Awning Moisture

[Benji]

Earlier this year my Wife and I decideed to purchase a new awning for our touring caravan as our old awning was past it's sell by date. After doing the usual research we settled on a Pioneer Awning made by a company called Walker, based in Holland with a british sales rep. The awning was delivered and we set off for an extended holiday in Germany in August, First impresions were very good when the awning was erected however around the end of September/early October we noticed the roof of the awning wa sholding what can only be described as a high volume of water. It was so bad when I went out to investigate that when the wind shook the awning the water was released and I got soaked into the bargain. Walker insist that this in normal when you have as they say cold weather with high air moisture! In all our years of caravaning we have never experienced this problem and I wonder if anyone else has experinced this. Walker insist the material they are using is first class, my own thoughts are the material does breath properly. In addition we now have black mildew spots on the material.

Russell

 

[Damian]

Russell, what you are describing is right with todays fabrics and the prevailing weather.

In high air moisture conditions , such as we have had for some time this year, during the daytime the ground enclosed within your awning warms up the ground produces water vapour as well as the grass during its photsynthesis, add that to your breathing and warmth from the van plus any awning warming and a lot of vapour is present.

When the air cools at night, the vapour will condense on the roof.

Because the roof is made to be waterproof, it will not pass through, otherwise awnings would leak.

Very good ventilation is needed to reduce the situation, but of course the trade off is the awning would be cold.

Mildew spots are simply a case of not ensuring the material was absolutely dry before packing away.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi russell

damian is quite correct the only way to stop the condensation is with more ventilation, if possible unzip the top of the doors by a few inches during the day untill it gets dark,if the awning is on the same side as the fridge the warm air from the fridge vents will also add to the condensation.

also as an after thought has the awning had a good soaking and been dried out throughly, the reason!! because when we used our dorema awning for the first time there was more water inside than out, after it had dried out it was fine. The mould is there because it was damp when packed away? when packing up make sure it is dry and the damp skirts ect are dried with an old towell or similar before packing away.

colin

 

[Benji]

Many thanks guys, this explains it, will take onboard what you have both suggested.

Many thanks

Russell