Seal the Love: Mike's Monthly Maintenance Minute

Do you seal the love? You will after this month’s Mike’s Monthly Maintenance Minute.

I’m Mike Murphy, Certified RV Inspector and Certified RV Technician with Cozy Camper Mobile RV Services. In this month’s maintenance tip, we’re covering one of the most important—and most commonly neglected—parts of RV ownership: inspecting and maintaining your RV seals.

With spring arriving across Texas, now is the perfect time to inspect your RV for winter wear and prepare it for travel season. Proper seal maintenance helps prevent water intrusion, structural damage, mold, and costly repairs.

Watch the full video on YouTube

How Often Should You Check RV Seals?

Most RV manufacturers recommend inspecting seals every 90 days, but many owners aren’t sure what that actually means or what they should be looking for.

Your RV is covered in sealant from front to back and top to bottom. These seals are designed to remain flexible while protecting joints, penetrations, windows, doors, and roof transitions from water intrusion.

What Healthy RV Sealant Should Look Like

When inspecting your RV seals, look for three key characteristics:

• Continuous with no gaps

• Clean and well-adhered to the surface

• Pliable and flexible

A simple test is to press your thumbnail into the sealant. If it feels soft and rebounds, that’s a good sign. If it’s hard, brittle, cracked, or peeling away, it’s time for repair or replacement.

While inspecting seals, it’s also important to clean them—and ideally the entire RV exterior. Dirt and grime shorten the life of sealant and prevent new sealant from adhering properly.

When to Reseal vs. Replace RV Sealant

If the sealant is still flexible and well-bonded, you can often clean it thoroughly and apply new sealant over the top. Sealant does not adhere to dirt, so cleaning is critical.

If the sealant is hard, cracked, or pulling away from the surface, it must be removed and replaced. Applying new sealant over failed material will not provide proper protection.

The Three Main Types of RV Sealant

Self-Leveling Sealant

This sealant is used around roof penetrations such as vents, skylights, antennas, and plumbing components. It flows outward after application to create a wide protective barrier.

Non-Sag Sealant

Used where the roof material meets the sidewalls. It looks similar to self-leveling sealant but stays in place, functioning more like traditional caulking.

Flexible Sealant

Used on sidewalls around windows, doors, trim, and wall joints. This sealant can be more difficult to work with but does not need to look perfect—its flexibility is what matters.

Common RV Sealant Brands

For roof applications, Dicor and Alpha Systems are commonly used.For sidewall applications, Lexel and Geocel/Geoflex are popular choices.

Always check your RV owner’s manual for manufacturer-specific recommendations, and follow the instructions on the sealant product itself to ensure proper application.

Professional RV Inspections in Texas

Routine seal inspections are a critical part of a professional RV inspection. At Cozy Camper Mobile RV Services, we provide comprehensive RV inspections across Texas, including Central Texas, the Hill Country, DFW, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and surrounding areas.

Whether you’re buying a new RV, preparing for travel season, or maintaining your investment, a professional inspection can identify seal failures before they turn into major repairs.

Learn More About Your RV (and how to seal the love)

If you want to better understand your RV and how its systems work, check out the Introduction to RVs course inside the Cozy Camper Academy. It’s designed to help RV owners make informed decisions and avoid common (and expensive) mistakes.

Helpful Links

• Cozy Camper Academy: https://cozycamperacademy.mykajabi.com/

• Cozy Camper Mobile RV Services – Texas RV Inspections: https://www.cozycamperatx.com/

• Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.cozycamperatx.com/newsletter

Stay tuned for the next Mike’s Monthly Maintenance Minute, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to have RV tips delivered straight to your inbox.