Awning Water Leak

[Lhinkle114]

We have a 2019 3791RD with a leak related we think to our awning. Every time after a short rainy stay when we close the awning water shows up inside the floorboard of the washer and dryer. Short of removing the w/d does anyone know where to start looking?

Thanks ahead of time

[Mikendebbie]

I needed to get a look at your floor plan and the exterior to get an idea how the awning related to the washer-dryer closet, and it is not apparent to me that the leak would be related to the awning. I would be looking at the washer dryer connections. Someone else may have better suggestions.

[Daryles]

I would get an endoscopic camera and watch behind the washer while it runs through a complete cycle. Especially when it pumps out in case it is over flowing the drain.
The other possibility could be the wall where the vent goes out. Maybe it is not sealed properly and is leaking through the wall as water runs off the awning down the wall on the outside???

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[Lhinkle114]

Thanks for all the ideas I have been chasing this leak for awhile and it is such a small leak that it happens so infrequent between moves sometimes no leak at all for awhile but just to be safe I put a washer pan in and a water sensor. The only time so far that the sensor goes off is when we move after a rain storm.

[DutchmenSport]

Considering this happens after a rain, I would suspect the dryer vent is not sealed.

When you roll up the awning, the water spills over the edge of the awning in such a way it hits the dryer vent. Somehow, it's getting around the dryer vent. Wind and rain can do some strange things.

The ceiling vent in my Montana bathroom has the rain sensor on it. So we could keep using the vent while it's raining, I installed covers. This worked great. Then one day both vents closed automatically and shut down (kitchen and bathroom). I tried turning them on again. Neither would open. The wind was blowing against the rear of the camper (hard too) and blowing in just a way it was blowing through the covers (back side) through those loovers and hitting the rain sensor, on both fans. This happened only 1 time in 4 years. But it made me realize rain can do some pretty crazy things.

So, the water splashing off your awning could be hitting your dryer vent in such a way its getting past the vent, down the walls (or down the outside of the dryer vent hose) and dripping onto the floor.

I'd start with the dryer vent seals and work outward from there.

[DadsHemi]

Along with the other ideas, your power awning has wires coming out at the top of you awning arm that’s attached to your side, there is a hole that should be sealed with silicon or other. On my 3160 RL the wire is on the forward arm.

[Lhinkle114]

I will take a look at this, also I like the idea of putting some sort of camera in there

[Andy Smith]

I had noticed on my awning that the rail had started to pull the screws out of the sidewall, as I'm sure many others have seen before, leaving the holes exposed. Larger screws helped briefly, but also pulled out, because only a few of these were in actual studs. This had me nervous about water intrusion that could capillary its way anywhere in the rig. What I did was pull out all the screws, put a new strip of butyl tape in, put fresh silicone in the holes and use expanding rivets to cinch it tight to the wall. Then resealed the top and bottom of the rail. It seemed like a poor design, since the awning arm motors don't have any resistance-shutoff, so they keep pulling even if the awning is already all the way in. In your case, I would potentially just check the awning rail to make sure it's not come loose and exposed any unsealed holes.

[RMcNeal]

In addition to the fastener holes, check that the hole for the wiring is completely sealed.
On our 3791RD, the wiring for the LED lights and awning motor is just to the forward arm of the awning. If not sealed with silicone, I could see how water could make its way inside the wall to where the W/D closet is located as it sits right above that closet.

[Lhinkle114]

I think I might have to reattach the awning as it seems to be pulling away. What’s the best way to do it?

[RMcNeal]

When mine was pulling away, I reattached it with oscar rivets.
You can find them at Grainger, Fastenal and even Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-11300.../dp/B0031NJIM4

[Andy Smith]

Those look like the same ones I used. I also re-sealed the heck out of it, and put in a new strip of vinyl trim, because the old one had cracked.