Hi , first year caravaning and loved it, we are laying up the caravan for winter this weekend hopefuly and have brought a couple of Moisture absorbers to take care of the damp, we wonder from experience where people have found the best place to put them for max effect, high, low, back or front etc. thank you for any advice.
Placing Moisture Absorbers
- Thread starter Mr C
- Start date
Hello Paul c,
We dont use these as the caravan is not sealed so as fast as you try to get the moisture out of the air its being drawn back into the caravan through the vents.
Will
We dont use these as the caravan is not sealed so as fast as you try to get the moisture out of the air its being drawn back into the caravan through the vents.
Will
Why such disparaging remarks - many caravanners use them I'm sure! Best advice is to stand cushions on end (or bring them in the house) to allow air circulation. Leave cupboard doors ajar. I always leave one on a plastic kitchen tray on the drainer - any liquid contents I empty staight down the drain as it is caustic.
Hello Robert and Paul,
I see only one slightly 'disparaging' remark, but I agree it was unnecessary, however I do have to agree with Will on this.
It is essential to allow ventilation throughout the caravan whilst in storage to discourage the growth of mould. Under these circumstances, there is no benefit from trying to 'dry out' the air as any dried air will be replaced by more moisture laden air from outside. you will in effect be trying to dry out the world!
For storage it is better to allow ventilation through the caravan that allows the inside of the van to acclimatise to the external ambient, and by doing so the internal surfaces of the caravan will not encourage the deposition of moisture in the form of condensation.
It is a different matter when the caravan is in use. There will be a tendency for the internal air to be warmer and because we breath out water vapour, and we use the cooker to boil water, the humidity inside will almost certainly be greater that outside.
When the warm moist air comes into contact with a cold surface it has to give up some of its moisture as condensation. During occupancy it may be beneficial to attempt to remove moisture, and so traps or a mechanical dehumidifier may make it more comfortable.
I see only one slightly 'disparaging' remark, but I agree it was unnecessary, however I do have to agree with Will on this.
It is essential to allow ventilation throughout the caravan whilst in storage to discourage the growth of mould. Under these circumstances, there is no benefit from trying to 'dry out' the air as any dried air will be replaced by more moisture laden air from outside. you will in effect be trying to dry out the world!
For storage it is better to allow ventilation through the caravan that allows the inside of the van to acclimatise to the external ambient, and by doing so the internal surfaces of the caravan will not encourage the deposition of moisture in the form of condensation.
It is a different matter when the caravan is in use. There will be a tendency for the internal air to be warmer and because we breath out water vapour, and we use the cooker to boil water, the humidity inside will almost certainly be greater that outside.
When the warm moist air comes into contact with a cold surface it has to give up some of its moisture as condensation. During occupancy it may be beneficial to attempt to remove moisture, and so traps or a mechanical dehumidifier may make it more comfortable.
Sorry Paul I keep forgetting that most folk on this forum have no sense of humour.
As said above I pull cushions away from walls, open all the cupboards and fridge and that is about it. On fine days, such as today, I will open the door for an hour. That should be all that is required.
If you place moisture absorbers in your van it will fill with water as the van has vents and as quick as you remove the moisture so more moist air will enter. What you are then doing in effect is encouraging moist air in at an accelerated rate.
In winter there is considerably less moisture in the air than summer anyway.
An awful lot of people think the soft furnishings in the van are damp where-as in fact they are merely cold, if this is an issue wait till spring when the van is to be used again and put the fire on for an hour just to air before using.
Moisture absorbers were widely used in classic car circles for years in vehicles that were laid up in the winter, that was until people realised that using them made no difference what-so-ever and indeed if they were not used the cars came out of 'hibernation' with less problems than if absorbers were used.
I do not and would never consider using moisture absorbers in my van or classic car
In essence then my reply is still the same-bin them :O)
As said above I pull cushions away from walls, open all the cupboards and fridge and that is about it. On fine days, such as today, I will open the door for an hour. That should be all that is required.
If you place moisture absorbers in your van it will fill with water as the van has vents and as quick as you remove the moisture so more moist air will enter. What you are then doing in effect is encouraging moist air in at an accelerated rate.
In winter there is considerably less moisture in the air than summer anyway.
An awful lot of people think the soft furnishings in the van are damp where-as in fact they are merely cold, if this is an issue wait till spring when the van is to be used again and put the fire on for an hour just to air before using.
