Hose-testing for leaks

Test while you can still fix it

Hose-testing after the van is finished means cutting things open again. Test windows, roof vents, skylights and bonded joints as you fit them, then again at the end before you trust a wet night away.

How to do it

Use a garden hose, not a pressure washer on a cutting jet. Start low and slow. Work around each aperture from every angle, including upwards under lips and trims. Have a second person inside with a torch and a dry cloth.

Mark every weep with tape the moment you see it. Fix, cure, re-test. Do not negotiate with a drip.

What usually leaks

Window bonds with rushed primer, roof fan seals that were moved before cure, cable glands that were never tightened, and door seals that were painted over or misaligned after a side conversion.

After the first rain

Real weather finds paths a hose misses. Check cupboards and under-bed voids after the first proper downpour. A damp smell is a clue, not a personality trait of vans.

If water can find a path, it will. Make the path obvious now, while the toolkit is still out.

Figures in this guide are planning estimates. Confirm weights and prices against real products, and have gas and electrical habitation work signed off by a qualified person.