Repairing Guides

how to repair leaking slide out

by Hettie Barrows Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Why does my RV slide leaks and how to fix it

  1. First step is to make sure you determine which side of the seal you want to replace. Locate all the screws that need...
  2. Next, unscrew the strip and keep the screws in a box so that you don’t loose them.
  3. Remove the strip and slowly start removing the seals. Try not to break it, this will help later on to identify the...

Part of a video titled How To Fix RV Slide Out Leaks - YouTube
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Water was shooting down. And it gets into the underbelly of the slide and eventually he's gonna rockMoreWater was shooting down. And it gets into the underbelly of the slide and eventually he's gonna rock that wood out on your meat temporarily. I just put some duct tape whenever we stop somewhere.

Full Answer

How to stop RV slide outs from leaking?

To stop RV slide outs from leaking, you can replace damaged weather seals, use seal protectant sprays and install slide-out topper awning. In case of heavy rains, you can use rain guards. Also, make sure that your motorhome is as level as possible on the camping site. All these can stop the water leaks in RV slide outs.

Do slide out sliders leak?

Slide outs do provide that luxury of extra space but they also come with few problems like leaks. I have faced such leaking problems in the past and have gone through a lot like what you must be facing right now. I have tried multiple things, talked to quite a few people on this as well.

What should I do if my pool slide is leaking water?

Such water can result in major water damage if left unattended. If you feel the water is too much close the slide out to see if that stops the leak. You can identify the leak if possible see if you can employ some method to divert that water. Else, once you are back home take necessary action.

How do I know when to replace the slide out seals?

Color changing of the seal hints towards replacement long due. The seals may become softer and powdered which you can feel by touching and squeezing a little bit. To avoid water leaks it is recommended that the slide out seals are replaced every 2 years and should be inspected 2 times a year preferably during spring and fall.

Where is the water leaking from a slide out?

Why are slide outs more prone to leaks?

Why does my RV slide out leak water?

What happens when an unleveled camper is opened?

What is the rubber seal on a slide out RV?

Why does my slide get water puddles?

What happens when rain pours down a slide?

See more

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Why is my slide out leaking?

0:472:40How To Diagnose and Fix a Water Leak on Your RV Slide Out - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo another thing another common thing to happen have happen if you get water inside of your slideMoreSo another thing another common thing to happen have happen if you get water inside of your slide out is check your gutters.

How do you fix a leaking RV slide out roof?

2:197:37Rubber Roof Leaking Camper Slide-out Roof Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDoing is vinyl from up under here down to here or aluminum to cover this. And box the ends.MoreDoing is vinyl from up under here down to here or aluminum to cover this. And box the ends.

Why is my camper slide out leaking?

Inspect the Seals It's the most common RV slide out leak repair problem. When cracks become visible in the seals, then they will likely need replacing. Seal cracks let water inside and those cracks will only widen with time. It's a good idea to add some RV seal conditioner product over the seals every couple of months.

Do all slide outs leak?

All slide rooms leak. Often, owners cannot see where this is happening, so the damage caused by leaks can be extensive.

How much does it cost to fix a slide out on a camper?

Costs Associated with RV Slide Out Repairs As size increases, typically, so does the cost of repair. Unless the repair is super simple (like replacing a blown fuse), you can expect an entry point of around $500 on upwards of $1500 to $2000 per slide out.

How do you seal a sliding roof?

5:2814:26Slide Out Roof Replacement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaking sure you have plenty of rubber on the inside of the unit for the back of the fascia boardMoreMaking sure you have plenty of rubber on the inside of the unit for the back of the fascia board once again you're going to pull the seal rubber back out roll the rubber back apply your glue.

How do you fix a camper slide out?

3:1213:34How To Fix RV Slide Out Leaks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHowever you can use a car jack. And that's basically going to braise the slide we're gonna pull theMoreHowever you can use a car jack. And that's basically going to braise the slide we're gonna pull the slide in so that it gets out of the resting. Position.

Why is my trailer leaking water from underneath?

The most common reasons why your camper is leaking water underneath are a damaged water tank, broken pipes, damaged floor, and water dripping from the roof. It is essential to know how to detect these leaks early on so you can avoid any serious damage to your camper.

Do RV slides break often?

Most RV slides are pulled in and out using an electric motor. Occasionally, these motors will break, leaving the owner to manually pull the slide in and get the motor replaced.

How long do RV slide outs last?

To some degree, the failure rate of RV slide-outs is a matter of how often they are cycled in and out. Generally, by the time they are 10 years old, they have started to become a maintenance issue.

Is it OK to leave camper slide out?

