Monday, April 1, 2013

Vent Covers - Cleaning & Replacing Gaskets

Hey, I'm not doing anything at the moment -- just posting this to my blog! 

Aprils Fools! Yea, right...well, it's true, I AM posting instead of working on the RV for a change! 

Ha! 

Soooo, you might be asking if I ever really do leave my roof??? 

Well yes, I do. How do you think I wash the RV, check the tires, drive the RV, etc?  ;-)

Anyhow, yes, I was on the roof again. And yes, I'm careful when I'm up there. Very careful. 

No one wants to fall off an RV rooftop! And I take care of my foot while going up & down that ladder too, so please, don't worry. 

I make sure that I have all my supplies before I get up there & I take the most minimal supplies up there. 

Sooooo, why in the heck was I up there? 

Because I've been looking at dirty roof vent covers for WAY too LONG! 

So I decided to open all of them from the inside & get a bucket of cleaning solution to the rooftop to clean them. My first attempt was a spray bottle of solution & a rag. That didn't work well, I really needed a bucket of the stuff, so that worked way better. 

 Tip: Getting the bucket of cleaning solution was way easier by placing it on top of a ladder, then reaching from the RV ladder to place on the roof. Worked like a charm!
 
         Bucket of cleaning solution.
 Dirty roof vent. Yukky Poo.
 Clean roof vent! Yay!

Why do my vents get so dirty? Because I adore fresh air, but by keeping them open, they get really, really dirty....it's pretty dusty here in these parts. It's been dry & windy, thus, my RV becomes a dirt collector. 
I guess even RV's have to collect something?

OK.

Now.

Another problem. 

I tried washing the gaskets - that didn't go well. 
They were old & weathered. 
Really bad. 

Sooooo, the resolution was to go to an RV supply place & buy new gaskets. 
I did that. 

And I'm glad I did, they really, really needed replaced.

 New gasket - bought 3 since I have 3 roof vents.
 Note old gasket - yukky poo! I also took some wipe sheets up to clean around the frames when I took the old gasket off. Be careful when you do this. The sharp galvanized steel can cut you! I got a paper kind of cut from it.
 Check out the old gasket above & below. It was so brittle that it was cracking.

 Installing new gasket -- FRESH! NEW! IMPROVED! New AND Improved!! CLEAN! YAY!

Inside view - mucho bettero! All nice & clean now - ahhhhhhh.....


And if you are not yet dead of boredom, well, there's even a video! Which is pretty much the same as this post, just live! Yes, folks, live! Because it would be weird dead? 






 


~As always, be kind to your pets, clean up after them on your travels & respect your neighbor~ 

13 comments:

  1. I just cannot believe all you do and accomplish. You are definitely the true definition of wonder woman. Glad to hear you are being very careful. Makes me nervous knowing you are up there. Glad I can't see it.

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    1. I spared everyone. I did a video of looking out over the roof onto the ground, but didn't use it. ;-) I really do like doing things myself on my RV when I'm capable of doing them. Hope you are having a great time fulltiming now!

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  2. You go girl!!! It would be an absolute disaster if I tried that.

    I am afraid if I tried to climb on top of our fifth wheel I would fall off...I am not good with heights and not near as agile as I used to be (not to mention I am way to fat) so it would be a really ugly result.

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    1. I prefer to do ground work, but doing stuff on the roof is necessary too. Soon, I need to go back up & reseal it with Dicor.

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  3. I love seeing things go from dirty to clean. Thanks for showing us it's an easy DIY job.

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    1. Thanks Sara. I especially like seeing the vents all nice & clean from the inside now! Clean does make me feel better.

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  4. I don't think I would be able to stand up on our Alfa roof. I get dizzy up high.

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    1. I know what you mean Merikay. And the Alfa is even higher than my little C is! I mostly sit when I get up there.

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  5. I just love reading every time you tackle something...just amazing! Must be a relief and great sense of accomplishment to have those shiny white gaskets glowing up there! GREAT JOB!!

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    1. Oh thanks Cozygirl! I like looking at clean....now my carpet needs vacuumed. I think I'll just pretend it's clean for the next half hour or so.

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  6. I have a scoop type cover over my vent so I can leave the vent open in the rain. It helps keep the vent clean, too, but I'm not sure how I'll ever clean it when I need to do so.

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    1. Usually, they have a part that screws or clips on that you remove, but to really clean it, you'd have to take off the whole shroud. I've considered them, but I really like opening my vent on my overhead bed & looking up at the stars at night. If I get some kind of fan in the center vent, then I might consider one then.

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  7. What fun to find your site! I'm a camper from way back, have had a small RV or two in my life and as a single mom have done my share of traveling. I live in an RV during the winter in TX and summer in Nova Scotia. Am considering selling out and buying an RV, instead. ~karen

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Have a good one and Live the Life you Love!