Andrew Herrick

Andrew Herrick
19 POSTS33 COMMENTS
https://askthervengineer.com/
Andrew Herrick is an advanced RV technician and design engineer specializing in towables. Jack of all disciplines and master of none, Andrew enjoys explaining how RVs work (and sometimes why they don't). He blogs weekly at AskTheRVEngineer.com.

In defense of the RV shut-off valve: A $15 plumbing mod you shouldn’t live without

RV plumbing code (NFPA 1192) does not require individual fixture shut-off valves. It ain’t like your house, which is likely governed by some version...

An RV tech’s 7 tips to diagnose RV furnace vibration

‘Tis the season for hot chocolate, road salting, jeez-it’s-not-even-March-yet?, and RV furnace vibration. If your furnace sounds like a toddler throwing a tantrum inside...

Know your plugs: 50A vs. 30A RV hookups—When 50-30 doesn’t equal 20!

I forgive you for thinking that 50–30 = 20, since that’s what we were all taught in elementary arithmetic. But when it comes to...

7 common RV winterization mistakes you should avoid

By Andrew Herrick As an RV technician, I get asked about RV winterization a lot. Personally, I’m a fan of winterizing with liquid antifreeze through...

Why RV mattresses are an odd size, plus mattress tips

I recently purchased a mattress for my master bedroom and it reminded me of the pain (pun intended) of many RV owners wishing to...

Do roof coatings really stop roof leaks? RV tech weighs in

By Andrew Herrick Unpopular opinion: RV roof coatings don’t stop roof leaks. Okay, okay, I overstate my case. RV roof coatings can stop leaks—but that’s not...

Does your RV refrigerator have a baffle? No baffle = poor cooling

Two- and three-way RV refrigerators (propane/electric) require airflow. This is common knowledge to most RV technicians, but it’s often unknown to consumers and overlooked...

Sagging, loose cables are a silent threat to your RV’s slide-outs

Sagging cables are a harbinger of bad things to come. If you roll the dice on your cable-driven RV slide-out, you might get lucky,...

Tool Talk: Take a sneak peek into an RV technician’s tool bag

Every RV owner needs a tool bugout bag. You need a small, simple bag of tools that will fix the most common annoyances and...

There’s a switch hiding in your furnace that could cost you $200 to push!

By Andrew Herrick In my career as an RV-engineer-turned-RV-technician, I have discovered the existence of a hitherto unknown $200 switch. It looks like a simple...

Hibernate smart: 5 steps to stop RV mold growth before it starts

Mold may flower in the summer, but it’s planted in the winter. Or to riff off an old country proverb, “December cold brings May...

Why are RVers so mean to their converter?

By Andrew Herrick I considered writing this post as a “Dear John” letter from the first-person perspective of your converter, but it’s hard to personify...