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rv cooktop, RV Life, RV Maintenance, RV tech tip, RV Tips, RV travel, tech tip, tips
In the fourth part of this series on RV inspection and maintenance, we will discuss the RV cooktop and focus on slide-in type cooktops with piezo or electronic ignition. Cooktops are arguably the most reliable of RV propane appliances. These articles provide tips on performing annual inspection and simple maintenance only, which should help mitigate unexpected component failures. It is important to have your RV propane system regularly professionally inspected and serviced.
Like other RV appliances, it is important to keep the cooktop clean. In addition to wiping the cooktop surface, be sure to regularly lift the cover and clean the burner box underneath. Some people like to line the box with aluminum foil. This makes the cooktop easy to keep clean, as you can simply replace the foil. However, if you choose to do this, make sure not to allow the foil to come close to any of the ignitor components. Doing so can cause the ignitor to ground against the foil, resulting in ignition problems.
While the cooktop cover is open with the burner box exposed, check the ignitors for proper operation. If you are having problems with your cooktop burners lighting, there are a few simple checks before taking the RV in for service. There are different configurations of piezo and electronic ignition, but they operate in the same way. The piezo ignitor or ignition module generates a spark that travels along the high voltage wire(s) to either the central piezo cluster or each individual burner. In the case of a central cluster, each burner is fed by a flash tube that channels propane from that burner to the central spark for ignition. If you are having ignition issues, first determine if it is affecting all burners or only specific ones. If it’s affecting all burners, check for the presence of a spark. If there is no spark and you have electronic ignition, check for 12V feeding the ignition module. If you don’t have 12V, you will need to trace the voltage loss. Complete loss of spark (and verified 12V for electronic ignition) often points to a failed piezo ignitor or electronic ignition module. Piezo ignitors are not expensive, although electronic control modules can be a little pricey.
If the failure is limited to one or two burners, inspect the flash tubes, which are generally secured with spring clips. These often come loose due to vibration, resulting in dislodging of the tubes. Ensure the high-voltage wires are fully connected at both ends and intact without damage. Next, inspect the small burner ports on the side of the burners facing the flash tubes. These ports get clogged with debris, which can also occur on the main burner ports. Burner ports can be carefully cleaned with toothpicks. Be careful not to enlarge or damage the ports.
Finally, inspect the burner flame. It should be a distinct blue with no yellow. If the flame is not correct, or if you notice any other issues with the operation of the cooktop, it is important to have your cooktop serviced by a reputable RV repair center.
About the Author:
Steve Froese, an avid RV owner, traveler, and Coach-Net member since 2013, is the principal of “A Word to the Wise Technical Communications”, a published RV author, certified RV technician, and licensed Professional Engineer. He frequently collaborates with the “RV Doctor”, Gary Bunzer, and has worked with the RVIA/RVDA as a technical and training writer and consultant. Professionally, he works as a quality engineer and musician. Watch for more of Steve’s work in upcoming Coach-Net publications.2
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In the third part of this 
When it comes time to inspect your water heater, it is a good opportunity to check for water leaks around the appliance, as there are several valves and connections that could leak or fail. With the water pump on or city water connected, look for leaks, drips, standing water or stains around the water heater, especially the rear where the connections are. Before winterizing, inspect the P&T valve (shown at the left) for proper operation by ensuring that the lever can be easily lifted with no binding. Check for excessive dripping from the valve, although some intermittent dripping is normal. If the P&T valve drips continuously, have your water heater checked by an RV Repair center.
In this second segment of a 
Locate the combustion chamber exhaust and intake tubes on the outside of the RV as shown in the photo. These can be identified as the familiar chrome double-tube fixture. On some furnaces, the tubes are integrated into an external furnace access panel and on others, the tube assembly is directly mounted to the RV sidewall. For the former configuration, the furnace components can be easily accessed by removing this exterior panel. For the latter, the components must be accessed from inside the RV by removing a panel from the furnace itself. Fortunately, there is no reason to access the furnace internals unless there is a component failure. If the combustion chamber develops a crack or hole, Carbon Monoxide (CO) can escape into the living areas of the coach instead of being vented to the outside through the exhaust port, which is an extremely dangerous situation. This is why it’s important to have a working CO detector in the coach.
There are certain RV accessories that RVers from all walks of life can unanimously agree are must-have items; among the list of necessary products, RV awnings always make the cut. 
When you’re shopping for a new awning for your RV, you’ll find that most options come in one of two fabrics: vinyl or acrylic. In order to figure out which one would serve your needs best, it’s important to understand the difference. 
A quality awning can last you quite some time without giving you any hassle, so as with any investment, don’t hastily jump into a decision or make one based entirely off of the cost. Knowledge truly is power, and you’ll feel much more confident in committing to a brand if you take the time to first evaluate the company’s reputation. Have they been around for a while? Have they made a name for themselves in the industry? Call the company’s customer service number. Do they seem happy to answer all of your questions? Are they knowledgeable about their products?
The RV community is large, diverse, and friendly, so it should be easy for you to connect with some knowledgeable and experienced travelers. Whether you have a few people in mind who you can talk to in person, or you peruse through some 
Even if you use your coach through the winter months, or don’t experience the cold or harsh winters that some of us do, it is still important to perform regular maintenance on key components of your RV. This is most conveniently done either before putting your RV into storage or before taking it out. Over the next few articles, we will be discussing some important tips for your RV that may help prolong the life of key components and appliances and prevent unplanned downtime.
Recreational vehicles, campers, motorhomes in all classes contain large amounts of flammable materials. Do you have a plan in the event of a fire? RVs may become fully engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes. From 2009 to 2013, an average of 5,540 fires per year involved motorhomes and other recreational vehicles, according to estimates provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Whatever the type RV you own, for safety’s sake, you need to know where the fire is most likely to start. About ½ of all RV fires occur while vehicles are stationary. There are many different areas within an RV where fire can start:
Everyone is excited, we’re going CAMPING!!! Let’s get the rig ready for the big trip, bring it to the driveway, cool down the refrigerator and pack up all our stuff. We all do this, but most of us don’t know the precautions that should be taken before we just plug the unit in and stuff it full of goodies.
Just to review, we started the 
Always wear your seatbelt and make sure it is adjusted properly! The seatbelt performs two functions in a motorhome – crash protection and stability in the seat. Most motorhome seats are fairly high pedestals and a quick lane change or dropping a front tire off the shoulder can create a momentum shift that can actually throw a driver off the seat!
In 
CAT Scales are available at most major truck stops like Pilot or Flying J, or visit 
Sticks-and-bricks homes can absorb some neglect over the years, but not RVs. Whether you own a motorhome or towable like I do, ignoring strange sounds, odd smells and unusual moisture can be dangerous or even deadly. Your goal as a proud RV owner is to solve minor problems before they become major RV catastrophes. Pay close attention to these lessons my spouse and I learned and you’ll keep your RV – and your life – out of harm’s way.
Last month when the weather became warm enough for us to run our RV air conditioner, I noticed an unusual electrical smell. Exhausted from running errands, we simply said “Well that’s weird.” Then we turned off the air conditioner, opened the windows and forgot about it. Little did we know the danger lurking inside our home.
One hot, sunny July afternoon as the Arizona sun baked my brain, I forgot to tell my handy husband about moisture in our RV basement. The next day, a neighbor knocked on our door and said “Hey there’s water coming out of your basement!” Jim dug around and noticed that a plumbing connector had loosened in transit. Eventually, the compartment dried out but sadly, my failure to point out the problem resulted in permanently damaged fiberglass siding.