If you own a caravan or motorhome in Australia, you already know that water is your primary enemy. Whether it is a tropical downpour in North Queensland or a humid afternoon in Brisbane, moisture ingress can turn your pride and joy into a structural nightmare before you even realise there is a problem.
As the demand for moisture detection has skyrocketed, largely driven by insurance companies wanting factual data, a new trend has emerged in the repair industry: Positive Pressure Testing. On the surface, it looks impressive. Technicians put a large fan inside your van, spray soapy water on the outside, and look for bubbles.
At RNR Refinish, we have seen the aftermath of these tests firsthand. While we support the industry’s move toward more frequent testing, we cannot support a method that, in our experience, does more harm than good. In 2026, we know that your RV deserves better than a garden pump bottle and a method that risks your caravan’s structural integrity, and we believe that caravan shower repairs can’t be left to guesswork.
Pressure Testing for Leaks: Not a Good Idea
To understand why we avoid positive pressure testing, you need to understand how a caravan is built. Your RV is a complex assembly of fibreglass, aluminium, and composite panels, all held together and made watertight by high-grade sealants and urethanes.
These seals are designed with one specific job in mind: to keep water from the outside, out.
Think about your kitchen sink at home. If you put the bung in and fill that sink with water, it stays sealed. The weight of the water and the design of the plug work together to create a perfect seal. Now, imagine flipping that sink upside down. If you apply even the slightest pressure to that bung from the inside, it will leak immediately.
This is exactly what happens during a pressure test. Caravan seals and hardware are not designed to be subjected to heavy pressure from the inside out. When a repairer forces air into the cabin, they are putting stress on the sealant in the opposite direction of its intended design. We have experienced completing reseals that are lock-tight and have been tested with factual supporting evidence, only to have them tested elsewhere with pressure fans days later. The pressure simply blows holes through the fresh sealant.
The result is a very visual show. The customer sees bubbles, the repairer reports a leak, and the owner ends up paying for repairs that were not actually needed until the test itself caused the damage.
Why RV Construction Matters: The Rubber Ball Effect
Many people do not realise that a motorhome or caravan does not behave like a standard car during an accident or even under stress. In a motorhome, the cab is a structurally steel-built design that meets strict safety standards. The house or fibreglass body, however, acts more like a rubber ball.
The building materials and the large amounts of urethane used in manufacturing help the body absorb impacts. While this is great for durability, it makes leak detection incredibly difficult. Traditional poking and prodding or pressure testing does not account for how these materials flex and move.
This level of knowledge comes from years of experience and leading in technology. We avoid using most of these common detection methods due to their inaccuracies and the unnecessary false information they provide to our customers. To find a leak, you do not need to stress the vehicle. You need to see through it.
The Superior Alternative: Thermal Imaging and Factual Data
If pressure testing is the wrong way, then what is the right way? At our Brisbane facility, we have implemented Thermal Imaging Moisture Scanning. We have decades worth of experience in repairing RVs and caravans, and here is why we use moisture scanning technology:
1. It is Truly Non-Destructive
Unlike the soapy water method, thermal scanning requires zero physical pressure. We are not poking at your seals or trying to blow your windows out with fans. The scan is a passive, high-tech assessment of your RV’s thermal properties. It identifies moisture by detecting the temperature differentials that water creates when trapped behind panels. There is absolutely no risk of damage to your seals.
2. We Provide Factual Data, Not Just Bubbles
If a repairer tells you your van is leaking but cannot show you a digital reading or a visual report, they are giving you an opinion rather than a fact. Our scans provide precise moisture-level measurements and high-resolution thermal images that show the exact spread of moisture. These scans are calibrated for accuracy and show key information using multiple colour methods and settings.
3. Pre and Post Repair Verification
Because our method is factual, we use it to hold our team accountable. When we perform a repair, we conduct a pre-scan to identify the damage and a post-scan to prove the area is now dry and sealed. This provides our insurance and commercial clients with a level of evidence that traditional water testing simply cannot match. It also provides our valued customers with evidence of the quality repairs they received from us.
The High Cost of the Wrong Test
We have seen pricing for these pressure tests exceed $1,000. This is a high price to pay for a test that can potentially cost you thousands more in rectified damages to your seals.
Furthermore, pressure tests are notoriously poor at detecting leaks in inner walls or under J moulds. They are a visual show that looks impressive to an owner because they see bubbles, but those bubbles often represent air escaping under artificial pressure. They do not represent a natural water entry point.
Moisture Detection as an Asset
Whether you are dealing with a leaking shower, preparing for an insurance claim, or just want to ensure your investment is protected, the quality of the data matters.
Insurance companies are already shifting their demand toward more accurate, science-based reporting. They want to know without a doubt where the water is and how much damage it has caused. Our thermal scanning facility provides exactly that. We offer a faster, more accurate, and most importantly, safer way to diagnose your RV.
Final Thoughts
Your RV is one of the most significant investments you will make. Entrusting it to a repairer who uses home gardening tools and high-pressure tactics is a risk you do not need to take.
If you want the truth about your caravan’s health, you need a scan instead of a show. Contact RnR Refinish today for an industry-leading moisture scan. If you have recently had a pressure test and want a second opinion to verify the results, we are happy to provide a factual scan to give you a clear, accurate answer.