Mold/mildew woes return to our Escape - looking to do some major tear apart - Fiberglass RV
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Old 08-26-2017, 03:58 PM   #1
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Unhappy Mold/mildew woes return to our Escape - looking to do some major tear apart

We had a mold/mildew smell this past spring, discovered a small leak in bathroom vent, removed vent, sprayed a mold spray on top of the shower/bath stall where we could see there might be some mold or mildew, did the best we could (hard to access), the smell went away. But it's back, strongest when the heater on (we already removed heater, looked around the cabinet, the smell is there but no signs of it). Removed bath vent again, was a new small leak, but very little moisture and no visible mold/mildew in same area. Just odor.

We are thinking the original mold spread down the stall on the back side (by kitchen, those familiar with plan B Escape) or front side where door is.

It seems our options are - (1) remove all the interior paneling and framing around bath stall, or cut into it certain places, look for and treat mold, which hopefully we'd find because if not then we are baffled, (2) tear out the stall ourselves, which is what we are thinking of doing, (3) find a restore-repair place that could remove the entire shower stall, look for mold, then either replace, or not, a new stall (expensive options, but hopefully less so than new trailer). (4) sell to someone who doesn't mind the smell! (I think it is a stronger odor than my husband)

Our trailer, a 2005 model, is otherwise in good shape. I guess it is now in the category of vintage Escape. Doing some restoring work, though depressing, makes sense, if it solves the problem. We gotta do something!

Anyone have this issue? Anyone done any restoration/alteration work on an older Escape? Anyone know someone in western Washington who does such work? I've found some names on line, have to wait to Monday to talk with them.
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Old 08-26-2017, 04:10 PM   #2
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Penney and Mike, I'd give Reace a call and ask for his opinion on the best way to get to that area. I know on mine and other more recent Escapes, the bath insert is just two pieces of fiberglass, lower and upper half, which would probably make it a more straightforward repair.
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Old 08-26-2017, 04:36 PM   #3
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It might be worthwhile to rent one of those ozone generators. Open everything and let that thing do it's job. Of course you still need to take care of the source of the water intrusion.
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Old 08-26-2017, 04:36 PM   #4
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Mike tried calling Escape in the spring and could only talk to a customer service person who said they couldn't help or advise us. That was disappointing as we'd love to hear Reace's suggestions and had hoped to talk with him. Our stall is upper and lower, but lower is only the first 6 inches, there doesn't seem to be any easy access or take down, other than removing all the outer paneling.
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Old 08-27-2017, 10:15 AM   #5
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I would suggest a nice vacation in Arizona this winter
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Old 08-27-2017, 11:35 AM   #6
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Send a message via Yahoo to Darwin Maring
We use this stuff year around.
https://www.amazon.com/KANBERRA-GEL-...words=kanberra
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Old 08-27-2017, 05:19 PM   #7
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We have sprayed again down and around the shower stall and it has helped with the odor, it is going to sit in the hot 90 degree sun for a few days (yes even here on the Olympic Peninsula we get days that hot!) Also ordered a wireless borescope inspection camera to look around some more and the recommended Kamberra gel.

Will wait and see what we might hear from Escape, have emailed them for possible suggestions.

This may be the time to consider the upgrade we've talked about, and sell with full disclosure our 2005 for a very good price! It is otherwise in excellent condition.

Our first trailer, a 13' Burro, came with mildew issues we did not know about, much more serious. We addressed by replacing cushions, cabinet doors, carpet etc. We used it 12 years and sold to a young couple with the complete story, they were delighted, did their own cute interior remodel! __________________
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Old 08-27-2017, 05:40 PM   #8
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Call around to your local rental companies and see if you can rent an ion generating air scrubber for a couple of days. The professional restoration companies who come in after such disasters use them in houses that have had water damage to clean up the musty, bad smell of mildew and mold. The ions they generate will actually kill mold spores in the air and on surfaces

If you don't want to do it yourself then you can hire a company to come out and do it. Your household insurance company will have a list of such service companies that they feel are reliable.
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Old 08-27-2017, 08:55 PM   #9
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have you tried mould control. Its what commercial restoration co's use,I have used this product and its my favorite
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Old 08-27-2017, 09:03 PM   #10
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Yes! Mold Control is what we've been using. It did seems to work last time, for awhile. We got it sprayed into more places this time.
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Old 08-28-2017, 05:01 AM   #11
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Mold

We lived on a boat 9 years. Boat had gel coat overhead and mold formed on it. We wiped it down with white vinegar and did not wash it off, this eliminated and stopped return. Mold is a problem in boats so we wiped it down every 6 to 8 months. We have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan that had a rain water leak because of clogged drain at heater air intake. We were away for two months, returning we found the interior, leather seats also, covered in mold. Interior was covered in white mold. We wiped it down with white vinegar and sprayed areas we could not wipe down, like carpet. Over a year and no mold return. Any place you can get vinegar to it will kill the mold. Be as thorough and agerssive with the vinegas as possible, as you know any mold left will grow. If you do not like the vinegar odor, it will go away quickly.
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