15 simple tricks to Cease Condensation in your Motorhome, Campervan or RV

Nervous about condensation in your campervan, motorhome, caravan or RV? You’re in the proper place- we’ve bought all the most effective suggestions and methods to scale back your vanlife damp woes.

Don’t overlook to seize your FREE motorhome winter guidelines under that will help you bear in mind every part.

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Condensation in Campervans & Motorhomes- The Downside

We love highway tripping out of season. Campsites are quieter, the roads are much less busy and you’ll go to some AMAZING locations with out queuing for hours. 

HOWEVER- cooler climate brings one actually annoying companion… condensation.

Whether or not you’re in a motorhome, campervan, caravan, RV or boat- it is advisable to discover methods to cease or cut back condensation or damp. In any other case, out-of-season touring goes to develop into fairly depressing.

(Alternatively, simply run away someplace heat, like these 7 warmest locations in Spain in winter!)

We lived on boats for 14 years earlier than we bought a motorhome, so now we have been doing battle in opposition to condensation for a REALLY very long time. On the plus facet,  we’ve develop into actually good at managing/ stopping that annoying moisture throughout your home windows, particularly within the morning, to not point out the damp in your cabinets.

Whether or not you’re new to motorhomes and campervans or been doing it for some time,  listed here are 15 of the most effective tricks to cease condensation in your motorhome or camper, which we hope will assist you take pleasure in journeys in your van all 12 months spherical. 

Shutting down your motorhome/ camper for winter?

Seize your FREE winter shutdown guidelines right here

Condensation in a Motorhome- What Causes It?

Don’t panic- I’m not going to get technical on you.

In (very!) primary phrases, condensation is brought on by the amount of water within the air rising (actually because we’ve breathed it out!) This air, now filled with water vapour, touches one thing chilly, like a window.

The air is then cooled down too rapidly and may’t maintain the moisture in it anymore, so the vapour turns to liquid on the chilly floor it’s touching.

You’ll discover the most condensation within the coldest a part of your van, which for us is the entrance cab home windows as we don’t actually warmth that.

So, there are two principal methods to eliminate campervan condensation (or no less than cut back it!).

First is to cut back the quantity of water vapour within the air. Second is to cease that air getting chilly. Simples. 

Tricks to Scale back Damp and Condensation in your RV, Motorhome & Caravan

The next suggestions will assist you both cease condensation and damp fully, or offer you methods to scale back and take care of it if it does happen. Not all suggestions will work for each motorhome or campervan- give all of them a try to see what works for you. 

1- Maintain your motorhome heat

That is our most well-liked answer to cease condensation on each the boat and in our motorhome and it really works, though it’s going to improve your prices.

Heating your motorhome or campervan and retaining your area at a snug temperature stops the air cooling down sufficient to trigger condensation. I ought to level out that when it will get REALLY chilly exterior, this now not works so nicely. 🙁 

You should use an oil crammed radiator in case your van is plugged into mains power- these work rather well and are protected to go away on for lengthy intervals, though it’s possible you’ll want to put it on a timer to scale back prices.

2- Open a window

A easy answer, particularly in the event you’re residing in your motorhome, however not all the time enjoyable if it’s freezing/ raining!

Getting some recent air into your motorhome permits air with much less water vapour to enter, decreasing the humidity and subsequently decreasing the extent of condensation which might happen. Simply you’ll want to choose your moments.

There’s no set rule on how lengthy you need to have it open for- clearly the longer the higher! We all the time open a window or a vent at any time when we’re cooking.

I do know, this appears to contradict level one, however heating from cooking typically includes steam, which accommodates… you guessed it= moisture!

For a similar causes as above, you probably have an extractor fitted both in your lavatory or kitchen, use it to clean up the air, particularly after a bathe/ whereas cooking.

Showers are the hardest- a lot sizzling, moist air which must go someplace.

We go away our vents open for a few hours after a bathe and hold the toilet door shut as a lot as attainable in order that air doesn’t get out into the remainder of the Motorhome.

4- Get a Handheld Window Vacuum cleaner

These items are GENIUS! Battery operated, simple to wash and work rather well to take away condensation for home windows in simply a few minutes!

I had by no means heard of them earlier than we bought a Motorhome- now I’m undecided how we ever lived with out one!

A window vac undoubtedly one of many best methods to take away condensation from Motorhome, RV, Boat or camper home windows.

Our favorite model is Karcher, however there are different varieties on the market- test them out right here (UK)

(Primarily based exterior the UK? Use this hyperlink for cheaper choices for you.)

Sale

Kärcher 16332220 WV 6 Plus N Window…

• 100 Minute Battery Run-Time – The…
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5- Use Campsite services if obtainable.

We love wild tenting in our motorhome. We. LOVE. It. Just about every other web page on this web site will let you know why wild tenting is preferable to campsites for us.

BUT, in winter, we use campsites much more.

We additionally use their services extra, each for showers and for laundry/ drying garments. (See under.)

6- Don’t grasp up moist garments/ towels to dry

A technique we avoid wasting cash throughout summer time is use a laundrette to clean our garments, then grasp them up in our lavatory to dry in a single day. It really works nice.

However don’t do that in winter in the event you can keep away from it.

All that further moisture within the air will trigger havoc to your condensation ranges.

Mr WB has already talked about placing the canine within the tumble drier earlier than we let him again into the motorhome!

(Sadly, I really feel compelled to state that I’m joking. Don’t ever put a pet or any animal right into a tumble drier. Please don’t name the RSPCA. We’re good folks. Sincere. Thanks.)

