Mildew Smell

[AMHTravelers]

We're a year and a half into our full time RV living and we are noticing a mildew smell in a couple of the cabinets. There is no water stains or sign of any water leaks. Has anyone had this issue and if yes what did you do to get rid of the smell?

[HoneyBadger]

First, don't assume that because you can't see a stain there is no water intrusion. Get up on the roof and recaulk/reseal everything. You may have water in the roof insulation which just hasn't made its way all the way through yet.

Sometimes you can get a mold or mildew-ish odor during hot weather if an enclosed space (like in a cabinet or the storage under a bed) has one wall on the outside which is very warm, which keeps the entire interior of the cabinet space warm. If you have nice chilly air conditioning, the cold cabinet door meeting the warm air inside the cabinet can cause condensation which leads to mold, which leads to odor.

The only cure is to better insulate the outside wall with Reflectix or something similar, or to increase air circulation inside the cabinet.

Unfortunately if you have a mildew odor, you have mildew. Find and cure the problem before you try to get rid of the odor.

[brobox]

Year, and model might help. Do you fall within the roof mod and reseal time period? Was it done?

[AMHTravelers]

We have a 2013 Anthem DEQ. The roof inspection and reseal were done. The worst smell is in the cabinets over the sink and a slight smell over the dining room table. These are in the slides so if there is some type of leak it would be there. I don't think it is condensation because we haven't been anywhere it is cold for over a year.

[RW8804]

If you think water is getting into the walls, In no particular order of significance...

Have you looked at the outside "roof" of your slideouts? With the slideouts open, and on a ladder, look down the space between the slideout roof and the topper awning.

Again on a ladder, look at the caulking edge on the painted curved section between the walls and the vehicle roof.

Finally, up on the roof, inspect all the caulking, including under the curved rubber section that sweeps down from the awning rails to the roof. Brobox found cracks there on his roof.

[brobox]

A couple of things I would try as I am allergic to mold. A mold test kit from Home Depot or Lowe's to see if mold is present. A container of "Damp Rid" in the cabinet to see if there is moisture in the cabinet. If there is, think of running a small dehumidifier or open the cabinet doors and run the A/C on high to pull the moisture out. You don't say where you are located, but FL is terrible this time of year for condensation or mold to start forming.

I store my MH with a dehumidifier running as soon as our humidity starts getting close to 50%

Shampooing the cabinet carpet will also help get rid of a musty smell.

Also check the slide seams and see if any of the Eternabond tape has come loose.

[AMHTravelers]

Thanks, I'll try these.