{"id":1260,"date":"2008-03-07T23:00:05","date_gmt":"2008-03-08T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/?p=1260"},"modified":"2008-03-07T23:00:05","modified_gmt":"2008-03-08T05:00:05","slug":"keeping-the-airstream-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/?p=1260","title":{"rendered":"Keeping the Airstream happy"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past few days there has been a mysterious drip under the Airstream’s water heater. \u00a0 At first I thought we just had a bit of condensation, but when it didn’t go away I realized we had a leak. \u00a0 I’m sure you can see the irony of this coming on the heels of yesterday’s post about all the leaks in the house.<\/p>\n

The leak itself was simple to fix, fortunately. \u00a0 Water was seeping past the nylon drain plug. \u00a0 I simply turned off the heater, shut off the water, and removed the plug (thus dumping 6 gallons of warm water, which I collected in a bucket). \u00a0 Then I cleaned the mineral deposits out of the plug’s threads, wrapped it in Teflon pipe thread tape, and reinstalled it. \u00a0 Problem solved.<\/p>\n

But why did it leak in the first place? \u00a0 Our Airstream has bumped over some pretty brutal roads in the past two years, and it never leaked. \u00a0 Why is it that just sitting here in the driveway the water heater drain plug suddenly starts to drip?<\/p>\n

I think the Airstream is telling us that we need to use it or lose it. \u00a0 A sedentary life of sitting in the driveway doesn’t suit it. \u00a0 The poor thing probably thinks it has been retired, like a greyhound after a few years of chasing rabbits at the race track. \u00a0 The longer it sits, the more the little things may start to dry out, crack, discolor, squeak, and settle.<\/p>\n

You may think I’m joking but really, these trailers are happier when moving. \u00a0 They’re like people: a little exercise is good for them. \u00a0 The motion of the wheels moving over the road helps keep the tire rubber and the rubber cords in the axle supple and strong. \u00a0 Regular use of the air conditioner and refrigerator help them stave off early death from internal rust. \u00a0 Gaskets on windows, doors, and even the toilet’s seal will all dry out if ignored; regular use makes it obvious when things need attending to.<\/p>\n

When we are in the trailer and using it daily, we take care of it daily. \u00a0 That may be a function of full-timing rather than the usual mode of vacation getaways. \u00a0 I’m sure when most people are out in their RVs their mind is on escaping work, rather than servicing the rig. \u00a0 We’re more accustomed to fixing things as we go, because up till now there hasn’t been any other opportunity.<\/p>\n

However, we may have a chance to get some things done later this month, before we head out again. \u00a0 My short-term “fix list” looks like this:<\/p>\n