logiesean64 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Hi there, We're staying at Grantown on Spey for a couple of days -6C last night . When I opened the blinds this morning there was a lot of condensation on the windows and the aluminium window frame, I left the blow heating on low through the night . I was wondering if this was normal . Carvan is a 2005 Sterling eccles moonstone. Any tips would be dandy . Regards Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnaldo Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Sean, how many of you in the van, had you been shut in all evening, had you been cooking and did you have a window or windows on the night latch? All these factors will combine to form moisture in the air. As will having the heating on through the night, I’m afraid. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 The heating should not cause any condensation as it vents outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mecamero Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 You will get condensation when there are big differences between inside and outside temperatures. Warm air will hold more moisture than the air that is cooler near the walls and windows. Therefore the air that is near these cold surfaces has to release some of the moisture as condensation. The only thing you can do is try to keep the caravan well ventilated. I disagree with Johnaldo when he says having the heating on will form moisture in the air - it will not. Electric heating does not produce moisture, and if using gas heating system the flue will vent all moisture outside the caravan not inside. Cooking on gas will create moisture, as burning gas will create water and CO2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost in the wilderness Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 With the low temperature I would be quite surprised if there wasn’t any condensation around the windows 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 8 minutes ago, mecamero said: Warm air will hold more moisture than the air that is cooler Warm air CAN hold more moisture. If you heat air the relative humidity drops but it holds the same mass of water per kg of air. But warming air expands it. So the heating will actually expel some water through the vents. To heat a caravan with people in it there needs to be some throughput of air to displace the exhaled air and evaporated sweat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamdrivenandy Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Did you boil a kettle in the evening or first thing in the morning, or take a shower? They will release additional moisture into the air. Are all the caravan's fixed vents and gas drop-out vents clear? Is it damp outside, such that the surrounding air already has plenty of moisture in it. Whilst modern caravans have pretty good insulation compared to garden sheds, they are nowhere near as well insulated as modern houses. I've sat in caravans in a mid summer downpour and the windows have misted up badly, plastic double glazing isn't a patch on glass. Quote I've got nothing to do on this hot afternoon but to settle down and write you a line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plodd Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Don’t underestimate how much moisture a human being will exhale overnight!! In answer to your question yes it is normal, small space, little ventilation, human beings breathing all night all add up to condensation. The only cure is to ventilate your caravan once you are up and about. The amount of heating inside will not make a blind bit of difference, you need to get rid of the moisture ladened air. The same thing will happen the next night and so on..... Andy 1 1 Quote Experience is something you acquire after you have an urgent need for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveat92 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) warm air holds moisture. It will condense out on any surface (window, wall, or even you!) if the difference is sufficient. I have condensation on the inside of my double glazed windows here in the hose when I pull the lounge curtains open in the morning if it has been very cold outside. It's normal and natural, don't worry about it provided it dissipates during the day as you open and close the doors etc and thus ventilate the space. When I was a child in an unheated bedroom, it wasn't condensation on the inside of the single glazed, metal framed window in the morning, it was ice! Edited November 13, 2019 by daveat92 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plodd Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Just now, daveat92 said: When I was a child in an unheated bedroom, it wasn't condensation on the inside of the single glazed, metal framed window in the morning, it was ice! Try telling the “snowflakes” about the ice, they will not believe you. I certainly remember it. I recall getting out of bed to get dressed in front of the open fire in the lounge as well. My how times have changed haven't they? Andy 2 Quote Experience is something you acquire after you have an urgent need for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logiesean64 Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 3 hours ago, Mr Plodd said: Try telling the “snowflakes” about the ice, they will not believe you. I certainly remember it. I recall getting out of bed to get dressed in front of the open fire in the lounge as well. My how times have changed haven't they? Andy My parents used to heat bricks in the oven before bedtime and wrap them in newspapers to warm our beds up , and many a morning I've seen Jack frost inside the windows of my bedroom when I was a kid . