How To Keep Moisture Out Of An RV In Winter
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In your RV, moisture is produced by cooking, showering, and even breathing, resulting in condensation. The amount of water vapor in the air might be influenced by your camping area.
These factors can boost the moisture levels in your RV, but they have the greatest influence when the temperature decreases.
Moisture is not to be taken lightly. Condensation can wreak havoc on your RV’s walls, furnishings, flooring, and cabinets. If left untreated, it might lead to health issues in the future.
So, here we have compiled some fruitful tips and tricks on how to keep moisture out of RV in winter and avoid any discrepancies in future.
If you are a beginner in RVing, check out these tips before you start.
How to keep moisture out of an RV in winter
Eliminating the source of moisture in your RV is the first step in keeping it out. You must perform two things to achieve this:
- Lower the humidity level in your home.
- Make your RV as warm as possible by reducing the number of cold surfaces.
The key is to try out a few different combinations to determine which one works best for your automobile.
Don’t make it a game of guessing. Measure the humidity levels in your RV with an indoor hygrometer. You’ve got a problem if they’re above 50%.
Check your hygrometer after experimenting with a couple of the choices below to see if there’s any improvement. This will assist you in determining what the issue was and how to resolve it.
Here are some suggestions for keeping moisture out of your RV throughout the winter.
If you intend on living full-time in an RV for the winter, you will want to check out these tips to avoid freezing to death.
Tip 1: Make use of a dehumidifier
Warm air currents are drawn into the refrigeration coils of dehumidifiers to remove moisture in the air. They come in a variety of sizes, so be sure you pick one that will fit in your RV’s limited space.
Tip 2: Make use of your vent fans
When it starts to feel humid, turn on your vent fans. A fan can assist in properly dispersing air and evaporating moisture. A fan will assist the humid air to leave more rapidly if your windows or vents are open.
[ Also Read: Our Ultimate Guide On Best RV Roof Vent to evaporate moisture. ]
Tip 3: Prevent hanging objects to dry in indoor spaces
When you dry your clothing inside your RV, the humidity level rises. If feasible, dry your towels outdoors, and during the cold season, consider utilizing laundry facility dryers.
Tip 4: Open a vent or a window in the ceiling
If the air inside your RV is more humid than the outside air, you may let some moisture out by opening a window or ceiling vent. To get the air circulating, you may buy a small RV fan and operate it two or three times a day. This is especially important while undertaking activities like cooking or showering that produce a lot of water vapor.
Tip 5: The typical Gas Furnace Isn’t Necessary
Propane heaters are known for leaking a lot of water. Consider replacing your propane heater with an electric heater to keep your RV dry.
[ You may be interested in our recommendations for Best Heaters for your RV ]
Tip 6: Change Your Cooking Methods
In the cold, avoid using the burner as much as possible. And when you do, cover everything to keep the steam from pots and pans on the stove at bay.
Other viable alternatives include:
- Cooking outside in the open minimizes steam problems inside your RV.
- Instant Pot: Using an electric gadget instead of a cook top reduces the amount of moisture in your RV dramatically. Just be sure to let off steam outside.
- RV oven: Ovens generate much less moisture especially in comparison to cookers. However, because propane ovens may create steam, a convection oven is a preferable choice.
Tip 7: Increase the thermostat
Raising internal temperatures can help to minimize moisture in your RV since condensation forms when warm and cold air collide. Higher interior temperatures enhance the temperature of cold surfaces like windows, which slows the condensation process.
When boosting the temperature, make careful you utilize dry heat sources. For example, an electric heater or the heat pumps in your RV. Unlike gas heaters, these heating systems do not contribute moisture to the air.
Tip 8: RV Slide-Outs Should Be Insulated
Having an additional layer of insulation under and/or around your sliding seals will help seal any draughts as well. Taping some foam board to the base of all your slides is one method to achieve this. The temperature of the air close to the floor will be significantly different as a result of this.
Tip 9: Open the Doors of the Cabinet
In small confined places, moisture tends to accumulate. When it’s chilly outside, open your cabinet doors often to help circulate air and equalize temperatures. It will also aid in the prevention of mold and mildew growth due to retained moisture.
Tip 10: The Floor Should Be Insulated
Insulate your vehicle’s floorboards to assist boost the temperature and keeping your camper cozy in the winter. This can assist by warming up regions where condensation is likely to develop when combined with adequate air movement.
The following are some excellent strategies to keep your floor warm:
- Skirting your RV
- Installing foam board insulation beneath your flooring is a great way to keep your property warm.
- Installing automotive insulation beneath your flooring is also a great way to resist moisture.
Tip 11: Close the Doors and Windows
The dampness in your RV will usually end up on the glass. This is because the cold outdoors decreases the temperature of the windows, allowing water droplets to develop. The problem may be solved by insulating the windows and the doors.
Another fantastic technique to insulate your camper for the winter and avoid condensation is to upgrade to energy-efficient, double pane windows. We strongly suggest it if it suits your budget and makes sense in the long term. If so, using a shrink kit to insulate your windows is a smart alternative.
Tip 12: Make Use of the Campground’s Amenities
Hot showers are one of the most common sources of dampness in RVs. If at all possible, avoid showering in your RV and instead utilize the park bathhouse.
Also check out what do full hookup and partial hookup campgrounds provide.
How to Remove Condensation From Your RV While It Is In Storage
It’s far easier to protect your mobile home from condensation while it’s parked than it is to lower humidity levels when it’s in use. This is because when the rig is in storage, any activities that contribute to moisture generation, like showering and cooking, are no longer a concern.
Furthermore, because there is no need to run the heater when your RV is parked, the temperature difference between the interior and outside air is modest, reducing the likelihood of condensation.
Nonetheless, taking extra precautions during RV winter storage, to protect your RV from excess dampness isn’t a bad idea.
Using a moisture absorber product like damp rid is a simple method.
What’s Next
Moisture is one’s RV can absolutely wreck the vehicle’s quality over time, so getting rid of it, or at least preventing it is essential. The simplest way to take precautions is by reducing the use of water in your RV or anything which may cause the water to evaporate. Moisture can easily be fought off without any fancy gadgets as well! A simple cleaning cloth for the condensing windows can work wonders!
Jules and Ken
We are outdoor lovers, travellers, and writers all rolled into one. You have seen our posts here reviewing lots of different types of outdoor gear, camping equipment, RV equipment, kayaking, to cycling. Our reviews are guided by our years of experience being outdoors. We are happy to share our knowledge with you to make a better choice when you are outdoors.
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