Preventing condensation in motorhome overnight

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I suck it up with my window vac in the morning. I would rather get it out of the vehicle than have it forming somewhere inaccessible. The water doesn’t go away because you have a silver screen, it goes somewhere else or hangs on in the air raising the humidity level.

Don't the Silver screens work a "prevention" rather than a "cure" basis

 

[Terry]

Don't the Silver screens work a "prevention" rather than a "cure" basis

Yes but that makes them part of the cure All you can do is try to prevent, you will never stop condensation. It happens on all cold surfaces naturally.

 

[CJK]

Hello to all...
Can anyone help with condensation...we got 3 fur babies in front of cab last night..left window open slightly...didn't have any heat going...so consequently the other half moaned about how
cold it was this morning...in FREEDOM..also some stuff felt a bit damp...obviously I must be doing something wrong...as look at other mhs around site and they don't look like they have condensation on windows much...should I leave a heater just ticking over through the night..have a little one that turns off when you reach yr desired temp..then comes on again automatically when it drops..sorry for long winded message....

Whoah! Glad you asked this! I’m just worrying about expected condensation and deciding how best to cover our windscreen -now I know, thanks to you experts out there!

 

[Pausim]

Don't the Silver screens work a "prevention" rather than a "cure" basis

Silver screens may stop condensation from forming on the windscreen but they do not prevent it from forming elsewhere or remove the moisture from the air. Doubtless they improve the insulation and that may make it easier to ventilate the space without getting cold. All I am trying to say is that stopping it forming in one place could drive it elsewhere and we need to think about how to get that moisture outside our motorhomes.

 

[Clive Beeza]

I started my van this morning, turned heater to half way between hot & cold. air con on. Came back two minutes later to completely covered in condensation the windsceen & side windows. Van empty & parked overnight as normal. Always does it .?

Set the air con on internal circulation
speeds up collecting the internal moisture

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[LostInSpace]

we need to think about how to get that moisture outside our motorhomes.

Set the air con on internal circulation
speeds up collecting the internal moisture

Cab aircon works best for me - as you can have lots of heat as well.

But I find you need to follow it with many of miles of fresh air intake to drive out all the moist air.
Still wth heat and aircon.

Best done when you are driving somewhere anyway. Nice dry van when you arrive.

 

[LostInSpace]

I must be doing something wrong...as look at other mhs around site and they don't look like they have condensation on windows much

Some of the newer continental motorhomes have Truma heater vents in between the windscreen and the roman blinds.
And the same at the side.

 

[Andy from Sandy]

You said, "look at other mhs around site and they don't look like they have condensation on windows much". We had the same problem in the middle of Summer and it turned out there was a water leak in the roof that caused wet walls and a massive increase in air humidity.
As others have said, fit a silver screen to the outside of the windscreen AND I also recommend closing the internal windscreen and cab door window blinds. This adds a small extra layer of insulation.

If you are on Electric Hook Up, you could have the heating on and open the roof vents a little, and perhaps the habitation windows just a little, for two reasons. 1) If the air outside is not too damp (misty/rainy) you will vent out the damp air caused by breathing and cooking and 2) you will improve the quality of the air you breathe.

 

[WITCHY]

Fur baby?

3 border collies...my fur babies
...

 

[WITCHY]

Set the air con on internal circulation
speeds up collecting the internal moisture

Air con???? Freedom doesn't have that much suffistication...think you mean open windows

Set the air con on internal circulation
speeds up collecting the internal moisture

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[Nirvanauk]

3 border collies...my fur babies
...

Ah, dogs, I get it now.

 

[gus-lopez]

But that is often difficult if you come in wet on a rainy day. In such conditions plenty of heat and ventilation will then dry things out.

I can't even recall getting in the van wet? I get the problem also when there is a sudden cloudburst on a summers day & I am travelling along

The only way to stop/ control it is heat, ventilation and stop the cold windows

When it occurs whilst travelling it is nigh on impossible to clear.even with windows down on both sides two people cannot keep up with keeping screen clear

The best place for condensation to form is on a windscreen where it will do no harm and is easily sucked up with a window vac.

It does when you are travelling at 60mph & it goes from no problem to windscreen & both side windows running with water in 20 seconds

Set the air con on internal circulation
speeds up collecting the internal moisture

If you read my post the air con is on as is recirculate ,both permanently.
In all honesty &,even the wife agree's ,we have never had any vehicle like this where it goes from perfectly ok to unclearable water running down all cab windows in seconds.