You should store your RV with the slides in. Storing your RV with the slides out increases your risk of problems with the RV, including leaky seals, damage to the slides, or possibly structural damage. Storing with the slides in, minimizes these risks and keeps your RV tidy and ready to go for your next adventure.

Can you drive RV with slides out?

You should never drive your RV with the slide out extended. Once you're ready to pack up your RV and hit the road, simply retract the slide out and you're good to go. Inside your RV the slide out can have furniture, cabinetry, or extra storage space installed.

How do you dry out a leaking RV?

Get a good sized dehumidifier and set it to the highest setting which should pull the moisture out of the walls. Thanks, we have it open right now at the campground with a fan under the bed drying out the storage area.

Are RV slide outs a problem?

All that extra space on the inside can be a problem outside. Slide outs require additional maintenance and upkeep to keep their moving parts moving. Slide outs can leak. Keep on reading and then decide if a RV slide out is really worth it to you, or if the best RV for you is one without a slide.

How do you treat mold in a camper?

How to Kill Mold in Your RVWhite vinegar in a spray bottle works well and does not need dilution.Tea tree oil keeps spiders away and destroys the fungus. ... Hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration) is an effective alternative to bleach, and you do not need to water it down.More items...

Where is the water leaking from a slide out?

If its leaking at the floor or at the bottom corner of the slide out then the issue could be anywhere at the top of the slide.

Why are slide outs more prone to leaks?

Bigger slide out having bedroom are more prone to leaks as it covers more area with more seals. Also, ventilations facilities like windows also have seals that can also leak.

Why does my RV slide out leak water?

RV Slide out can leak due to worn out, cracked slide seals which need to be replaced to stop the water leaking in. Ideally, the seals should be replaced every 2 year. Slide out can also leak water when the RV isn’t leveled, this can be rectified by making sure it is properly leveled.

What happens when an unleveled camper is opened?

With opened slide the more area is exposed directly to the pouring rain which can come in from all the locations where issues exists. Unleveled camper will bring in water from gaps when its opened.

What is the rubber seal on a slide out RV?

These prevents the water from dripping inside the camper. If your RV slide out is leaking then there is a high chance that these weather seals have developed cracked in them.

Why does my slide get water puddles?

There could be water puddles at the top of the slide that flows in when you close the slide. Closed slide can also bring in water from windows seals or other slide seals that are broken or get squeezed when the slide is closed. Do check if the seals are fully integrated and there is no discontinuity.

What happens when rain pours down a slide?

Heavy rain pouring in can make even a perfectly fine slide start leaking in water. This can happen when a lot of rain water starts to drip down the slides. If you find yourself camping in such situation then make sure you make use of rain guard that will keep the water away from slide components. Check below video on how this can be done.

How does water get into RV slide outs?

Water often runs down the side of an RV slide out and gets into the floor through cracks in the sealant. The caulk along the sides of RV slide outs often wears out quickly and needs to be replaced. With cracks in the sealant, water was able to go in behind the strip and into the screw holes.

Do you need to seal an RV?

There are a lot of places on your RV where sealant keeps the water out of your RV, and each of these places needs to be maintained and resealed if damaged.

How to Stop RV Slide Outs from Leaking?

Water leaks can cause some serious damage to your camper. Therefore, it is extremely important to stop RV slide-outs from leaking.

How to keep water out of RV slide?

Use Rain Guard. If it is raining heavily, even a perfectly installed seal will not be able to keep all the water out of your camper. In that case, using a rain guard might be your solution. It will keep all the rainwater away from your RV slide’s components, thus preventing any sort of water leaks.

Why do RV seals crack?

And with time, no matter how good you are with taking care of your RV, these seals will start to crack. When they get damaged, the possibility of water leaking inside your RV will increase.

Why does my RV leak?

And upon inspecting, the owners of those RVs have found out that the leaks were caused by either poorly installed weather seals in the slide-out or missing seals in a certain portion of the slides. Defective slides can also be another possible reason for leaks in your RV.

What causes water leaks in a gasket?

One of the main sources of water leaks is the cracked weather seals. So, if you notice any sort of damage to the seals like splits or cracks in the gasket, or the seal appears to be worn out, you should immediately replace them. Don’t wait for a water leak to occur.

Why does my RV leak water?

Other Reasons. When your RV’s roof drain gets blocked by debris of dirt, mud, leaves, and other things, water can leak through the gaps in your trailer’s slides. On top of that, dirt and leaves can gather in the slide-out tops. This might make it harder for you to open and retract your slides and is a possible reason water leaking ...

Why does my RV slide out?

