Condensation in moho garage

[Ballsy66]

Hoping someone can suggest a solution.
I have a Hymer T568SL with a big garage with big doors on each side. The metal work within the garage gets wet with condensation when the weather is cooler. I used to have a Carthago with a big garage and I never had this problem. I always thought that condensation was caused when warm air hit a cold surface, like a windscreen. The garage has an outlet for the hot air blown heating. However, I have tried having the heating on and off in the garage and not noticed much difference in the amount of condensation that gathers on the cold metal work mainly, but not exclusively, around the doors. There appears to be no ventilation in the garage, could this be a cause or a contributing factor?

 

[Carpmart]

No ventilation certainly won’t help. There is a reason that BT and other work vans have rotating vents in their roofs!

Are you routinely heating or not heating the garage? Do you open the doors regularly both sides to vent during the day? Make sure you’re closed up before temp drops in the evenings.

 

[Ballsy66]

No ventilation certainly won’t help. There is a reason that BT and other work vans have rotating vents in their roofs!

Are you routinely heating or not heating the garage? Do you open the doors regularly both sides to vent during the day? Make sure you’re closed up before temp drops in the evenings.

At the present we are not heating it as that seems the most logical with the thought warm air/cold metal equals condensation. We do vent when we can but as you know recently it's either pouring down or blowing a Gale. Yesterday and today they are open

 

[LithiumConvert]

Have you had a damp test on the interior walls of the garage?

Do you use the shower?

 

[bigtwin]

Presumably this is occurring only when you’re using the van; if so I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

Ian

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[Diabalo]

Have you had a damp test on the interior walls of the garage?

Do you use the shower?

This is a valid pint, If you have any damp you will have higher humidity that can lead to a condensation problem.

 

[Ballsy66]

Have you had a damp test on the interior walls of the garage?

Do you use the shower?

No, I've not used a damp meter on the walls but will. No not using shower.

 

[Ballsy66]

Presumably this is occurring only when you’re using the van; if so I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

Ian

Hi Ian, only problem is we use the moho more than we are at home.

 

[Ballsy66]

This is a valid pint, If you have any damp you will have higher humidity that can lead to a condensation problem.

I will damp test the walls tomorrow

 

[Stoosal]

Quite often we found condensation is as a result of a quick change in temperature eg cold temperatures overnight followed by a quick rise in outside temperature when sun comes up and heats air in garage etc. Result is air warms up quicker than metalwork/walls can and you end up with exactly as you say, warm air on cold metal thus condensation. If you are using van and you switch on heating then potentially warm air circulated into garage? Is the metalwork wet when you open the doors or is it just after when warm air has had a chance to rush in from outside and settle on metalwork. Dew point?
You could also try covering exposed metal with self adhesive foam etc?
Usual solution is heat to prevent cold surfaces and ventilation to allow warm, moist air to escape.
Its a royal pain in the bum!

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[Ballsy66]

Quite often we found condensation is as a result of a quick change in temperature eg cold temperatures overnight followed by a quick rise in outside temperature when sun comes up and heats air in garage etc. Result is air warms up quicker than metalwork/walls can and you end up with exactly as you say, warm air on cold metal thus condensation. If you are using van and you switch on heating then potentially warm air circulated into garage? Is the metalwork wet when you open the doors or is it just after when warm air has had a chance to rush in from outside and settle on metalwork. Dew point?
You could also try covering exposed metal with self adhesive foam etc?
Usual solution is heat to prevent cold surfaces and ventilation to allow warm, moist air to escape.
Its a royal pain in the bum!

Hi Stoosal, the condensation is when we first open the garage doors, so it is forming before the doors are opened. I may try opening the heater vent and heat the garage, thus heating the exposed metal. If that does not work I may try the insulation of the exposed metal. Cheers Geoff

 

[CazPaul]

Do you store anything in there, is there plenty of airflow, no wet/damp item etc.?

 

[Ballsy66]

Do you store anything in there, is there plenty of airflow, no wet/damp item etc.?

Hi CazPaul
Not wet that I can think of, just the normal stuff chairs, tools, etc. But when it's a good dry day I will go through everything and make sure everything is bone dry. Many thanks Geoff

 

[rb62]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it,as the metal frame round the doors goes from outside to inside it will always be colder than the air in the garage so condensation will occur.I wouldn't bother with the heating either as warm air holds more water,ventilation is the key.

 

[Lenny HB]

Had the same problem in a Tramp we had I think it was a T654SL.
It was a French bed and we had condensation on the frame of the locker door. The heater outlet was on the far side so all the stuff in the locker blocked the heat flow.

I cured it by fitting another heating outlet blowing across the door.

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[CazPaul]

Hi CazPaul
Not wet that I can think of, just the normal stuff chairs, tools, etc. But when it's a good dry day I will go through everything and make sure everything is bone dry. Many thanks Geoff

Yes because if something has been put away wet or got wet somehow whilst in there, that will cause a lot of damp.

 

[Ballsy66]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it,as the metal frame round the doors goes from outside to inside it will always be colder than the air in the garage so condensation will occur.I wouldn't bother with the heating either as warm air holds more water,ventilation is the key.

many thanks

 

[FrankNicklin]

Metal is by nature cold so will attract condensation more than other surfaces. Warm air will only add to the problem as warm air holds moisture. Ventilation is key, so unless the garage is bone dry inevitably condensation will form on the cold surfaces.

 

[Landy Andy]

My van is the same in very cold weather. The warmer the van, or garage, and the colder it is outside the worse it is. As mentioned it’s due to the thermal bridge.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Are there no vents from the garage up to habitation area? If you have those around the side of bed or whatever, opening the garage heater outlet can't do any harm.
Mike.