Condensation in caravans is caused by high moisture content in the air contained within the caravan. When this warm air comes into contact with cold surfaces, the water vapour is turned back into a liquid. Condensation should not be confused with water ingress, which is more commonly known as “damp”.
This is because the interior wallboard in a caravan is covered with vinyl paper which will not let water pass through.
Damp is only caused by water leaking in through the exterior seals of the caravan, and then getting trapped behind the vinyl, in the wall construction. Condensation may be encountered from time to time and this is quite normal. The only way to stop a build-up of condensation is to follow the points listed below and also follow the points in the handbook for your own caravan.
When Your Off-Road, Luxury, Or Family Caravan Is In Storage
If possible, remove all the caravan upholstery. If not, stand the cushions on their edges allowing air to circulate around them, do not store bedding, duvets or sleeping bags in the caravan.
Regularly air the caravan by opening the windows and allowing fresh air into the van and allow it to circulate by opening all the cupboards. Do not heat the caravan, as this will make the condensation worse. Make sure any vents are not blocked or obstructed. Any products which say they will reduce condensation may be used, ie: bowls of salt, or dehumidifiers.
When In Use
Make sure that any vents fitted into the van are not blocked or obstructed. Windows should be used on the night vent position. Avoid boiling water or cooking late at night. Always air cushions and mattresses well after use as a bed. Do not store any wet items of clothing in cupboards.
Note: Condensation is not covered by any warranties because it is not a failure of the caravan but as a result of how the caravan is used.
How To Prevent Damp In Caravans
An off-road, family, touring caravan or motorhome is no different to a house, and damp conditions can lead to mould or mildew forming.
If you find your caravan or motorhome smells musty, or you see black spots of mould or mildew forming, it’s time to take action and follow these simple steps to prevent dampness in your caravan.
Keep Your Caravan Ventilated To Prevent Damp
Air movement in such a small living area is paramount as condensation is a notorious slow ‘caravan killer’. Keep the caravan as ventilated as possible.
Use A Dehumidifier In Your Caravan
If you have room, a dehumidifier is a good investment as it will drain excess moisture from the caravan, moisture which can accumulate from the most obvious sources such as the shower to the more ‘well, who’d have thought it?’ suspects – a frequently boiled kettle and boiling pans every evening can make their own condensation contribution. Even your breath will be adding to the condensation in the caravan.
Don’t Allow Steam From Your Shower Into The Rest Of The Caravan
When using the shower, keep the door shut, for the sake of avoiding steam entering the rest of the caravan, as much as for etiquette. Open or switch on the ventilation immediately afterwards and wipe the walls down.
Don’t Dry Your Laundry Inside The Caravan
Drying laundry is also a cause of condensation. Rather than drying it in the caravan or motorhome, dry towels and swimming costumes outside if you can, or invest a few dollars in the site laundrette drier, if you have access to one. Check the caravan for leaks. Leaks in the main frame joints can cause irreparable damage. Check for any damage on a regular basis.
Check window seals. The rubber surround can rot or come away from its adhesive. The vast majority of leaks come from the windows. Simply running some sealant around it won’t necessarily solve the problem. You’ll probably face the same maintenance issue in a year or two’s time.
Sometimes a heavy holiday downpour can do you a favour, showing where rain is starting to get in. Don’t put off a minor repair. Get it fixed if possible (even if it’s a stop-gap job) and make a note to deal with it properly on your return home.
At the end of the season, check again for any signs of dampness, even if they’re just suspicions you had while on holiday. Run a powerful water hose jet over the entire caravan and then check for leaks both immediately after and an hour or so later.
Take Care When Storing Your Caravan For Winter
Invest in a good, waterproof ‘breathable’ all-around cover. Saving a few dollars here could cost you more later on. Before laying up for the winter, remove cushions, mattresses etc from the van and leave all cupboard doors open.
Wipe down all surfaces and ensure that there is no water left in the bath/shower room and toilet. Check your off-road, family, or touring caravan a couple of times during the winter storage period, just in case, especially if you’ve opted for a basic tarpaulin or non-breathable plastic cover, and be sure to give your caravan several airings. This will reduce the chance of you getting an unwelcome surprise when you open your caravan for the first time in spring, only to be hit with a musty smell, or find mould or mildew has taken over.
Other Ideas To Minimise Condensation
Condensation on your windows is more than just a nuisance, it can lead to black mould spots on walls and ceilings and to musty smells. So the next step would be to moderate your lifestyle to reduce the amount of moisture you generate in your home.
Think about all the condensation you create in your home through cooking, bathing, and drying clothes on airers and over radiators. Making some changes to the way you live can help reduce this condensation. The key aspect is to ventilate! When cooking, open a window and shut the kitchen door. Also, put a lid on your boiling pans!
When bathing or taking a shower, open the window and shut the door. Don’t open the bathroom door and keep the window shut! By opening the window you’re allowing all this moisture to escape out of your home, where you don’t want it, rather than allowing it to move through your home.
When drying clothes, use a well-ventilated room and again shut the door! We all need to dry our clothes inside the home, especially in winter. However, drying clothes in a room you can shut off from the rest of the house, such as your porch or a utility room, is a good idea.
Turning now to heating, many homes are empty during the day as people go to work and school. It is only natural to turn off the heating to save energy whilst the house is empty, and to put the heating back on, or have it come on with a timer when you return home. The problem is that this cycle of the heating being off and then on encourages the creation of condensation. It is far better to have a consistent lower and ambient temperature on your walls and windows as a way of combating condensation.
Making use of moisture traps and removers, and making small changes to the way we live can help you to reduce condensation in your home.
It’s always great to get information from a variety of sources in regards to your off road, touring, luxury, or family caravan – this is something we found of interest.
It isn’t unusual to feel overwhelmed when looking for a new caravan , especially when starting the search online. Nothing beats heading one of our dealerships, talking with our experienced team and taking a walk through each caravan of interest.
