Mould/Residue Since Fitting Caravan Cover.

[Auspom]

Fitted a caravan cover over our van approx 4/5 weeks ago but since fitting we went into the van today and i noticed that on the woodwork panel areas and woodwork of cupboards there seems to be a light film of a palish green/grey dampish film, when i wipe it with my finger it comes off very easily.
Just wondering if its something to do with the van being totaly closed up plus the cover over the top, perhaps do i need to leave a window or skylight slightly open for ventilation ??
Any members had the same problem, what is it and whats the remedy to stop it ?
Many thanks in advance.

Tony

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi
It certainly reads like mould,
Ventilation is the key,
If the cover envelopes the caravan and is totally impervious, then anything under the cover wont change its air as freely as is needed. Under many conditions the caravans will sweat, and that produces super conditions for mould.
Most caravans have vents set in teh walls at fairly high level, so if the cover is obstructing these vents, then the caravan simply can't ventilate properly.

 

[Damian]

Quote " Any members had the same problem, what is it and whats the remedy to stop it ?"

It is lack of air movement through the van.

Remedy,,,,,,dont cover the van.

 

[ValA.]

What van do you have, and could it possibly have a damp problem that you're not aware of?
We cover our van, and had it on a very wet and windy hill in West Yorkshire for two years, without any mould problem at all. I know Damian doesn't recommend covers, but thousands use them without a damp problem.
On the other hand, our old van (not the current one and never covered) one winter had a greyish mould in places on the woodwork, and when we finally opened up the van after the winter we found that this seemed to have originated in a wooden spoon in one of the drawers, which (perhaps) had been put away dirty. There was a very heavy growth of mould on the spoon. A thorough clean of the drawers, all the woodwork, and the remainder of the van, and the problem didn't recur the following winter.

 

[Auspom]

Many thanks Prof & Damian.

Yes you have confirmed my suspicions regarding ventilation, we are now going to remove the cover as i think these covers sometimes can do more harm than good.
Just had a local caravan service engineer here and he was telling me that a customer of his left his cover on a bit too long in the season and when he removed it the cover had adhered to some of the sealant/mastic and when he pulled the cover off it pulled a significant amount of sealant which then had to be rectified.
Cover off tomorrow snow or no snow.
Thanks Guys
Tony

 

[Auspom]

Thanks Val
2004 Abbey GT Vogue
No the mouldish looking substance is not isolated to just the one area as in your spoon area it is in approx 3 different areas, its not very much and i am fairly certain the van has no prior damp problems as i have been around it with a fine tooth comb regarding damp.
I did not have the problem until i fitted the cover so i think its likely to be an air circulation lack of problem.
Regards
Tony