Damp around entrance/door frame.

[James_374314871]

Hi,

I have a 2007 Swift charisma 590 and have discovered signs of damp & mold growth inside the van concentrated around the btm edge of the consumer unit woodwork and door frame. I had to remove what looked like fungus from the door frame. I keep the van clean but as yet have not run a heater during the winter when layed up. I imagine this should be a dealer issue but would appreciate any advice before i take things further.

Should I regularly keep the van heated even when not in use?

Thanks

James

 

[JTQ]

Hopefully it might not be water ingress but simply condensation as your comments about running a heater implies you have realised.

Quite likely the affected area has solid reinforcements for structural reasons, and that together with the thermal short of the aluminium door frame will make it prone to surface condensation.

The very cold and then very wet ambient conditions we have had make the likelihood of condensation on such at risk areas probable.

A lower location is also more prone to attract condensation than a similar area higher up. Coupled to this it might be an area of limited ventilation.

All adds up to a good chance that it is condensation, but clearly it needs watching very carefully.

I do keep both a heather and dehumidifier in mine following once having mildew forming on the base of the front window dividing struts due to similar condensation issue. I know from earlier forum statements that some ridicule using a dehumidifier, but it certainly works for us; the vans just too valuable to risk that again.