Question Leaking water into light over table?

[Todd L]

Good day all! First time user here!
Wife and I have a Vintage Cruiser 19ERD unit and have noticed a small amount of water that collects in the light cover over the table at the back of the camper. I have not been able to find out where this water is coming from. The light is in the center of the ceiling, and the light farther back closer to the AC unit does not collect water. This has been happening on and off almost since we first got the trailer. I thought at first there was a leak in the gasket around the AC unit, but that's been replaced when we installed a new AC.
I have some slight water damage on the wall to the right of the door when you walk in and thought that perhaps somehow the water that seems to have caused that damage somehow wicks to the center of the unit, skips the first light and goes to the one over the table? The physics just doesn't seem to be making any sense. I'm not seeing any other water damage farther up the line of where the light is, or any to the side of the light if it were coming from the fridge vent on the roof.
Has anyone run into this? Any ideas? I can post some pics if that helps.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Good day all! First time user here!
Wife and I have a 19ERD unit and have noticed a small amount of water that collects in the light cover over the table at the back of the camper. I have not been able to find out where this water is coming from. The light is in the center of the ceiling, and the light farther back closer to the AC unit does not collect water. This has been happening on and off almost since we first got the trailer. I thought at first there was a leak in the gasket around the AC unit, but that's been replaced when we installed a new AC.
I have some slight water damage on the wall to the right of the door when you walk in and thought that perhaps somehow the water that seems to have caused that damage somehow wicks to the center of the unit, skips the first light and goes to the one over the table? The physics just doesn't seem to be making any sense. I'm not seeing any other water damage farther up the line of where the light is, or any to the side of the light if it were coming from the fridge vent on the roof.
Has anyone run into this? Any ideas? I can post some pics if that helps.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you will be able to use our help to solve your dilemma.

I'm sure you are aware that water travels the path of least resistance. Where water exits into the interior is not really a good indication of where the source may be. It sounds to me that you probably have a roof leak. I would recalked as soon as possible in order to avoid any further damage. You might want to remove any old calking if you can. In doing so you might find the source of the leak. If the leak still exists after that, at least you can rule out the roof as being the cause.

Good luck

 

[Todd L]

Welcome to the forum. I hope you will be able to use our help to solve your dilemma.

I'm sure you are aware that water travels the path of least resistance. Where water exits into the interior is not really a good indication of where the source may be. It sounds to me that you probably have a roof leak. I would recalked as soon as possible in order to avoid any further damage. You might want to remove any old calking if you can. In doing so you might find the source of the leak. If the leak still exists after that, at least you can rule out the roof as being the cause.

Good luck

Thank you!
Yes, definitely aware of paths of least resistance. I have actually re-caulked the roof paying special attention to the AC unit and fridge vent as well shortly after noticing this the first time, but that may have been close to 2 years now. So it's done it since. We also have had a new AC unit put on with a one-piece gasket.
What's not making sense at all is the fact that the roof is a one-piece construction. There are no seams other than the gasket cutouts for the roof mounted items. From the AC unit the roof slopes down towards the rear of the trailer with the light getting the water being the last (of two) in line. I'd think that the first light would also show signs of water entry as well, but of course that's just a guess not knowing what the framework inside the ceiling looks like.
My wife looked around when we first noticed this happening and one or two people (in another forum) mentioned they had the same issue, and they were not able to find a consensus on what the cause was, having also had the roof re-caulked. When I re-caulked, I removed all the caulk, cleaned the areas and applied new. I'm somewhat experienced with caulking so I don't think I goofed, but it's certainly possible. Odd thing is that it doesn't happen all of the time. We've had torrential rains, looked inside and found nothing. Other times it's there after a light rain.
When it warms up a bit, I guess it's going to be a re-caulking in store for me, but something is telling me I'm missing something somewhere. Everything says it's a roof leak, but how is it that is the only light that gets it when there is another higher up the slope of the ceiling 3 feet away. I know the water is travelling to the light, but where it seems like it should be coming from doesn't seem possible, and I don't see water being able to transverse horizontally from the fridge area. Though of course as I wrote that realizing it only takes a small degree of decline for water to follow.
But yeah, you're right in that it looks like a roof leak....I was just hoping someone with a Cruiser who ran into the same issue might have some insight.

Thank you!

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Thank you!
Yes, definitely aware of paths of least resistance. I have actually re-caulked the roof paying special attention to the AC unit and fridge vent as well shortly after noticing this the first time, but that may have been close to 2 years now. So it's done it since. We also have had a new AC unit put on with a one-piece gasket.
What's not making sense at all is the fact that the roof is a one-piece construction. There are no seams other than the gasket cutouts for the roof mounted items. From the AC unit the roof slopes down towards the rear of the trailer with the light getting the water being the last (of two) in line. I'd think that the first light would also show signs of water entry as well, but of course that's just a guess not knowing what the framework inside the ceiling looks like.
My wife looked around when we first noticed this happening and one or two people (in another forum) mentioned they had the same issue, and they were not able to find a consensus on what the cause was, having also had the roof re-caulked. When I re-caulked, I removed all the caulk, cleaned the areas and applied new. I'm somewhat experienced with caulking so I don't think I goofed, but it's certainly possible. Odd thing is that it doesn't happen all of the time. We've had torrential rains, looked inside and found nothing. Other times it's there after a light rain.
When it warms up a bit, I guess it's going to be a re-caulking in store for me, but something is telling me I'm missing something somewhere. Everything says it's a roof leak, but how is it that is the only light that gets it when there is another higher up the slope of the ceiling 3 feet away. I know the water is travelling to the light, but where it seems like it should be coming from doesn't seem possible, and I don't see water being able to transverse horizontally from the fridge area. Though of course as I wrote that realizing it only takes a small degree of decline for water to follow.
But yeah, you're right in that it looks like a roof leak....I was just hoping someone with a Cruiser who ran into the same issue might have some insight.

Thank you!

Wow. You have done your due diligence. Like you, without knowing the configuration of your roof structure, I am at a loss. I hope someone here can help.

Darrell

 

[Todd L]

Wow. You have done your due diligence. Like you, without knowing the configuration of your roof structure, I am at a loss. I hope someone here can help.

Darrell

Thank you Darrell!
Me too!

 

[AbdRahim]

Also, check around marker lights, and screws where awning attaches if it is above the ceiling. You can also get a water meter and run it along the ceiling to see if you can find a path. If you have soft ceilings, pull off several of the strips and stick your hand in above the panel in several places to see where the water is in the ceiling. You may also, pull the light socket down and see if you can determine the direction from which the water is coming.
An endoscope camera may also help.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Should be obvious?

But!

So water flows downhill, until heavy winds blow it sideways, the rig is not level,as in going down the road. There is a side wind, headwind,a tail wind!

That may be why some manufacturers use a pressure hose to verify there are no leaks.

Vents, roof to wall joints, any thing and everything that is mounted on or near the upper part of a wall can be the leak. No two units will leak the same way.

When I re-caulk something, that is the short answer. I remove, and re-seat. It is obvious to me that caulking over a leak is a cover-up, and a leak must be removed rather than covered up.

That of course is why my repairs take many times as long as other's repairs take! But I only need to do the job one time.