de-humidifiers

[gary]

Air entering a van at a temperature will contain a certain amount of moisture, if the temperature of that air does not vary then the air will pass through and exit exactly as it came in.

If the temperature rises even the smallest amount then the same air will pick up moisture from any surface it comes in contact with and take it out with it. In a well sealed dry van you will find the temperature will always be very slightly higher than outside so creating ideal conditions to remain dry.

Conversely if the temperature drops inside the van then the air will be forced to dump moisture as it strikes those same surfaces. This generally as said should not be the case but if the van is damp then cushions will have readily absorbed this moisture keeping them at a slightly lower temperature than the rest of the van. The consequence being they will be the first to suffer as they absorb even more moisture, after all they are simply giant sponges!

In theory then you don't need any artificial means to keep a dry van dry but cushions are quite happy soaking up moisture from simply sleeping on them or just sitting around breathing!. If this allows them to stay cool enough going into storage, then they can continue to absorb moisture past the point of no return, (perhaps in damp Autumn weather conditions), and be totally ruined by spring.

The solution to my mind though is take them home together with any other soft furnishings and leave a dry van to look after itself.

The added benifit of this apart from energy saved? it's doubtful anyone steals a cushionless van!!!

 

[Robtel]

As others have mentioned this has been discussed several times before with conflicting opinions every time. It is down to personal choice.

My personal choice for the past four years has been to use a smell dehumidifier. I always have my 'van serviced annualy with a full damp check so I do not have a water ingress problem as someone suggested as being the cause of any winter dampness. I have noticed a significant improvement in the condition of the interior of the van since starting to use the dehumdifier. In my last van prior to using the dehumidifier I found that all the cupboard and overhead locker doors which I left open to allow air to circulate would not close properly during the winter due to the wood swelling. In the spring they would reduce to normal and would be fine. When I started to use dehumidifier I never had this problem. I also found that in times of severe frost changes in air temperature meant small amounts of condensation would form on inside of Heiki rooflight and ceiling and fall onto soft furnishings and cause discolouration, this also ceased when dehumidifier was used. As for claims that dehumidifiers in caravans means you are trying to dehumidify the world, any machine I have seen has a control dial similar to a thermostat on a heater (sorry don't know correct technical term) which switches dehumidifier on/off when required setting is reached. I have often went to my van and found it on off setting. If it was dehumidifying the world it would continuously be on.

I am in fortunate position of being able to store my van adjacent to the house with acess to electricity supply and being able to empty water container. Due to lack of space in the house I am unable to store the soft furnishings. One other thing I do which I have found helpful is to use those large plastic bags which you empty of air with vacumm cleaner to store towels and sleeping bags in over the winter. Cuts down on space used and items bone dry in the spring.

I know that not everyone agrees with the use of a dehumidifier,its up to personal opinion but they work for me.

Robert