RV 101: Polk’s Top 7 Motorhome Owner Maintenance Mishaps

Today I would like to share some very usual information with you from RV expert, Mark Polk!  There are so many things to maintain on a motorhome, sometimes we overlook the simplest maintenance requirements. As the old saying goes, you can’t see the forest for the trees. But simple oversights can result in costly repair bills to correct the problem.   RV expert Mark Polk owns RV Education 101, a North Carolina-based company that produces and sells educational videos, DVDs and E-books on how to use RVs. Mark has more than 30 years of experience in RV maintenance. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1996 as a Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. He and his wife, Dawn, started RV Education 101 in 1999. They travel with their two boys in a 35-foot Type A motorhome.

Let’s look at my top 7 motorhome owner maintenance mishaps.

1. Checking and adding air when the tires are hot

I see this all the time, people checking their tire pressure when the tires are hot. You should always check and inflate tires when the tires are cold, before traveling more than one mile. Hot air expands and will give you a false reading. If the tires are already hot, wait several hours before checking and adjusting inflation pressure.

2. Neglecting to check the water level in batteries, periodically

Eighty-five percent of lead acid batteries manufactured in the United States die before they should. One of the leading causes of battery failure is overcharging the battery. Overcharging a battery results in severe water loss and plate corrosion. This is a common problem with motorhomes. 

The RV converter has a built-in battery charger. Many RV owners are under the impression that if you leave the RV plugged in when the RV is in storage, the converter will keep the batteries topped off. While keeping batteries topped off is extremely important, the problem is that many, but not all, RV converter chargers provide a constant charge of about 13.5 volts. This is too high for fully charged batteries, and the electrolyte is boiled off, which results in an early death for the batteries. There have been advances in converter charger technology, thought. Many of today’s converter chargers are three-stage chargers that will prevent batteries from overcharging.

Another problem is that during times of high battery usage and recharging, the electrolyte is boiled off. Periodically checking and adjusting the water level in the batteries can save and extend the life expectancy of the battery. When you add water, use mineral-free water. Distilled water is best, and only fill the battery cell to 1/8-inch below the vent well.

3. Not rinsing and flushing the black water holding tank after you empty it

The only way to get a long service-free life from the RV black water holding tank is to rinse and flush the tank after you empty it. Some RVs have a built-in system for flushing the black water tank, but many don’t. If your RV doesn’t have a built-in flushing system there are aftermarket products, such as tank cleaning wands and reverse flush valves, that will assist in keeping your black water tank clean, clog-free and odor-free.

4. Not performing pre-departure checks

I think nearly every motorhome owner, at one time or another, has learned this valuable lesson. Pre-departure checks or a final walk-around before leaving can save you costly repair bills. Common RV repairs relating to this are repairs to the steps, TV antenna, awnings and power cords. Take a minute to walk around the RV, and look on top and underneath the motorhome before heading out.

5. Not periodically inspecting your motorhome for water damage

Water leaks on a motorhome can cause extensive damage and can be costly to repair. To protect your investment and your wallet, take the time to inspect your RV for water leaks. The outside of your motorhome may look fine, but the internal damage caused by water over a period of time can result in the entire roof, floor or wall rotting away without you even knowing it, until it’s too late.

To prevent a leak before it starts, thoroughly inspect all roof and body seams, sealants and around any openings cut in the motorhome roof or sidewalls. Reseal any seams or sealants that show signs of cracking or separation. Consult your RV owner’s manual for inspection intervals and for the type of sealants compatible with different types of materials.

6. Not performing routine safety checks

It’s not uncommon for a motorhome to sit in storage for periods of time. If dry-cell batteries aren’t removed from devices like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, these devices won’t work when you need them. By simply getting in a habit of checking the smoke, CO, and LP-gas leak detectors prior to each trip you can prevent this from happening. Follow the testing instructions found in the owner’s manual or on the device itself. If you remove dry-cell batteries during storage remember to reinstall them next spring.

Also, get in a habit of inspecting the fire extinguisher before each trip. Look to see if the arrow is pointing in the green area in the sight gauge. If it reads empty or needs charging replace it or have it recharged immediately. If it’s a dry powder type fire extinguisher the arrow pointing in the green doesn’t always guarantee that it will work. Every month you should turn dry powder extinguishers upside down, tap on the bottom of the extinguisher and shake it so the powder that settled on the bottom is released. Make sure you know how to operate the fire extinguishe, too.

A simple pre-trip checklist can serve as a reminder to test all safety devices prior to leaving on a trip.

7. Not maintaining the RV water system

The potable water system in your motorhome requires some routine maintenance to keep it trouble free. Something I’ve run into quite often is the complaint that there is a stale odor coming from the RV water system. When you return from a trip and you’re not going to use the RV for a while, drain the entire water system to prevent it from getting stale and musty. You should drain the water heater, low-point water drains and the fresh water holding tank.

Caution: Never drain the water heater tank when it is hot or under pressure. With the drains still open you can turn the water pump on for a moment to help force any remaining water out of the system. Do not let the pump continue to run once the water stops draining. Close all of the drains.

If by accident you forget to drain the water system and you get that notorious stale odor, all is not lost. You just need to sanitize the water system. Start by draining all of the old water out of the system, and then close all of the drains. Take a quarter cup of household bleach for every 15 gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach into a 1-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets and let it sit for about 12 hours. Drain the entire system and refill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach.

It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system. Once this is done it is safe to use your water system. It’s also a good idea to use a water filter at campgrounds and to keep bottled water on hand for drinking.

If you don’t feel comfortable performing any of these steps you should take your motorhome to an authorized RV service center to have the maintenance performed.

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