Moisture absorbers were widely used in classic car circles for years in vehicles that were laid up in the winter, that was until people realised that using them made no difference what-so-ever and indeed if they were not used the cars came out of 'hibernation' with less problems than if absorbers were used.
I do not and would never consider using moisture absorbers in my van or classic car
In essence then my reply is still the same-bin them :O)
During really cold weather, when there's the possibility that ice could form inside the caravan - and possibly start mildew when it turns to water - I normally put a low wattage (100W) heater (greenhouse / oil radiator) in our caravan.
I avoid water adsorbent crystals or bowls of Salt - particularly the latter which seems prone to generating a fine Salt dust that promotes corrosion - for the reasons already voiced.
Robert
I avoid water adsorbent crystals or bowls of Salt - particularly the latter which seems prone to generating a fine Salt dust that promotes corrosion - for the reasons already voiced.
Robert
Every year at this time, this subject comes up and I have to smile to myself at people trying to dry out the planet with their salt containers in their caravan, but if it makes them feel good, let them be as it is ther caravan.
Personally if I had to store up my caravan in winter I probably would not know how as I have never done it. Heater is probably the best idea though!
Personally if I had to store up my caravan in winter I probably would not know how as I have never done it. Heater is probably the best idea though!
I have an Alde water circulation central heating system in my caravan which is brilliant because it has radiators all around the extremities of the van at floor level, plus a heated towel rail in the central washroom area.
This winter I am experimenting with leaving the system on frost setting at 6 degrees, using the 1KW setting. As I can attend the van morning and night (in my garden), I plan to vary that, switching it off altogether during mild periods and at a warmer setting for heavy frost (like last night), and airing the entire caravan when conditions allow.
The water system is drained down in any case, but I am anxious to protect my sensitive thermostatic shower control.
I am hoping heating will be off more than it's on, but it cannot be any worse than people who regularly winter caravan, and should prevent any problems of damp and frost!
This winter I am experimenting with leaving the system on frost setting at 6 degrees, using the 1KW setting. As I can attend the van morning and night (in my garden), I plan to vary that, switching it off altogether during mild periods and at a warmer setting for heavy frost (like last night), and airing the entire caravan when conditions allow.
The water system is drained down in any case, but I am anxious to protect my sensitive thermostatic shower control.
I am hoping heating will be off more than it's on, but it cannot be any worse than people who regularly winter caravan, and should prevent any problems of damp and frost!
Bear in mind that 1KW costs 10p/hour does not seem much but over time mounts up considerably as my next door neigbour told me after I helped to revive him.
ours is in storage with nopower so we have resolved to use it one weekend a month.The only problem we had last year was the fridge wire shelves corroded alittle, we are laving them with the bed linen in the house.
David,
Fridge wire-shelves - are chrome plated - and tend to discolour during use.
If you can't see any red rust, only general discoloured "snot" on the surface - they don't really need anything doing.
But this year, I cleaned our wire-shelves with "Tesco Value Diet Cola" Why? Because it's the cheapest way to buy dilute Phosphoric Acid - and the Diet version doesn't have sticky sugar that needs washing off.
This cleaned the snot after an hour of soaking (the Phosphoric Acid converts the "snot" into a hard Chromium Phosphate coat that resists further "snotting"
Actually I then sprayed our shelves with Hammerite - but that was for a different reason.
Robert
Fridge wire-shelves - are chrome plated - and tend to discolour during use.
If you can't see any red rust, only general discoloured "snot" on the surface - they don't really need anything doing.
But this year, I cleaned our wire-shelves with "Tesco Value Diet Cola" Why? Because it's the cheapest way to buy dilute Phosphoric Acid - and the Diet version doesn't have sticky sugar that needs washing off.
This cleaned the snot after an hour of soaking (the Phosphoric Acid converts the "snot" into a hard Chromium Phosphate coat that resists further "snotting"
Actually I then sprayed our shelves with Hammerite - but that was for a different reason.
Robert
Thanks Rob, I finally have one sensible use for Coke, Phosphoric Acid!...and people actually drink it?
As far as moisture absorbers are concerned and if the van is not inherently damp, then there is no use in trying to dry out moist air as it passes through.
As far as moisture absorbers are concerned and if the van is not inherently damp, then there is no use in trying to dry out moist air as it passes through.
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