away from the interior of your camper.
This is probably one of the easiest fixes for window leaks, so it’s worth a shot to check out before moving onto more advanced fixes such as resealing.
- Locate the Exterior of the Leaking Window – Go to where the leak is happening and look closely around the frame of the window
- Locate Weep Slots/Frame Drains on the Window– On the top, bottom, or both, should be small rectangular holes that allows the water to escape.
- Check Bottom Drains are Open – Because the same windows are utilized for many RVs, the approprate frame drains may have been forgotten to be opened. The BOTTOM drains should be open and the TOP should be plugged.
- Silicone the Top Frame Drains – Since they aren’t ever going to be used in your rig, it’s best to seal them up to ensure the leak is not coming from here.
- Clean Out Frame Drains – If there isn’t a rush of water like you expected, you should should ensure there are no blockages by cleaning it out. Use a stiff wire or a pipe cleaner to push out any debris stuck in the drain. I’ve also seen people use compressed air to blow it out.
More Leak Points to Check Around Your Window
While the frame drain is probably the easiest to check and fix, there are more steps to take if it ends up not being the problem.
Check for Gaps Between Window Pane and Frame
The “glazing” around the window is usually just for looks, so simply lift it up so you an inspect for gaps. If you find any space between the frame and the pane, fill it with 100% silicone, then wait for it to dry. Replace the glazing and you’ll be set!
Replace the Sealant Around the Window Frame
This is substantially more work, but it is worth it if you’re trying to combat costly water damage! This sort of thing needs a more in depth tutorial (such as the video below) but I did take a few screen grabs to summarize.
Should Be Good from Youtube did an excellent tutorial on how to remove your RV’s window, remove the old sealant tape, add new tape, and reinstall. He showed some signs of a bad seal (such as evidence of debris build up due to the the butyl tape sealant not making good contact with the frame when screwed on).
Once the window is removed from the camper and the old tape is scraped off, you can lay down some new Butyl Tape Sealant around the window frame and reinstall it.
The Leak is Fixed – Can the Mold be “Cleaned”?
The need to replace panels/insulation and such will depend on how bad the mold is (IE, super deep vs surface level) and your own personal levels of tolerance.
Mortons on the Move has an excellent article on mold removal in campers – the key seems to be to open the area as much as possible for air circulation, clean any mold you can see, then get some moisture absorbing plans in place for the future.
Dealing With Other Issues in Your RV?
Water damage is but one issue RV campers deal with – here are some tips on how to handle other common problems:
- Learn how to prevent mattress platform mold in your RV
- Check for propane leaks in your camper’s connections with this two ingredient solution
- Learn 5 RV awning cleaning tips that will get rid of even the toughest mold and stains!
- Routine deep cleans of your RV are key to preventing all kinds of problems – including mold AND mice!
- Keep mice out of the camper for good with these tips
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