Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

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Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

June 18, 2022, 02:52:20 pm

Hi Folks,

We've finally put some miles under ThistleDewToo's latest "Alaska or Bust!" adventure. We just crossed into the Yukon on Rt 97 from BC. Everything has been going swimmingly (aside from a large bullseye in my windshield, which I guess is par for the course).

Until last nite, that is! We found a nice turnout that backed up to a fast moving river -- great place to spend the night (which is getting quite short these days ;-). We saw LOTS of mosquitos outside our panorama windows, but we're so very thankful they were outside and we were inside. Until that was no longer the case ... somehow they were getting inside our 2000 Mid-Bath LD!

So that's my question to the group. Have others had this issue? Are there standard places people look to close up infiltration points? Note -- all of our windows were CLOSED, so it's not a screen issue. We checked all our vents and their screens seemed tight, but eventually we closed those too, just in case. I checked the stove hood, and saw a couple small holes and taped those up.

But still, it was so bad, we got up in the middle of the night and drove away, thinking maybe that was just a really mosquito-infested area. We killed hundreds of mosquitos, and still they were coming in.

I started wondering about the refrigerator vent, and does that need to have screening around it (somehow)? I assume the bath vent is just to the plumbing so not an issue? What other infiltration points have people found and how did you deal with it?

This would be untenable as we go further north in the Yukon and Alaska, so we're really hoping others in the group have had this experience, and figured out how to solve the problem. Thank you in advance for tips and suggestions. We really need them!

Internet/cell service is quite spotty and slow here (as you probably are well aware), so we'll look for any possible quick responses, and then check back as connectivity allows.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #1 – June 18, 2022, 03:05:44 pm

First sorry to hear about the rock hit. We’ve had more than our fair share.

Now about those mosquitos. YUCK!! Our screen door had several small gaps that allowed gnats and mosquitoes inside, which we sealed. And we closed our dash vents. We noticed that we brought lots of mosquitoes inside on our clothes. So we did a quick brush off before a mad dash inside. We also sprayed flying insect repellent on the screen door.

That’s the most information we have. Hope some of helps.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #2 – June 18, 2022, 03:16:02 pm

"We saw LOTS of mosquitos outside ... thankful they were outside and we were inside. Until that was no longer the case ..."

Ah yes, early summer in Alaska! Did you know that the Mosquito is the official State Bird?

If you are first timers to Alaska you can be forgiven. ASAP locate a store, sporting goods/hardware, etc, and therein purchase the clothing needed, ie. headnets, body garments, etc.. You may also want a bottle (or 2) of DEET!

Ask also about a mosquito coil. It's like incense in that it provided a smoke when lit afire that the bugs might not like!

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #3 – June 18, 2022, 03:30:32 pm

Quote from: Ed & Margee - June 18, 2022, 03:05:44 pm

First sorry to hear about the rock hit. We’ve had more than our fair share.

Now about those mosquitos. YUCK!! Our screen door had several small gaps that allowed gnats and mosquitoes inside, which we sealed. And we closed our dash vents. We noticed that we brought lots of mosquitoes inside on our clothes. So we did a quick brush off before a mad dash inside. We also sprayed flying insect repellent on the screen door.

That’s the most information we have. Hope some of helps.

Thanks for the quick reply Ed & Margee.

Our inside door was closed, so in this instance, the screen door was not the problem. And yes, I forgot to mention, I closed off our dash vents too. Will keep in mind they may be tagging along on our clothes, but in this case, we had not been outside! And yes, we have DEET repellant, and will also get some flying insect killer.

The number of mosquitos that made it into our RV, despite our lethal attacks, was unbelievable and would be unbearable, if we cannot find their source of entry and seal it off. Many thanks for your input.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #4 – June 18, 2022, 03:39:31 pm

Quote from: Lazy Bones - June 18, 2022, 03:16:02 pm

"We saw LOTS of mosquitos outside ... thankful they were outside and we were inside. Until that was no longer the case ..."

Ah yes, early summer in Alaska! Did you know that the Mosquito is the official State Bird?

If you are first timers to Alaska you can be forgiven. ASAP locate a store, sporting goods/hardware, etc, and therein purchase the clothing needed, ie. headnets, body garments, etc.. You may also want a bottle (or 2) of DEET!

Ask also about a mosquito coil. It's like incense in that it provided a smoke when lit afire that the bugs might not like!

Thanks for the quick reply Bones. Yes, we were well-forewarned about the mosquitos (apparently also BC and Yukon Provincial birds?) We've got the garments, DEET repellant, and headnets (indeed tried sleeping with it last night, but we realized the population was increasing as we stayed there!). Also one of those Thermocell units, but believe those need to be used outside (is that right?).

