we hope to go out in our van this coming holiday. Anyone able to give help with dealing with condensation? We have the heater on low at night and have noticed we have water running down the walls in the morning.
Condensation
- Thread starter scottiemad
- Start date
Hi,
How many of you in the 'van over night? Friends of ours have this problem and the only difference we can see is that our 'van has a second layer about 25mm from the main wall and they don't. It is like a second skin. We sleep with the heater on when its cold and have no problems. Try having the windows on the catch slightly open - this should help. Also ensure any permanent ventilation is free of any blockages.
How many of you in the 'van over night? Friends of ours have this problem and the only difference we can see is that our 'van has a second layer about 25mm from the main wall and they don't. It is like a second skin. We sleep with the heater on when its cold and have no problems. Try having the windows on the catch slightly open - this should help. Also ensure any permanent ventilation is free of any blockages.
hi,we stayed in aviemore for a week over new year holiday temperature was down to -12 once and did not get above -6 we had solid ice on inside walls which we picked off and wiped down. in those conditions with a 4 tog bottom quilt and 13 over, it was warm but that was with halogen heater on all night! it was not possible to just open windows on first latch as it let in too much cold air, the problem is you get a cold joint when warm air breathed out, kettles etc. come into contact with freezing walls so you can't win at this time of year but it is great fun though.!
Condensation is caused by warmer moist air coming into contact with surfaces that are colder than the dew-point of air at the time.
The majority of moisture in the caravan air will be from the occupants breathing out or from the products of combustion from open flames (Cooker/oven and some poorly sealed fridges)
It is not from room sealed heaters (e.g. Alde, Attwood, Carver, Electrolux, Truma etc) In these product all the flue gasses are directed outside and do not add any fumes to the air inside the caravan.But gas powered cabinet heaters including catalytic types do produce water vapour.
The proper solution is to have sufficient ventilation, but in the weather conditions prevailing at the moment that would be most uncomfortable.
Where bedding may come into contact with the walls the addition of spacer boards will help to keep bedding drier, and even more so if the spacer boards can have warm air directed up between them and the wall. Keep a roof vent partly open to allow teh warmest air to vent outside.
The majority of moisture in the caravan air will be from the occupants breathing out or from the products of combustion from open flames (Cooker/oven and some poorly sealed fridges)
It is not from room sealed heaters (e.g. Alde, Attwood, Carver, Electrolux, Truma etc) In these product all the flue gasses are directed outside and do not add any fumes to the air inside the caravan.But gas powered cabinet heaters including catalytic types do produce water vapour.
The proper solution is to have sufficient ventilation, but in the weather conditions prevailing at the moment that would be most uncomfortable.
Where bedding may come into contact with the walls the addition of spacer boards will help to keep bedding drier, and even more so if the spacer boards can have warm air directed up between them and the wall. Keep a roof vent partly open to allow teh warmest air to vent outside.
we have been away since 30th Dec 08,we leave the heaters on the time and set to low overnight.We also have mostiure traps in the van you can get them in any DIY store they are great no problems or possible have a small dish filled with salt that also works.
Hello Tony,
The moisture traps work on the principle that the content is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air that comes into contact with the trap. They do not cause the air to circulate, and thus they have a rather parochial effect, and many parts of the caravan will remain with high moisture levels.
Powered air conditioners/dehumidifiers do at least circulate some air, so they will have a wider effect, but any type of dehumidification is not particularly effective in caravans:-
Caravans have a certain amount of fixed ventilation distributed at high and low levels. This is to allow some fresh are to enter the caravan and ensure there is sufficient oxygen for the occupants. Died air will be naturally more buoyant than the moist air, and so it will naturally rise towards the top of the caravan, and out of the upper ventilation. Any air leaving the caravan will be replaced by fresh cold moist air from outside, so there is little benefit to the interior of the caravan. You are effectively trying to dehumidify the worlds atmosphere. - a big job for a bowl of crystals!
The moisture traps work on the principle that the content is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air that comes into contact with the trap. They do not cause the air to circulate, and thus they have a rather parochial effect, and many parts of the caravan will remain with high moisture levels.
Powered air conditioners/dehumidifiers do at least circulate some air, so they will have a wider effect, but any type of dehumidification is not particularly effective in caravans:-
Caravans have a certain amount of fixed ventilation distributed at high and low levels. This is to allow some fresh are to enter the caravan and ensure there is sufficient oxygen for the occupants. Died air will be naturally more buoyant than the moist air, and so it will naturally rise towards the top of the caravan, and out of the upper ventilation. Any air leaving the caravan will be replaced by fresh cold moist air from outside, so there is little benefit to the interior of the caravan. You are effectively trying to dehumidify the worlds atmosphere. - a big job for a bowl of crystals!
Hi
We always leave the heating on low on electric - day and night - and have a couple of the windows open on the ventilation catches plus the small hatch in the roof. The van is lovely and dry and no condensation whatsoever, except when cooking, but that soon goes.
Condensation seems to occur when warm damp air meets a cold surface eg wall or particularly windows. By keeping the heating on electric plus providing ventilation this dries the air as well as warming the interior walls which is why I think our method always works.
We always leave the heating on low on electric - day and night - and have a couple of the windows open on the ventilation catches plus the small hatch in the roof. The van is lovely and dry and no condensation whatsoever, except when cooking, but that soon goes.
Condensation seems to occur when warm damp air meets a cold surface eg wall or particularly windows. By keeping the heating on electric plus providing ventilation this dries the air as well as warming the interior walls which is why I think our method always works.
Hi,
I have today returned home having spent 10 nights in the snow at Chatsworth Caravan Club site.
The night time temperature ranged from -2c to -6C.
As i always do at this time of year i had the heating on 24/7 with the kitchen window and the end washroom window on the night catches.
When cooking i switch on the extractor fan and leave it on for a couple of munutes after cooking.
As always no condensation at all.
Through choice i do not use the blown air. The main cravan heater is run on either 1KW or mostly 2KW, and i have a 500watt Dimplex Coldwatcher in the end washroom which is thermostatically controlled. This gives us contiuous even heat throughout the caravan.
Hamer
Before it goes dark i fill the inboard water tank, then empty the aquaroll and bring the filler pipe into the caravan.
I have today returned home having spent 10 nights in the snow at Chatsworth Caravan Club site.
The night time temperature ranged from -2c to -6C.
As i always do at this time of year i had the heating on 24/7 with the kitchen window and the end washroom window on the night catches.
When cooking i switch on the extractor fan and leave it on for a couple of munutes after cooking.
As always no condensation at all.
Through choice i do not use the blown air. The main cravan heater is run on either 1KW or mostly 2KW, and i have a 500watt Dimplex Coldwatcher in the end washroom which is thermostatically controlled. This gives us contiuous even heat throughout the caravan.
Hamer
Before it goes dark i fill the inboard water tank, then empty the aquaroll and bring the filler pipe into the caravan.
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