A few weeks ago we were walking our dog and noticed the air was full of those little white floaties that my wife claims she is allergic to. The edges of the lawns looked like it had snowed and the sky was as white as a snowy Christmas Day. My wife made a comment about how they could be harmful to RVs. That made me think about what environmental issues might affect an RV, such as the floaties from cottonwood trees, dust, and even pollen.
These little white floaties come from cottonwood trees and are called cottonwood fluff or summer snow. They are the seed-bearing material released by female cottonwood and poplar trees in late spring and early summer. They are actually non-allergenic. The itchy eyes and runny nose are due to pollen from grass and other trees.
Although harmless to humans, these “cotton balls” can accumulate on the condenser fins of your roof top air conditioner and block airflow. That would affect the efficiency of the A/C and could ultimately cause the unit to fail. They can also accumulate in large masses. If they get stuck in the cracks and crevices of your engine exhaust manifold, it could start on fire.
Several years ago the president of Newmar had a Jeep being towed to the RVIA Louisville show that caught on fire due to debris lodged in the engine manifold area. He pulled into the parking lot, unhooked the Jeep from the tow bar and let it idle. When he came back around the rig, the Jeep was on fire!
Pollen and dust can damage RV’s exterior
Other environmental conditions such as pollen and even dust can be damaging to the RV’s exterior if left unchecked.
Even though pollen and dust seem to be smooth and not something that would scratch or damage the exterior surface, under a microscope, pollen has very sharp spikes and dust is actually like sharp pebbles. Both can act like sandpaper.
Both pollen and dust are acidic and can corrode the gel coat finish of the fiberglass when wet. And, as stated before, they act like sandpaper, so they become abrasive when you try to clean the rig. Coating the windshield reduces visibility and causes scratches when the wiper blades are activated. Also, they pit the flat finish of the rubber blades, making them less efficient.
Pollen and dust particles can get into the engine air filter. They not only clog the filter, but get drawn into the cabin and aggravate allergies. The roof air conditioners do not draw in outside air. However, pollen and dust particles can reduce the airflow through the condenser, just like the cottonwood trees’ “cotton balls”.
Maintenance and precautions
Clean and inspect your roof air conditioner more often in the spring. Use a low pressure hose to flush out anything in and on the condenser coil, and on the fins at the back or around the sides of the unit.
Replace your engine air filter and any cabin filter your vehicle has in the spring. Repeat a few months later if there is high pollen count.
Clean your windshield with a low pressure hose and wipe off the wiper blades with a soft cloth and cleaner. I use 303 Protectant to not only clean but condition, as well.
Rinse the rig down thoroughly and clean with Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash. It is kind to ceramic coatings as well as the gelcoat of traditional fiberglass. You can find it on Amazon here.
Never wipe down with a dry rig. It is also a good idea to periodically rinse the rig if there is a heavy pollen count or a lot of visible dust. Pollen and dust in the air can get “caked” on a rig during a rain as the moisture captures it and coats your rig. Periodically rinsing the exterior helps keep it from doing so.
During the spring and especially on days with a heavy pollen count, keep the windows closed. Vacuum the floor periodically and wipe down all furniture and countertops. It is also a good idea to get an air purifier that scrubs the air. Clean or replace your roof air conditioner filter that is in the return air chamber.
Waxing the exterior fiberglass with the recommended Meguiar’s RV & Boat wax will help keep pollen and dust from sticking to the surface. You can find it on Amazon here.
Your rig’s appearance is the most important item when it comes to resale value. A faded, dull exterior will drop the value dramatically even if everything else is in top shape!
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
- What is the proper exterior maintenance for a fiberglass RV?
- Is there new technology to reduce maintenance on RV exteriors?
- Why don’t RV exteriors stay shiny, like cars?
- OK to use pressure washer to clean RV exterior?
- What sealant should I use on my RV’s exterior?
- My RV’s roof air conditioner drips inside when running. How can I fix it?
DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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