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The following submitted by Dick Albritton  

ALFA SEE YA

AIR LEAKAGE TESTING AND SEALING

The following describes a method of testing the See Ya for air leaks, details the areas where the leaks are likely to be and suggests methods that may be used to seal the air leaks.

TESTING METHOD:

• 1. Turn the air conditioner, furnace and fans OFF.
• 2. Turn all exhaust fans ON to blow OUT at full speed.
• 3. Close all windows and doors.
• 4. Place both slide outs in the out position.
• 5. Now feel for airflow at suspected locations. Moisten you hand slightly to help feel the location of the airflow.
• 6. IMPORTANT: The fans must be left ON during the testing and sealing procedure. By doing this you will be able to tell immediately when you get the air leak sealed.
• 7. Some air leaks can be found easiest by reversing the fans to pressurize the coach and then feeling for air exiting the coach. This would be for those hard to get to spots under the front dash area.

SUSPECTED INTERIOR LOCATIONS:

• 1. Under dash. Feel in area above brake. If airflow is felt then lift instrument panel and trace air to source. Wiring bundles passing thru floor and the joint where the plywood floor meets the front of the steel frame are common areas of leakage. The kick panels in front of the driver must be removed in order to get to this area.
• 2. Fuel filler tube. Remove driver side rear cup holder and feel for air around filler tube where it passes through floor.
• 3. Under street side pantry. Remove bottom floor of pantry. Seal this open area in floor and seal around pipes that go up into the plumbing chase.
• 4. Under gas detector in hall. Remove gas detector and seal around wiring passing through floor.
• 5. Under shower. Remove access panel and check around plumbing pipes.
• 6. Behind electrical panels. Open door of panels and feel for airflow through panel. If airflow is felt, then remove the inverter panel (the one on the right) and seal around all floor penetrations.
• 7. Under stove and under sink. Remove bottom drawer and check for sealing around gas pipe and drain pipes.
• 8. GOLD'S ONLY- Under kitchen sink. Pull lower drawer under sink and check for sealing around unit heater water piping and ducting where they pass thru the floor. Also pull lower drawer under washer/dryer and check for air leaks around gas furnace where it sits in outside wall.
• 9. Behind microwave in refrigerator cabinet wall. Wiring passing thru this wall may not be sealed.

• 10. Under vanity. Check around plumbing pipes.
• 11. A/C ducting. Feel for airflow from bedroom floor ducts. There should be none. If airflow is felt here there are several places to check.

A. Remove curbside nightstand. There is an access hole behind the cabinet on most units. If you don't have an access hole there, cut one in. The cutout can be replaced and the nightstand will cover the hole. Check the ductwork where it passes thru the floor. If you feel airflow, seal up the duct until all airflow has stopped.

B. Remove face of gas furnace. Seal wiring penetrations on left side and gas pipe penetrations on the right side. Make sure that the rubber gasket around the furnace between it and the duct housing is sealing off completely. Check for tight fit of gasket separating blower and burner sections.

• C. Wiring passing thru rear cap behind controls on curbside. Remove phone jack and inspect this area.
• 12. Under living room slide. Pull slide in. Check at each end of slide next to wall. You will feel a large amount of airflow here. This air can be stopped by building some blocks to be placed at each end of the slide and then weather-stripping the bottom of the slide between the 2 blocks. A picture of an air block is on the Yahoo site.

EXTERIOR LOCATIONS:

Refrigerator Vent: Remove vent cap and foam all wiring chases and other hollow spaces that may allow air to enter the ceiling cavity.

Wiring for Satellite: Remove drip cap and seal wiring hole.

Rear View Camera: Remove camera and seal wiring hole.

Under front cap: Inspect all vertical frame members that pass up and into the interior of the coach. Seal any open holes in these members.

Rear Cap: This should be sealed to prevent air from traveling up and into the ceiling cavity where it will eventually pass into the coach. On the See Ya there is not a good way to test to see if your cap is leaking or not. Best way to know is to look at your ceiling. If you see black stains around ceiling mounted devices then your cap is leaking and needs to be sealed. On the GOLD feel for air flow at the vent slots in the cabinet where the satellite tuner is mounted.

Sealing Method: This can be tough and varies depending on the age of the coach and if it is a See Ya or a Gold.

Method for older See Ya's. -- Make a blocking plate out of any available material that will fit between the rear cap and the rear frame wall at floor level. A plate for each side. Put the plate in place and foam seal it in so that it provides a total blocking of air up the rear cap. The space between the engine shroud and the rear

cap will also need to be sealed off using a similar method. This should provide a total blocking of air up the rear cap.

Newer See Ya's - A rear cap sealing plate has been fabricated into the rear cap and may need to be sealed better if it is not fitting tightly. Also this plate will need to be sealed at both rear corners of the coach. The above sealing method can be used on these coaches in addition to the factory plate if desired.

Golds with side mounted radiator - The side mounted radiator units are very tough to get into but the idea is the same. Provide a sealing method to prevent air from traveling up the rear cap.

06's and later units - The rear cap has been redesigned and may not need to be sealed. If you find the rear cap needs to be sealed then you will have of make sealing plates as described above.

STORAGE BAYS:

Between Freightliner frame rails at front and at rear of storage bays. Make plate to go between frame rails at rear and seal it in. Seal all around the plastic channels that run beside both frame rails. At front seal all around water tank and plastic channels.

Gas Pipe entrance and exit hole. Check these and seal as needed.

Front wall of storage bay on 36' See Ya and Gold's. Seal from inside storage bay between frame rails where top of wall meets bottom of water tank and at both frame rails where plastic channel passes through.

Note: This may not be as detailed as it should so if something is not clear, please let me know and I will try to improve on it.

Dick Albritton # 1154

dick@wildblue.net

318-278-1677 - Cell

318-251-9977--Home