 

[LostInSpace]

We had the same problem in the middle of Summer and it turned out there was a water leak in the roof that caused wet walls and a massive increase in air humidity.

In all honesty &,even the wife agree's ,we have never had any vehicle like this where it goes from perfectly ok to unclearable water running down all cab windows in seconds.

Are you two related?

We had that on a CI Carioca many, many years ago. It cost a few thousand to get it fixed..
But, it was dry afterwards and we learned a lot.

 

[treblid]

the air con is on as is recirculate ,both permanently.

I have had cars that caused condensation to build up on the windscreen if you forgot to switch the recirculation off. Cleared as soon as you switched it back to normal external air intake

 

[gus-lopez]

We had that on a CI Carioca many, many years ago. It cost a few thousand to get it fixed..
But, it was dry afterwards and we learned a lot.

It is a pvc

I have had cars that caused condensation to build up on the windscreen if you forgot to switch the recirculation off. Cleared as soon as you switched it back to normal external air intake

I will try that. as I said in an earlier post as the air con is usually on for the warm temperatures i have always had it on recirculate.

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[LostInSpace]

I have always had it on recirculate.

Wow that will take a bit of drying out.

 

[stuartholmes]

If what treblid says doesn't work are you sure the aircon doesn't need re-gassing?

And are you sure there's no water where it shouldn't be causing general moisture to be too high?

 

[Barn1e]

Karcher window Vac does a fab job of clearing screen and then we remove the moisture from the van.

 

[highwood122]

does this karcher gizzmo work when its on its side or upsidedown

 

[poppycamper]

does this karcher gizzmo work when its on its side or upsidedown

On its side,,,,, if careful.... upside down no.!!

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[poppycamper]

Silver screens may stop condensation from forming on the windscreen but they do not prevent it from forming elsewhere

I don't use Silver Screens for this very purpose..
If the condensation in van gathers on cab windows, it is an easy task to remove with Window Vac...
Not so if it is on van walls, cushions etc..

 

[Orion]

If what treblid says doesn't work are you sure the aircon doesn't need re-gassing?

My thoughts exactly. I’ve yet to have a vehicle where operating the aircon at full whack didn’t clear excess condensation in double quick time.

I know people who firmly believe that the aircon is only effective in the heat of summer and doesn’t anchieve anything else. Even so, it’s good practice to run it now and again to keep seals and components lubricated and prevent problems down the line. The default position for mine is ‘on’ year round.

 

[Pausim]

does this karcher gizzmo work when its on its side or upsidedown

The basic model is less good at working on its side than the more expensive ones. I do the bottom of the screen first whilst the tank is empty and then work up the screen still working sideways but with the tank angled slightly downwards.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

What happens to all that condensation that runs down the inside of the window screen ?

It runs in behind the dash where normally the fuse box, ECU's and connecters etc are.

 

[poppycamper]

know people who firmly believe that the aircon is only effective in the heat of summer and doesn’t anchieve annything else.

I agree wholeheartedly with that statement.. as you say some think an air con is simply to cool you in summer.... but the 'con' bit means conditiononer so it is also a very efficient dehumidifier all year...
My air con is never turned of.. summer or winter.

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[Tony50]

When I get home I put a Dehumidifier in M/H for a time ,but you need to plugs in dinks and shower drain holes, especially if you are a heavy breather!! then vent M/H

 

[phil_in_npton]

I suck it up with my window vac in the morning. I would rather get it out of the vehicle than have it forming somewhere inaccessible. The water doesn’t go away because you have a silver screen, it goes somewhere else or hangs on in the air raising the humidity level.

 

[phil_in_npton]

Good Evening

Just a question on the screens, sorry if it’s a bit silly…
How do they attach to the van?
Do you have to attach something to the van first?
Thanks

Phil in Northampton

 

[Jewellbags]

Good Evening

Just a question on the screens, sorry if it’s a bit silly…
How do they attach to the van?
Do you have to attach something to the van first?
Thanks

Phil in Northampton

Many way but mine slip over the doors - very snug

 

[gus-lopez]

are you sure the aircon doesn't need re-gassing?

yes works perfectly as van would not be drivable here in 40º+ in summer.

And are you sure there's no water where it shouldn't be causing general moisture to be too high?

could well be ? No idea.
Fan is now on no;1 on air in from outside & no problems this morning . I also left the diesel heater blowing in to the cab for an hour whilst out. Will see how it goes tomorrow if the expected rain materialises.

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