Damp Readings

[Annie3]

We have a 2015 Bailey Unicorn Valencia. Mobile caravan engineer been out to service today all ok except the damp readings on floor from the front of the front unit to where the bedroom starts is showing readings of 40/45 % but inside front unit and under front seats are showing readings of12/13 doorway showing 45% but then in front of fridge & cooker 15% under bed 12% and washroom 16% all 4 corners dry and no obvious signs underneath. The engineer said it was very strange not come across before (just middle section) door seal seems fine any one had anything similar? Thanks Anne

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Annie,

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately damp in caravans is far too common, so there will be several people who will be along to share experiences.

 

[otherclive]

Have you had the seat cushions and mattress up over winter with locker, wardrobes and cupboards all opened up to allow air circulation throughout. Is the caravan carpeted snd have you been using a heater during winter.

It could be as simple as condensation. But if you can provide more information that would be useful.

 

[Annie3]

The cushions & mattress were left up & all the cupboards emptied locker doors left open . No heating on from Oct until beginning of April but just a couple of weekends. No carpets down l took them up and put down runners. Nothing spilt as far as l know and not left any sky lights or door open in the rain. Just hope it is condensation and it dries out over the summer months. It’s so odd just the middle of floor does not feel soft at all and no discolouring of vinyl floor covering.

 

[otherclive]

You did all the right things to keep the caravan ventilated during non use periods. Strange that it’s only confined to the Center aisle section. Do you have a damp meter, they aren’t too expensive at around £20. Not professional quality but they enable the user to monitor trends. Here’s the one I used and other on the forum have it too.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[woodsieboy]

Is there a rooflight above the damp patch, it could be that rain has been driven in through the seals in the wind and been dripping, or have you had a leak under a sink that could have run down the outside of the pipe work and travelled across the floor? Have you checked all the red and blue pipes for leaks, even a pin hole will build up over time, also check the Alde pipework

 

[Annie3]

You did all the right things to keep the caravan ventilated during non use periods. Strange that it’s only confined to the Center aisle section. Do you have a damp meter, they aren’t too expensive at around £20. Not professional quality but they enable the user to monitor trends. Here’s the one I used and other on the forum have it too.

Amazon.co.uk

Thankyou

 

[Annie3]

Thankyou

 

[Annie3]

Is there a rooflight above the damp patch, it could be that rain has been driven in through the seals in the wind and been dripping, or have you had a leak under a sink that could have run down the outside of the pipe work and travelled across the floor? Have you checked all the red and blue pipes for leaks, even a pin hole will build up over time, also check the Alde pipework

The engineer said seals on roof lights ok well check the pipes at the weekend they are coming back to change the Alde fluid and check the system so will ask about that also going to bring another type of meter to check readings perhaps a different engineer will be able to get to the bottom of it ! Thankyou for your help

 

[Dustydog]

I’m sorry to say Bailey Unicorns have an Achilles Heel. Sadly you have found it😥
This video will go some way to help you. The design and poor sealant application can be fixed as can the floors depending how long the water ingress has been occurring.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6-G4I-me_Q

There are plenty of other videos too on the subject. If you live South West I can recommend a first class repairer.

 

[Martin_E]

If they were using a pin meter then the floor covering is like a sponge and will retain moisture sucked in from the source and will give readings far from the source, the Surveymaster damp meter has a scan mode as well and will read through the floor cover to the timber, it’s a bit of a juggling act to determine the damp, this is generally the industry standard meter.

 

[Annie3]

Thankyou when the engineer rang his boss to see if he had any ideas he said he would come back (has to come to flush the alde system) he would bring another type of meter so perhaps that has the scan mode?