This is a common problem for every RV. When you are on long camping trips, the water lines and other plumbing lines in your RV will be exposed to a harsh environment. This can damage the pipes, which will eventually lead to water leaking into your RV slide out.

What to do if the slide out won't come in?

If both the control switch and the motor are running, but the slide-out won’t come in, check the retract valve for damages and repair (or replace) if any.

What to do if your RV slides are worn?

For track misalignment or a worn slide mechanism, you will need to take your RV to a repair shop for specialized service. The cost will vary depending on the extent of damage and any parts you may have to replace.

Why does my motor slide out?

The most common cause for this problem is usually a misalignment in the electrical motor gears. There could also be an electrical issue that causes a broken circuit during sliding out. This would cut the power required to retract the slide in. This happens mostly with two-position momentary arm switches.

What causes a slide out on an RV?

Sometimes the hydraulic system which powers the RV slide out may have a leak.

What is the first sign of misalignment in the slide out mechanism?

The first sign of misalignment in the slide-out mechanism is a jamming slide. The slide-out mechanism can be adjusted for alignment and smoother movement on the top and bottom tracks.

Why won't my RV slide out retract?

RV slide-out may fail to retract for two reasons, a problem with the control switch, or insufficient power to the pump motor.

Why does my slide out fail?

For a hydraulically operated slide-out system, loss of pressure can cause the slide-out to fail to retract. The pressure loss is in most cases caused by a leak within the hydraulic lines. If this is the case, have a professional check and repair the system for you.

Slide Out Leaking at Bottom Corner

A slide out leaking in the bottom corner is a bad sign. Likely the RV slide out bottom seal has deteriorated and is no longer working well.

How to Fix a Leak in a Slide Out

Whether you’re fixing up the fifth wheel slide out or waterproofing camper slide out for the first time, don’t fret. Sealing RV slide outs is not too difficult:

Slide Out Leaks When Closed

A slide out can leak after it has been closed. This might be surprising but it’s not as uncommon as you’d think.

Should You Get an RV Slide Out Rain Guard?

An RV slide out rain guard can protect from water hitting the slide out and reaching the edges where it might find cracks to exploit. Similar to a rain guard on a car door frame, a rain guard prevents rainwater from reaching the sides of the slide out by deflecting it.

Closing Thoughts

Don’t delay if your slide out is leaking at the bottom corner or elsewhere. The causes are usually relatively simple to isolate and are often a result of poor RV maintenance. Fix it before the moisture damage becomes a much larger problem for you.

bmiller260

My Monaco Diplomat is in a repair shop getting serviced for a couple of minor issues. After six weeks, I get a call from the service rep, saying I have two leaky hydraulic fluid lines and a bad pressure regulator, on my slide-out system. I'm wondering if there is a fluid reservoir (maybe on the hydraulic pump) I can check to see if I've lost fluid.

hermanmullins

RVI quoted me a minimum of 16 hour @ $140.00 per hour plus parts to repair a leaking hose. I went to HWH and they did the repair for $281.00 complete. I would be suspect at any shop that took 6 weeks to complete minor repairs and then found something else to repair.

bmiller260

Thank you for the feedback. I know these guys charge $140/hr also for repairs. So will look at other options. Herman, who is HWH?

Where is the water leaking from a slide out?

If its leaking at the floor or at the bottom corner of the slide out then the issue could be anywhere at the top of the slide.

Why are slide outs more prone to leaks?

Bigger slide out having bedroom are more prone to leaks as it covers more area with more seals. Also, ventilations facilities like windows also have seals that can also leak.

Why does my RV slide out leak water?

RV Slide out can leak due to worn out, cracked slide seals which need to be replaced to stop the water leaking in. Ideally, the seals should be replaced every 2 year. Slide out can also leak water when the RV isn’t leveled, this can be rectified by making sure it is properly leveled.

What happens when an unleveled camper is opened?

With opened slide the more area is exposed directly to the pouring rain which can come in from all the locations where issues exists. Unleveled camper will bring in water from gaps when its opened.

What is the rubber seal on a slide out RV?

These prevents the water from dripping inside the camper. If your RV slide out is leaking then there is a high chance that these weather seals have developed cracked in them.

Why does my slide get water puddles?

There could be water puddles at the top of the slide that flows in when you close the slide. Closed slide can also bring in water from windows seals or other slide seals that are broken or get squeezed when the slide is closed. Do check if the seals are fully integrated and there is no discontinuity.

What happens when rain pours down a slide?

Heavy rain pouring in can make even a perfectly fine slide start leaking in water. This can happen when a lot of rain water starts to drip down the slides. If you find yourself camping in such situation then make sure you make use of rain guard that will keep the water away from slide components. Check below video on how this can be done.

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