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Getting Ready for Summer RV Trip – Part 1

A 25-year-old RV like our 2001 SeaView requires a fair amount of yearly maintenance, especially in preparation for long trips. So there are several things that need to be done before we leave in May . . .

WATER HEATER CLEANING

Though our hot water heater works, it leaves a sooty deposit on the side of our motorhome.

This isn’t our SeaView, but our RV looks similar.

This soot is caused by a poorly adjusted gas flame. To fix this, soot must be removed from the heat channel on the water heater. Then adjustment of the water heater gas flame (not shown).

First, an air hose was used to blow out the soot.

Next, wet towels were pulled through the heat channel.
After three towels, most of the soot was cleaned out.
Finally, a bug screen was attached to the water heater vent.

GENERATOR TUNE UP

We’re mightily impressed that our 25-year-old Generac Q55 generator is still running . . . even if it occasionally gets rough. Lately, our Generac only ran for a few minutes before it stopped in a cloud of white smoke.

We thought that generator’s carburetor could use a cleaning. So . . .

Dirty carburetor
After bathing in carburetor cleaner . . . a clean carb
What a little cleaning does