We've been told by a veteran Alaska/Yukon adventurer (my wife's brother) that mosquito coils aren't really effective -- have you had good experience with them working? Inside or outside? We're really most concerned at present about keeping our LD a mosquito-free zone. We can handle a small number that make it in with us as we enter the door. But when they keep coming after that, we have to figure out where there are getting in to our Mid-Bath!

Welcome anyone's insights on mosquito infiltration points into their LD and how you effectively closed them off!

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #5 – June 18, 2022, 03:45:41 pm

Years ago I was camped at a spot and got a bunch of no see em's inside.
My screen material wasn't small enough to keep them out.
I re screened all windows with a finer gauge material.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #6 – June 18, 2022, 03:53:06 pm

We seem to recall that the window weep holes could be an issue, so people stuff cotton in them. It might be something to look into.

Art

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #7 – June 18, 2022, 03:56:53 pm

Quote from: Jota - June 18, 2022, 03:45:41 pm

Years ago I was camped at a spot and got a bunch of no see em's inside.
My screen material wasn't small enough to keep them out.
I re screened all windows with a finer gauge material.

Thanks for the quick reply Jota!

Yes, we've had that problem elsewhere with no-see-ums, and concur with that solution.

But here the skeeters are good-sized, so screens are fully effective if there are no by-pass points.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #8 – June 18, 2022, 04:02:53 pm

Quote from: Older_Fossil - June 18, 2022, 03:53:06 pm

We seem to recall that the window weep holes could be an issue, so people stuff cotton in them. It might be something to look into.

Art

Thanks for the quick reply Art. That's a good thought. I just took a look on my windows (dirty as they are), and am not seeing weep holes. Maybe they are under the black plastic inserts, which would seem like a pretty good mosquito block. Welcome anyone's clarification for a 2000 LD with the single pane windows.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #9 – June 18, 2022, 04:47:40 pm

Could they possibly get in though the plumbing vents? Air conditioner?

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #10 – June 18, 2022, 05:40:59 pm

As to the use of a mosquito 'coil', yes, I do recall that outside use is recommended.

Now, as to my personal experience... I have been to Alaska three times and have traveled a large part of the state. Of that travel my only defense was DEET! I would slather it on quite liberally. But only one time was that necessary, at Meziaden Lake. The wife and I went out one evening for a stroll just before what is called 'nightfall'. We were swarmed with the little pests to the point where they were in our ears, eyes and nostrils. However we suffered very few bites because of DEET. Around the cuffs and collars was the worse. And, Honest Injun, that was the only time we were bothered. I don't recall any getting into the LD with the exception of when we entered or exited.

Another suggestion might be one (or more) of those electronic fly swatters for inside the rig.

Meziadin Lake Provincial Park - BC Parks

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #11 – June 18, 2022, 05:48:38 pm

I'm with Art: check the weep holes. Yes, they are covered by those little black plastic caps, but they're plenty big enough for mosquitos to get in through.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #12 – June 18, 2022, 09:53:53 pm

I shouldn't laugh, but I've lived in Alaska for 70 years, and besides Deet and Mosquito coils (yes, they do work but in short distances outside where the smoke can drift away) or old-fashioned Buhach powder with pyrethrum flowers (popular on the West Coast for 100 years)... which, after the following story, ten years later the company went out of business forever... but I just found half a can still in my greenhouse! Yay... (Bugged no more: Alaskans rejoice insecticide is back in stock | The Seattle...)

As you travel north you will find places without many mosquitoes, so just keep going. For some reason big batches of those critters all get born on the same day (about three weeks ago), and then fade away, depending on the weather, wind, rain, etc. Having lived all over the state, I think they are by far worst around Fairbanks in the interior where the temperatures are usually higher. Deet repellant is definitely the "perfume" of Alaskans, to be put on soon after getting out of bed and definitely before opening the door! I sympathize with them getting inside, since when they're worst, they'll seek out any tiny hole to find you. Believe it or not, some friends scatter cinnamon all around their property to kill mosquitoes eggs, and buy big cans. I can't vouch for it, but they swear it works. There's not enough cinnamon in the state to help my lakefront place though. Later in the summer it'll be the no-see'ums.
Kristin

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #13 – June 18, 2022, 11:15:46 pm