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 When I was a 12-year old I tried to grow a carrot top in a saucer of water in my bedroom. The saucer was on the windowsill. The water was frozen solid in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I usually vent the caravan by opening one of the roof vents. Hot air rises taking the moisture with it out through the roof vent. If you have an omni vent and don't mind a little noise, try running it on the lowest extract setting, with the vent slightly open. As we tend to caravan all year, we carry a small ceramic fan heater, this helps with the condensation issue? Quote Swift Elegance 480, towed by a Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian X series 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ1149 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Ditto Mr Plodd and daveat92 - to be expected especially with metal window frames. Memories of "temporary" post-war prefabs, classrooms with 3" and 4" heating systems (that didn't work) and services accommodation come to mind. Ventilation - I bet a lot of moist air went up the chimney. You could try an extra kitchen roll or two to soak it up or one of those Karcher squeegies to reduce the amount of moisture being recirculated . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Medes Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Leave a couple of windows on the snick Quote Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanie Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 if it's really that bad, I would suggest taking some old towels with you to soak it up, other than that wipe the windows in the night and morning. Empty the kettle at night, make sure you have no damp coats, shoes or towels hanging around, ventilate the windows slightly. Stop breathing. We all get a bit of condensation in the morning in certain weather conditions. I just wipe the windows in the morning. Quote Happy Days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durbanite Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 12 hours ago, David P said: I usually vent the caravan by opening one of the roof vents. Hot air rises taking the moisture with it out through the roof vent. If you have an omni vent and don't mind a little noise, try running it on the lowest extract setting, with the vent slightly open. As we tend to caravan all year, we carry a small ceramic fan heater, this helps with the condensation issue? Many people close all the vents and of course condensation happens. We have a roof vent open, fan running and a window in the bathroom on the night latch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy T Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 We two have no need to open windows etc as there is adequate passive ventilation through the closed vents and other points. 1 Quote Alan 2005 Nissan X-trail 4WD diesel and Swift Charisma 540 2012 Lunar Clubman ES 2018 Lunar Clubman ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Grouse Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Just now, Durbanite said: Many people close all the vents and of course condensation happens. We have a roof vent open, fan running and a window in the bathroom on the night latch. We don't have any vents/windows open in cold weather - don't need to as the fixed ventilation deals with any moisture/condensation. Both our previous caravans were kept until they started leaking - that did cause condensation in cooler weather so I wonder if those with a condensation problem have actually got a leakage issue. Quote 2015 VW Touareg 3. 0 V6 TDI + 2013 Lunar Clubman ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 The worst condensation in our van is in the wardrobes which are in the rear corners. I am considering adding a couple of vents from the warm air heating duct under the bed. 1 minute ago, Black Grouse said: Both our previous caravans were kept until they started leaking - that did cause condensation in cooler weather so I wonder if those with a condensation problem have actually got a leakage issue. No doubt that is sometimes a factor. 12 hours ago, David P said: As we tend to caravan all year, we carry a small ceramic fan heater, this helps with the condensation issue? That will certainly help, as long as the warm, damp air is allowed to escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ern Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 5 minutes ago, Easy T said: We two have no need to open windows etc as there is adequate passive ventilation through the closed vents and other points. Well said. Modern caravans are designed with a permanent air circulation system. Do not block off any vents as these can prevent proper air flow. Daily temperature changes and especially direct sun will create condensation which will disappear if you leave it alone. Leaving cupboard doors slightly open is sometimes helpful, but even cupboards are usually vented as long as they are not bunged full. Quote Ern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveat92 Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 22 minutes ago, Easy T said: We two have no need to open windows etc as there is adequate passive ventilation through the closed vents and other points. That is quite correct. If you look closely at the design of the small opaque roof vents such as in the kitchen and bathroom areas (not the large window type ones) you'll see that, even when shut, there is a bypass that allows passage of air through the sides of the vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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