Condensation

[GillC1]

Hi

I checked my van yesterday, and have found alot of condensation in there, there is no signs of damp. We have a cover over it and all the windows are on the first catch to let some air through. Has anyone else had this problem? Is the cover causing this?

Thanks

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Gill,

Condensation is always caused by cold highly thermally conductive surfaces coming into contact with warmer moist air.

The most effective solution is always ventilation, which allows the moist air to vent to the outside. air conditioning or dehumidifiers will make some difference, but unless all the external vents are closed, the air you dry out will simply be replaces with moister air from outside - not a very economic solution.

Condensation will also be readily formed, when the air temperature rises significantly more quickly than the surfaces it touches. This is why you often find it on a cold day and the sun shines which warms some surfaces which in turn warms the air, but in the darker corners of a caravan where sunlight cannot get the surfaces can be much cooler.

 

[GillC1]

thanks john, but thats what i don't understand all the windows are on the first catch to allow air to flow through and somewhere for the moist air to escape to, but its is still happening. i have taken the cover off now to see if that makes a difference

 

[caravanoracle]

is it a breathable cover?

 

[GillC1]

yes it's a pro-tec one - think thats what its called

 

[Guest]

We tried a breathable cover some years ago, and that caused condensation as far as we could make out.

We cam to the conclusion that covers were more trouble than help.

Give the van a good waxing first before kaying up and then cleaning is the easier option.

 

[xtrailman]

I would suggest that you are not getting sufficient movment of air.

Maybe your cover would work if air was also passing through the roof vents, also allow air flow from the under bunk gas ventilators.

I dont use a cover , just rotate or remove some of the cushions, and 3 or 4 times during the winter layup, i put the electric fire on for 3 or 4 hours.

Ive not had any problems with condensation other than using it at the start or back end of the touring season, heater on windows open to vent clears this.

 

[GillC1]

thanks Ray, i have taken the cover off and put the gas on for while, just been there to have a look and it is all fine and as it should be, so i think no more cover for us.

thanks for all your replies

 

[Duggie_374362603]

Gill C i use a breathable cover on my van Swift Charisma and all i do in the winter is remove all seating lift up fixed bed open all cupboard doors open all taps drain all water then i put 2 small condensation tubs 1 in each sink and no heating of any kind i think the heating makes it worse p.s empty condensation tubs about every 2 months

cheers Duggie

 

[SimonB]

Dont be such a light weight and use the caravan all year like us hardened campers and you wont have any trouble leaving it for 6 months will you.

 

[ProfJohnL]

In response to Duggie's comment. all the actions he/she suggests are sensible except for the use of condensation tubs.

These tubs collect but a small amount of the moisture in the air, and as soon as that bit of air has dried, it attracts more moisture from the surrounding air which comes in through the ventilation ports. All you are doing is trying to dry out the worlds atmosphere, very slowly.

To be of any real use, the caravan would have to hermetically sealed to prevent any new moist air from entering.

 

[RogerP]

I looked into a cover last year and decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

I use the Fenwicks winter stuff after our last outing and check the van every month and thats it.

So far not had any issues.

Would where the van is parked have any impact. Mines on a south facing drive (which is newish tarmac) with the house to the front , 8ft wall to one side and our cars parked to the rear and other side.

The ground under the van is always dry (even when it chucks it down) so there's no added draw of moisture.

 

[GillC1]

thanks Roger, last year the van was in storage on a caravan club site half way up the steadies in water the whole winter, so this year we have moved it and made a gravel area outside the house which doesn't hold water at all. It seems strange that this is the second year we have had a cover and had terrible condensation both times.

I think i will invest in some fenwicks and ditch the cover

thanks