Water is wonderful – an absolute must-have, but too much water in your RV can spell disaster. Water is the number one cause of damage to RVs over time. It can cause mold, mildew, wood rot, and corrosion. Not to mention some pretty nasty looking stains and musty smells.
Condensation occurs when water in its gaseous state changes back to liquid form. As the warm air rises it cools and loses its ability to “hold” water. Water droplets then form on the coldest surfaces such as windows and mirrors.
Damp air is cold and can lead to respiratory issues in some people. Reducing moisture in your RV will make it safer, more comfortable, and reduce potential damage to your RV and belongings.
There are steps that you can take to reduce the amount of moisture in your RV thereby reducing the possibility of damage.
1. Cook with the lid on pans whenever possible. Boiling water creates a lot of steam. Slow cookers produce less humidity, so use them if available and time allows.
2. Use both the over-the-stove and extractor ceiling fans (e.g. Fan-tastic Vent) if you have them. This will pull the steam out faster, so it doesn’t have time to form condensation.
3. Cover windows with Reflectix. Most RVs have single pane windows which are colder and allow more condensation. You can simply fasten Reflectix to any windows you are willing to cover during cold weather. There are several elaborate DIY ideas online for using Reflectix for winterizing your RV for cold weather.
4. Turn up the heat. Raising the temperature and maintaining even heat throughout will decrease the amount of condensation and make it more comfortable since the air will be warmer. Using small space heaters or running an electric fireplace will save on propane. A small propane heater like the Gas Buddy might be more efficient than running the main furnace.
5. Hang clothes and towels outside to dry whenever possible. As clothes dry, they release moisture into the air.
6. Dry the shower or bathtub after use.* A small squeegee and shammy type cloth work great to quickly dry the shower enclosure. Taking shorter (Navy), cooler showers will help too, but who wants to do that in the winter! (*Bernie likes to look at the this as a means of exercise, to psyche himself into doing it.)
7. Turn the extractor fan on while showering and for several minutes afterwards. You might need roof top vent covers to keep the rain out. Some fans will automatically turn off and close the vent when they sense rain. So, a cover will allow the fan to stay on when it’s raining.
8. Use interior vent insulators. Covering the vents from the inside, while not in use, will help to keep your RV warm.
9. Crack a window for a few minutes to allow the moist air out. This might work in some RVs similar to how it would in a car when the windows fog up.
10. Use a dehumidifier. There are several options when it comes to dehumidifiers. Simple desiccants absorb moisture using silica gel. Products such as DampRid® are inexpensive and disposable. Eva-Dry makes a wireless mini dehumidifier that operates without batteries or power, and only needs to be plugged to recharge its renewable silica gel crystals. Several portable dehumidifiers are also available that vary in size and price. Features of a dehumidifier might include a hose which allows it to drain down the bathtub or shower (which allows it to run as long as needed without having to be emptied), a timer, or a built-in hygrometer to measure humidity.
A digital weather station that includes a hygrometer is a valuable tool to help you maintain proper humidity levels. Several models will display the inside and outside temperature as well as humidity facilitates better control of the moisture levels in your RV.
Humidity levels should be kept below 60% with the optimum being between 30% and 50%. High humidity can cause health problems and damage your RV. So using these tips to keep the moisture levels down might make you and your rig feel better!