Hi Steve and Carol; I'm with Art and Barbara. The weep holes are big enough to let mosquitos in. Cotton sounds like a good stuffing.
The dash vents get their air from the front slots under the wind shield. I think there is a screen there, but the holes are large enough to let mosquitos in. Close those vents before you turn the engine off. They are operated by engine vacuum. (mine is a '99) Your 2000 may have deteriorated foam gaskets around the edges of the flapper valves that direct air in/out of the heater core and the blend door of the temperature control door. Lately with the fan on high I occasionally get bombarded by small pieces of foam. Turning the hot/cold knob all the way off to cold may help while driving. Look to see if any mosquitos are coming out of the defroster vents under the inside of the windows.
   I've found that the outside coach door gasket doesn't always compress much in some places. If the mosquitos can get in there, they can get to the cover that slides on the screen door handle. The back of that slider has a big gap. I put a brush style strip on that to keep out flies.   TamBee 196.9 Inch Self-Adhesive Pile Weatherstrip for Windows & Doors...
   If you still have the same bathroom vent screen that came with my rig, there is a handle to crank up the vent. There is a larger hole there in the screen for the crank shaft more than big enough to let mosquitos in. More cotton there. Soak it with DEET first.
   Above the stovetop, the vent (fan on or not) has an outlet under a rain cover outside. Wind coming from that side will push mosquitos under that and into the rig. There is a swinging flap there, but I've noticed it doesn't really seal. Just sort of hangs there. The noise it makes flapping leads me to believe there isn't a gasket there. Stuffing the inside with foam will open it but keep bugs out. Foam stuffed outside to keep it closed may help easier.   If you cook inside you can set off the CO detector. I make sure I crack open the fantastic vent fan cover. I think that screen may be good enough to keep out those bugs. No-see-ums may be able to go through some of the screens anyway. A long shot is the water drain line in the refrigerator. It lets water out of the drip tray and drains on the ground. A mosquito could get up in there and come out in the refrigerator. Usually there is a restrictor to keep a lot of outside air from warming up the refrigerator, but those often fall out after a while. More cotton! Hope this helps. RonB

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Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #14 – June 19, 2022, 02:39:42 pm

Thanks for the continued replies. We just got back into cellular service (having brunch outside of Teslin, YT).

OK, I'll take a closer look on the weep holes since Art, Andy and RonB have all concurred ;-)

Kristin, thanks for your story -- helpful knowing sometimes it just pays to move-on. That was my wife's instinct too.

And Ron B, thank you for the lengthy list of suggested penetration points. I will pursue them carefully. I definitely saw mosquitoes coming out from the stove hood (the light lens has tilted slightly and opened a small opening, and I saw two crawl out -- amazing. Gorilla tape solved that problem and a few other holes, just in case. Our stove vent filter has already been bagged up to keep us from losing heat.

The other thing I did yesterday was check out my refrigerator vent. I removed the top to reveal a huge opening, originally covered with 1/4" metal mesh, though it had been damaged, and found a couple old wasp nests which I removed, and some leaf debris (picture below). Then I attached some screening material over the vent, and reinstalled the vent cap and sealed the screws. We'll see if that helps. We have solar panel wires running down the vent to underneath the fridge, along with my rear camera wire, so there are penetrations from those wires. My hope is that may be one of the larger sources.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We had a great night sleep last night, though not a test, because we were parked high up overlooking a lake and a mountain range, and it was breezy, so this was anti-mosquito territory. But I'll keep y'all posted on if this gets solved. I sure hope so!

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #15 – June 19, 2022, 09:56:09 pm

Hi Steve; this is just an addendum. The back of the refrigerator has an open flame when running on propane. That flame can produce carbon monoxide. Not much, but the back is sealed off from the front. The screen at top is meant to keep out wasps and attendant nests. But mosquitos can come in the louvers in the side door, so thyey still shouldn't be able to get inside the coach. Penetrations through the floor for added wiring, should have been sealed, even to prevent rain water from draining down below the 'fridge. RonB

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #16 – June 20, 2022, 02:06:38 pm

"The back of the refrigerator has an open flame when running on propane. That flame can produce carbon monoxide. Not much, but the back is sealed off from the front."

Here's a "be glad you bought a Lazy Daze" story. When I got my current Airstream, a 2019 model that had only been used for a little over a year, I noticed that the refrigerator flange was gapping out at the top by nearly half an inch. I thought nothing of it, other than making a mental note to secure it better someday. Oh, I rolled my eyes and thought "Typical Airstream build quality," but I was used to that sort of sloppiness.

Then I started having headaches. You can guess why! I sealed the gap with tape until I was able to replace the fridge with a marine compressor fridge that used no propane. Even then--with no carbon monoxide present--the headaches persisted for nearly a month before gradually fading away. It was not fun.

Oh, and the CO alarm never went off. I replaced it with a (hopefully) better one.

So yes, the fridge's back is sealed off from its front if the front flange/bezel is properly gasketed. It's something to watch out for with propane fridges.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #17 – June 28, 2022, 04:10:05 am

Hi Folks, OP here,

Thanks again for all the inputs. We found a few places where mosquitos could get in and have closed those off. I'll mention them here, just so others can check and see if they might apply to them.

