How to Prevent Mold in Your Camper/RV

With living and operating FH Water Restoration in a state where the focus is enjoying and exploring the great Rocky Mountains, it is common for us to get questions about mold remediation in campers and RVs. Yes, your camper or RV can grow mold, just like your home, and yes, it can happen pretty easily. Not only can mold do extensive damage to your camper or RV, regardless of size, it can also do extensive damage to your health. 

As an RV or camper owner in Colorado (or anywhere), it’s important to understand the potential causes of mold and how to avoid it in your favorite adventure vehicle. Let’s first start by understanding what mold is - mold is caused by mold spores that find a moist, dark place to grow. Cue your camper or RV. Why? Because RVs/campers are especially good incubators for these mold spores as they are frequently closed up and stored for long periods of time. Whenever an RV/camper is stored, moisture can get trapped inside the RV and help to feed the mold growth. This doesn’t mean stored RVs/campers are the only problem though. If there is a leaky pipe somewhere in your RV/camper, or there is a leak in the roof, that can also lead to mold problems, just like at your home or commercial property.

Taking preventative measures proactively, especially in the fall/winter months when moisture is more common, is the best way to keep mold out of your camper or RV. Here’s a few things you can do prevent an attack by mold:

1. Make sure there no leaks in the interior. This entails checking the plumbing under and around any sinks, showers, or toilets and making sure no leaks are present. If leaks are present, you’ll want to repair them. 
2. Ensure the roof is in good condition. To do this you’ll want to check for any broken seams, aging caulking, holes or tears. If you find anything like this, you’ll want to repair it ASAP.
3. Consider adding a dehumidifier. Depending on where you live or what kind of weather you’re taking your RV/camper through this may not be necessary, but if you happen to notice high humidity, it’s a small investment worth making.
4. Improve circulation. If you’re able to, opening windows and turning on fans is a great way to improve air circulation which aids in preventing mold. 

These are the best measures FH Water Restoration recommends to avoid having a mold problem, but what if you suspect there already is mold? To seek it out, your first clue will be the smell. If there is a musty, dank smell somewhere, you may have a mold problem. Another way to identify it is by looking for black, blue, green, or white stains on your walls, carpet, or other flooring - mold can present itself in any of these ways.

If you happen to do the above inspection and find mold in your RV/camper, it is best to have it removed right away. To ensure the job is done properly and thoroughly, we recommend having an environmental restoration professional, such as FH Water Restoration, do the remediation. Mold removal professionals will assess the damage, make sure there is no further damage that you hadn’t noticed, then go about a safe removal. Along with the safe removal, they’ll make sure that ALL causes of the mold (broken pipe, leaky roof, too much moisture, etc) are addressed and taken care of well. If all causes aren’t taken care of, it leaves room for the mold to return shortly after. 

FH Water Restoration has a team of trained environmental specialists to help you remediate any mold problems - whether in your home, camper/RV or commercial space. Should you discover mold, give us a call and we’ll make sure to remedy the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible. The team at FH Water Restoration will get you back to exploring Colorado in no time!