Dampness found below caravan carpet

[Saxo Appeal]

Wife was down at the caravan today to give it a good clean for going back out for the start of our 2026 holidays in a few weeks

She noticed the carpet in front of the cooker had a wet patch stain underneath and still damp, so she’s propped it up to dry

The side which had the water was closest to the cooker, she checked all the cupboards but nothing was wet, just to note we haven’t taken the plastic off the top of the carpets yet, and we do have AC installed right above I place of the skylight.

She also noticed a lot of surface mould around the window sills and sky light windows, and even on the handles, so she’s cleaned all that

Can anyone advise what we’ve done wrong this year, I do think it’s because this was the only year we hadn’t done a few things, has anyone had the same issue at the start of the year?

1. Completely push out all the water in the pipes, but we did let them drain off completely by opening all the valves, so really just residue
2. We didn’t have the dehumidifier pots scattered around the caravan
3. We didn’t open all the cupboards

She’s just sent me the photo, and it looks more like it’s been coming from direction of the bedroom to the front

 

[otherclive]

It could be condensation as you say the plastic on the carpets is still in place, plus not opening up all the doors, cupboards, wardrobe and lockers etc is to my mind a key action for winter lay ups, even short ones. When you put the van to bed especially after a trip away, it holds a moisture load from living in it, then the warmer, wet winters don’t help. We didn’t use moisture crystals as their effect is more psychological than practical. Also no cleaners containing waxes like Pledge were used as these encourage winter mold.

So I would try Vaxing shampoo the carpet, and drying indoors. Then a good clean down the interior using something like a weak Flash solution, or an all surface cleaner. Then ventilate then caravan until you plan to next use it.

 

[IanB1485]

You have to remember two things about caravans , First , even with all skylight/roof vents , fully shut ,they still allow air interchange ( which is why those little pots of crystals don't reduce humidity as any water vapour sucked into them is replaced by 'new' water vapour from the outside-example , when it rains, relative humidity is about 95% and this diffuses into the caravan) also under floor vents and gas drops also allow air interchange with the outside , it's what stops you suffocating when sleeping inside with all doors and windows shut. Secondly air con units condense water vapour onto the surface of the evaporator ( the bit that gets cold to keep the inside temperature down) If the drainage system becomes blocked then that water can drip into the caravan. On commercial units the indoor unit sometimes will have a small condensate pump on it to drain away this water, the issue is that if power is removed , the pump doesn't work and the condensate water overflows the drip tray, ( switching off the air con on its ON/OFF switch keeps power on to this pump to allow complete draining ) Switching off the power by removing 230V will cut power immediately and stopping the pump. This may have been the cause of the water on the carpet.To keep any space free of humidity , the best way is to keep the internal temperature just above the external temperature, by the laws of physics , the internal water vapour pressure is higher than the outside vapour pressure and this will reduces the internal humidity . Its commonly used on electrical control panels fitted externally, a small oil filled heater just keeps the internal temp higher than the outside , preventing condensation forming and rusting of components.

 

[birdman101]

I would remove the carpets and then give the Caravan a good soaking with hose pipe and see if any water appears. Then if ok, still with carpets up fill the water system and look for any leaks,as may of had some water left in pipes and then frozen causing a joint to part or pipe to split.

 

[borderbilly]

Big trouble, I would just sell it to me at a really big knocked down price 👍😉

 

[Beachball]

Our caravan still in winterise mode but we did open all taps including the shower , Cupboards, doors and Fridge/freezer door open everything was stood up so that the air could circulate we left 5 dehumidifier pots . (our carpets are at home)