7- Can you utilize a dehumidifier in a motorhome or campervan?

We don’t use plug-in dehumidifier’s on the motorhome, however we do on the boat- they usually work nice.

On the motorhome, we use stand-alone, disposable packets, like this one (UK) and this one (USA); they’ve labored very nicely.

We even have hanging ones, like this, to scale back moisture within the wardrobe.

If you’re on the lookout for a dehumidifier, I’ll share among the greatest ones under.

NOTE- a dehumidifier will NOT take away mildew. As soon as that has began, every part wants a radical cleansing with disinfectant, after which all of it must be dried completely and left with adequate airflow.

8- Create airflow round your camper

One factor we sometimes endure from on the boat is mildew/ mould- brought on by not permitting sufficient airflow into our cabinets/ drawers/ wardrobes. (Often after we’ve been away for per week or extra.)

Because of this, we regularly go away every part open/ ajar once we go travelling- it stops the mold. You are able to do one thing comparable on the motorhome- both lower small holes or match a vent to permit airflow to cabinets which don’t have already got them.

Or don’t put garments in cabinets which don’t have airflow into them. Having mentioned that, mildew additionally impacts paperwork and books, so watch out what you permit onboard once you’re not utilizing your van.

9- Bear in mind cushions and seats want love too!

You want airflow round your cushions and seats- so be certain that to tug them out somewhat so that you just don’t come again to seats lined in horrible inexperienced spots- which is damp/ mildew.

We frequently take away our cushions if we’re not utilizing the motorhome for some time.

10- Put a protector over your home windows

There are a number of methods to do that, and it really works precisely like double-glazing; you’ve a buffer between the chilly floor and the nice and cozy air contained in the motorhome. We tried it on the boat a number of years in the past and it labored…okay.

However it appears to work a lot better on the motorhome. Our coldest half is our cab, so silver or thermal screens on the outside cut back the issue. It doesn’t cease it fully, however it does cut back it. A extremely in style model for van silver screens is TaylorMade.

It’s also possible to get enjoyable ones with eyes right here.

NOTE- the pull-over fitted screens contained in the cab are nice for privateness, however don’t cease condensation because the air simply circulates round them.

11- Maintain issues clear and dry

Whether or not you’re utilizing your motorhome all through winter or not, retaining your cabinets clear will certainly assist to scale back damp. Damp is brought on by condensation (or different moisture) sitting unchecked for too lengthy.

It could trigger critical issues for each the car and your well being. You may cut back the possibilities of damp/ mildew by rising airflow, cleansing out cabinets and drying them completely after cleansing. Your campervan storage will get simpler too.

Do NOT put something into your cabinets/ wardrobe which is damp. This consists of coats and footwear. If you happen to’re packing a motorhome, strive to not put something damp again into the cabinets. 

12- Examine for leaks in your campervan

It’s most likely frequent sense, but when your van is leaking, you’re going to get extra moisture into your area. Moisture= condensation when it’s warmed up, so be certain that there are not any leaks.

We stock a tube of silicone with us- simply in case!

Frequent locations which leak are across the motorhome television aerial, the van wifi antenna or something you’ve drilled, like a photo voltaic panel or awning.

Can You Use an Electrical Dehumidifier in a Motorhome?

For some cause, folks appear nervous about utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome. It’s completely protected, so long as you observe the producer’s directions and bear in mind to empty it usually.

Personally, I wouldn’t go away an electrical dehumidifier switched on within the motorhome for a protracted time period (whereas on a driveway for instance), particularly if I wasn’t there to control it. Nonetheless, it’s actually not an issue in a single day whilst you’re there.

You may add it to your Christmas listing, together with these different excellent motorhome items!

Professional’s of utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome

• Protected round pets! It is a large one for us- disposable dehumidifiers are dangerous to animals if ingested.
• Straightforward and environment friendly to make use of
• You don’t want to fret about shopping for replacements
• In all probability kinder to the surroundings, as there’s much less plastic wastage.

Cons of utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome

• You want 12v or mains energy & one thing dependable to plug it into.
• You need to bear in mind to empty it.
• It takes up area.

There are many dehumidifiers available on the market. Make SURE the one you might be ordering has an automated shut off when it will get full and a plug applicable to your nation (you’d be amazed what number of don’t include a plug!)

See our suggestions under.

What’s the BEST 12v Dehumidifer for a Motorhome or Campervan?

I’ll be sincere (as all the time!) and let you know that we’ve REALLY struggled to discover a dependable 12v dehumidifier for our motorhome. We’ve tried a number of models- they usually’ve all both failed inside a couple of days or not made any distinction by any means.

That’s why we favor packing containers or sachets like these.

Nonetheless, we’re actually happy with the electrical dehumidifier we use on the boat. They work nice within the motorhome too, however clearly, you want mains to run them on.

RANDOM Bonus Tip to Cease Condensation in your Motorhome!

Okay- full disclosure- we haven’t tried this however I assumed I’d share it in case it helped anybody out.

APPARENTLY, in the event you put a very skinny coating of washing up liquid over the within of your home windows/ windscreen, it stops condensation.

My guess is the washing up liquid creates a barrier between the chilly glass and heat air= diminished condensation! It sounds a bit odd to me- absolutely the washing up liquid smears and obstructs your imaginative and prescient?? And cleansing it off should be a ache.

If you happen to’ve tried it, let me know if it really works!!

So there you go, the most effective suggestions that will help you cease condensation and damp in your motorhome or camper. I hope they assist you take pleasure in journeys in your van all 12 months lengthy.

Final replace on 2023-09-14 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API

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