Weep holes

[jillie]

We bought a 2011 Ventana in January and have a problem during rains with water filling up the channel for the driver side window. The water runs down the outside of the sliding window, into the channel and then inside. If I don't use a sponge and bucket, it overflows down the side of the dash and onto the controls under the window.

To test it, I filled the channel with water and started a timer. It took 2 minutes 15 seconds for the water to drain down to the weep holes. On the outside of the coach, I saw only one small trickle of water at the very front of the window.

Assuming the weep holes are plugged, how do I clean them out? How many 'trickles' should I see on the outside of the coach?

[GaryKD]

Hi jillie,
Weep holes have been around before I bought my first coach in 1978. My coach has them and I taped over the leading hole in each window to cut down on wind noise. The rear weep hole drains the window channel with no problem. I have a right angle scribe tool (Lowe's or Home Depot) that I use to clean out the weep holes. One should do this from both the inside and outside of the coach. There is no trick, just gentle and patient manipulation of the tool.

["007"]

You found us jillie welcome to the forum.
Gary has your answer,enjoy the forum and do post often with your questions.

[Perry White]

I was in Arkansas and a coach next to me had added somekind of wind deflectors to his. I think the come standard on an Alfa.

[GaryKD]

Hi Perry White,
I have these. They provide some protection from clogging. I have not found them adequate for reducing wind noise. It also depends on what window is installed in one's coach. There are no protectors to fit the slots in the newer coach windows. They are not the same size as the holes that were used for 30 + years.

Go to Wind Noise Elimination - Tape Over All Drain Holes & Put Newmar Cover O - iRV2.com RV Photo Gallery to see one of my window frames. On the left is tape covering the front weep hole. On the right (a bit out of focus) is the weep hole protector covering the rear weep hole.

[Perry White]

Great pictures. What's with the cookie and sensor and i have the same CB you have and it only works for about 900 ft. Same antenna. Where did you get the cup holders?

[GaryKD]

Hi Perry White,
The cup holders were purchased at Camping World. The CB antenna is a no ground plane antenna. For proper installation, neither the antenna or the wire can contact anything on the coach. The antenna wire can not be coiled, lengthened or shortened. The antenna and wire installation must be meticulous when installing them.

I do not understand about the cookie and sensor. Help me on this one.

[Perry White]

You have picture with a sensor and a cookie next to it wrapped in plastic. Or am I nuts?

[GaryKD]

Hi Perry White,
I went through my Coach Modification pictures and think I know which pictures you are referring to. Coaches of my vintage had A&E Weather Pro electric awnings installed. The plastic chimney housing the sensor for the auto retract feature is pictured. Unfortunately, the sensor auto retracts at about 130 degrees F. I made a "cookie" out of card board/bubble wrap and tin foil. Glued the assembly to the top of the sensor chimney. This provided enough shade to prevent the auto retractions of the awning.

[Perry White]

Oh.

[Skip426]

Sound like your getting way to much water on the inside of the glass; weep holes were sized to carry off condensation. Check frame for leaks, missing seals, even installed upside down. Could also be that the slide channel drain cut in the frame is not in line with the glass run. As this is on the out side of the coach it will be of a size to move a lot of water.

[jillie]

Crafty person that I am, I visited WalMart and picked up some fuzzy sticks, what we used to call pipe cleaners. Ran one through the holes both inside and outside. Then poured water into the channel to see how it drained. Almost couldn't fill the channel because the water was draining out so fast. Looks like that took care of the problem. Thanks for all the help.

An email from the dealer also suggested that some silicone may be blocking the holes and to carefully cut it away. The slots on the outside for the weep holes are about one inch long but the actually hole opening is only about 1/4 inch. Does that sound about right?

[GaryKD]

Hi jillie,
Congrats on getting the channel to drain. If you have HEHR brand windows, the weep hole is 7/8". The brand that came before HEHR the weep holes were 1 1/4" long. Without taking out the inside rubber track the size of any interior hole is not possible. In past coaches, there was no reduction in the drain hole size from the frame weep hole to a mating component. However, things do change over time. I am not as familiar with the HEHR windows as I am their predecessor.

[jillie]

Yes, we have HEHR windows. I would post a photo of the outside weep holes if I could figure out how.