chasing moisture out of air in van

barryd

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First night away last night on our Christmas trip. An odd thing happened. Van was parked out the front of the house for a few days right when the outside temperature went from sub zero to about 12 degrees in a few hours. Normally on the drive its protected from moisture it seems but there was a weird condensation on the oven door I noticed and the furniture felt a bit damp to the touch. Anyway it took an age to get the van warm last night. 2kw convector heater on full belt all night. It was ok but normally with one of those on ten minutes and the van would be toasty so I think reading some of the old threads there is a lot of moisture in the air in the van.

I dont have a dehumidifier. My thoughts were to open a couple of windows and swap the 2kw convector for a fan heater for an hour or two? Any other ideas? This van is normally as toasty as anything. Its not even that cold now outside. Despite having the heater on low all night I woke up chilly.
 
Convector or fan heater with a vent open is the only way, problem is new air entering is full of water, if you can hang on to summer things will be sorted LOL.

I thought this morning might be a good time to try as it looks nice and light clouds outside. Doesnt look all damp and miserable. I guess it will clear eventually.
 
First night away last night on our Christmas trip. An odd thing happened. Van was parked out the front of the house for a few days right when the outside temperature went from sub zero to about 12 degrees in a few hours. Normally on the drive its protected from moisture it seems but there was a weird condensation on the oven door I noticed and the furniture felt a bit damp to the touch. Anyway it took an age to get the van warm last night. 2kw convector heater on full belt all night. It was ok but normally with one of those on ten minutes and the van would be toasty so I think reading some of the old threads there is a lot of moisture in the air in the van.

I dont have a dehumidifier. My thoughts were to open a couple of windows and swap the 2kw convector for a fan heater for an hour or two? Any other ideas? This van is normally as toasty as anything. Its not even that cold now outside. Despite having the heater on low all night I woke up chilly.

One of the main causes of dampness in a building is lack of ventilation Barry. Another is temperature variance between interior and exterior, or a combination of both. Hence why you get more condensation in winter. Believe it or not heating a van can actually increase dampness, by increasing the variance of temperature from exterior to interior. If your van is parked up outside in winter with no heating you won’t get much dampness, but by heating it to say 20c whilst it’s sub zero outside will increase dampness. I realise this is counterintuitive, but it’s factual.

I think I know what’s happened here. Your van was cold when it was sub zero. But whilst the outside temperature increased rapidly to 12c the vans internal temperature remained much lower for longer. This created a larger than normal variance in temperature for a couple of hours or so. This larger variance created dampness on your vans interior. I would increase ventilation, and see what happens.
 
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One of the main causes of dampness in a building is lack of ventilation Barry. Another is temperature variance between interior and exterior, or a combination of both. Hence why you get more condensation in winter. Believe it or not heating a van can actually increase dampness, by increasing the variance of temperature from exterior to interior. If your van is parked up outside in winter with no heating you won’t get much dampness, but by heating it to say 20c whilst it’s sub zero outside will increase dampness.

I think I know what’s happened here. Your van was cold when it was sub zero. But whilst the outside temperature increased rapidly to 12c the vans internal temperature remained much lower for longer. This created a larger than normal variance in temperature for a couple of hours or so. This larger variance created dampness on your vans interior. I would increase ventilation, and see what happens.
Damn, I'm gonna have to agree again. :)
 
One of the main causes of dampness in a building is lack of ventilation Barry. Another is temperature variance between interior and exterior, or a combination of both. Hence why you get more condensation in winter. Believe it or not heating a van can actually increase dampness, by increasing the variance of temperature from exterior to interior. If your van is parked up outside in winter with no heating you won’t get much dampness, but by heating it to say 20c whilst it’s sub zero outside will increase dampness. I realise this is counterintuitive, but it’s factual.

I think I know what’s happened here. Your van was cold when it was sub zero. But whilst the outside temperature increased rapidly to 12c the vans internal temperature remained much lower for longer. This created a larger than normal variance in temperature for a couple of hours or so. This larger variance created dampness on your vans interior. I would increase ventilation, and see what happens.

Thanks Bill. Sounds like a very good explanation. Never seen it before in nearly 15 years of having the van. Will try what you suggest.
 
Ok, I think the only thing I'd differ on is the air temp in the van.

The air temp in the van would have increased along with outside air. Items in van, ie cooker etc would have remained colder, (taking longer to warm up than air) which is a colder surface for condensation to form, hence dampness.

Happy now? :p;):)
 
Ok, I think the only thing I'd differ on is the air temp in the van.

The air temp in the van would have increased along with outside air. Items in van, ie cooker etc would have remained colder, (taking longer to warm up than air) which is a colder surface for condensation to form, hence dampness.

Happy now? :p;):)

stir-that-£$%^-stirring.gif
 
The bloody floor is freezing! One things for sure, im glad we took the car with us on this trip and not the bike. Dont think it would have been fun trying to get warm last night when we got in.
 
Have you heard the big weather warning for the US of A?

They're making it sound just like The Day After Tomorrow is coming to town :oops::cool:🥶🥶🥶❄️❄️❄️
 
Ok, I think the only thing I'd differ on is the air temp in the van.

The air temp in the van would have increased along with outside air. Items in van, ie cooker etc would have remained colder, (taking longer to warm up than air) which is a colder surface for condensation to form, hence dampness.

Happy now? :p;):)
Yes the air temperature inside the van would have EVENTUALLY increased mark but at a slower rate than outside. During this period of say an hour or two, due to the rapid increase in external temperature, there would have been a larger than normal temperature variance. It’s this period I reckon which created the dampness. This type of rapid increase in temperature is rare, hence why Barry has never seen this in 15 years.


See we don’t agree, I feel much better now :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 
Dump your grey waste on the car park Barry then turn your fridge upside down.

Don't know how it will help but just my twopenneth.

I say old boy!! We are not slumming it on some car park!! Ive splashed out for a posh CL at the princely sum of £18 a night!! I feel a bit bad though that I am having to run the heater so much as I bet its costing them more than that. :( Although my fridge has a fault now and is tripping the electric so Ive had to turn it onto Gas so ill pretend to myself that Im saving a bit of leccy there.
 
I say old boy!! We are not slumming it on some car park!! Ive splashed out for a posh CL at the princely sum of £18 a night!! I feel a bit bad though that I am having to run the heater so much as I bet its costing them more than that. :( Although my fridge has a fault now and is tripping the electric so Ive had to turn it onto Gas so ill pretend to myself that Im saving a bit of leccy there.
Did you pay in white fivers Barry. :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 

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