- Stove hood: saw mosquitos crawling through a crack caused by the light lens being crooked. Placed tape on that and a couple other holes under the hood.
- Bathroom vent: screening had been pushed away from the frame so I added some clear adhesive, and used a stiff wire to pull down the errant screen until it sealed.
- Bathroom skylight: this one was very unusual, but LD replaced my old skylight a few years ago with a non-standard one (they were out of stock of the original), and the fit wasn't perfect. On the two sides that did not have a retaining screw, there was a gap between the frame and the skylight. Not a problem for water, but definitely for mosquitos. I sealed that up with some clear roof adhesive.
- Gap between sliding windows: the rubber gasket that comes on the 2000 MB windows leaves a small gap (probably shrank over time and use), and a larger one near the bottom of the window. I plan to use small door gasket material that will stick to the current gasket to close the gaps.

Since making these fixes, we've been unbothered by mosquitos other than the few that get in when we enter ourselves.

I concur with RonB that the refrigerator vent repair will not assist in deterring mosquitos (though may help with wasp nests and other debris).

My last (somewhat related) question came when I remembered we've had mice get into our RV (inside the "house"). Now if a mouse can get in, certainly mosquitos could follow that same route. Can anyone tell me how something as large as a mouse can get inside the house? That would see to be a big hole to the outside. I'd love to be both mosquito-proof and mouse-proof. Note: I'm not talking about the engine compartment, air filter, generator exhaust, etc -- but inside the living quarters. Thanks if you have any mouse-prevention experience you can pass along.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #18 – June 28, 2022, 11:24:00 am

My heart bleeds for you guys. Not trying to be punny or anything.

Certainly a lot of holes in the RV that I never thought of. Glad I have been watching this one.

I know you guys are in colder climes but I know about the Florida pests and I wanted to share an experience that I am not hearing being mentioned. After living in the Florida Keys in a house with the noseeums and mosquitos and no A/C ( 2 years straight with plenty of time to experiment), I found that fans are crucial. Knowing those little guys are attracted to smell, I found that if I put a fan on me, blowing my human smell all over the place, they would come up the slipstream of the air currents and get me. And while it does not cool me down, when I put the fan next to me but pointed away, blowing that human smell over there I believe, they wouldn’t get me near as much if at all.
Now to the exhaust fan. With all the windows and stuff closed up and the exhaust fan going, I created a negative air pressure inside the house. One that would close doors. By pulling all the air inside the house through all those little holes made it so that they couldn’t smell me (dis: I am not a scientist nor do I play one on TV) thereby greatly reducing the number coming into the domicile. I had to leave all the windows and doors closed up though for the system to work.
Anyway, Have a great trip and I am on the edge of my seat…. Oh, can’t help ya with the mice.
Chris

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #19 – June 28, 2022, 11:52:22 am

That's a very interesting experiment you mentioned Chris, and it makes sense from what we know about mosquitos. There was still human smell, of course, but it was all being blown out the roof vent, presumably too strong a headwind for a mosquito to overcome. Clever! I'll have to remember that next time I'm in mosquito territory.

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #20 – June 28, 2022, 11:53:08 am

How small is too small for a mouse hole? Check out this video.

https://youtu.be/xdL0_K5xz04

Kent

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #21 – June 28, 2022, 12:57:25 pm

So Steve and Carol; Are you hooking up electric often? The hole around the cord entry point would let in a mouse in my '99. Maybe that is why LD switched to the Marinco socket in about 2002. In my TK, the cord storage area (non detachable cord) leads right in to my food storage under the oven.
Great video Kent. .6" about 5/8" is pretty small. Mice come in smaller sizes than that, and underfed, younger mice I've heard can fit through even smaller holes! RonB

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #22 – July 15, 2022, 11:11:05 pm

I remember reading this posting while on the road and thinking about how we have had the same experience at times.
Today, I pulled the hood's filter off and could see daylight. That didn't seem right.
Investigating deeper, our vent is missing the flapper, no wonder I had not heard it rattling for a while.

Since we never use the noisy hood fan, preferring the nearby Fantastic Fan, the exterior cover now is closed off, filled with closed-cell foam, left over from a kayak outfitting.
Sure wonder what happened to the flap.

Larry

Re: Help! The Mosquitos are Getting Inside!

Reply #23 – July 16, 2022, 10:05:48 am

Quote from: Larry W - July 15, 2022, 11:11:05 pm

I remember reading this posting while on the road and thinking about how we have had the same experience at times.
Today, I pulled the hood's filter off and could see daylight. That didn't seem right.
Investigating deeper, our vent is missing the flapper, no wonder I had not heard it rattling for a while.

Since we never use the noisy hood fan, preferring the nearby Fantastic Fan, the exterior cover now is closed off, filled with closed-cell foam, left over from a kayak outfitting.
Sure wonder what happened to the flap.

Another thing to put on the annual inspection list!

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