Did you know an oversized air conditioner can cause that clammy feeling? The unit doesn't run long enough to remove all the moisture from the inside air.
Yea, I know that, thus why I mentioned it. Also, this is why I have progressed down the path of seeking a dehumidifier since in order to get enough heat to cause the AC to run constantly / often would require my little ceramic heater plus my furnace. The amount of electricity draw makes a person like me cringe. I kinda dislike the seemingly rampant attitude of many RV'ers of, "hey, I'm paying a flat rate for everything; consume without regard." I want to be comfortable, but I don't want to use 50kWh of power over the sleeping hours just to get my atmosphere just right for comfy sleeping. There's some good things to check on my AS based on posts made here. Despite the lack of experience and/or endorsement of the mini dehumidifiers, I think I'll blow the $50 and be the guinea pig for the forum.
Yea, I know that, thus why I mentioned it. Also, this is why I have progressed down the path of seeking a dehumidifier since in order to get enough heat to cause the AC to run constantly / often would require my little ceramic heater plus my furnace. The amount of electricity draw makes a person like me cringe. I kinda dislike the seemingly rampant attitude of many RV'ers of, "hey, I'm paying a flat rate for everything; consume without regard." I want to be comfortable, but I don't want to use 50kWh of power over the sleeping hours just to get my atmosphere just right for comfy sleeping. There's some good things to check on my AS based on posts made here. Despite the lack of experience and/or endorsement of the mini dehumidifiers, I think I'll blow the $50 and be the guinea pig for the forum.
Now that we've formulated a hypothesis about your a/c problem, maybe we can change how the a/c operates. You could slip a rubber tube over the temperature sensor, so the compressor will run longer.
I've got a mini dehumidifier (Sunbeam, a model that will hold 35 quarts) for my AS. The PO had it in Olympia WA and I've got no need for it here in New Mexico -- single digit humidity most of the year. It yours if you want to buy it at a fair deal for both of us.
Art
New Mexico
505-710-4538
__________________ Art, Margaret, Jaki, and "Mighty" Velcro Placitas, New Mexico RIG: '77 Sovereign TOWED By: '99 Suburban HAM Call Sign: W0ABX
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Paula: thanks for the suggestions. I can already check off most of them, but I will make sure to point out to Andrea that there's ways we can get things "warm" while horizontal. Then again, I'm not sure the folding door/curtain between our bedroom and the front gaucho where the kids sleep is enough to keep from waking them.
Back in the "old days" it was common to give children codeine based cough syrup...
but that's just not an option any longer. Look up "white noise generator".
... or in this case the screen room addition to the awning DOES make sense.
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I have camped in many trailers, all with humidity problems until now.
I was shocked when my girl and I bought this 86 rear bedroom Airstream.
We used it in early spring, cold nights damp mornings... It was like being at home. My opinion is. These units have come along way. Insulation and Furnaces ect.
Somthing cause moisture, or it is coming up threw the floor. For us, we now know how the other half lives.
I thought most units had a recirculation ability?
Mine has a lever on the control panel...I think it is up for outside air mix, and down for recirculate. We usually leave it down to force humidity out of the air and not bring in outside air.
I just know on the inside filters on the bottom of the unit, you can feel much more draw on them with the lever in the down position. And, the sound is different. Sort of like the difference in regular and max/recirculate in a car...you can tell when you have it on recirculate.
I'm in the deep south and have the same problem. The AC is way oversized for the trailer and does not run long enough to pull moisture from the air. I'm also looking at getting a dehumidifier to help kept the trailer dry. Outside it's 80% relative humidity right now.
We looked at the smaller dehumidifier and ended up getting a 25 pint dehumidifier at Wal-Mart. This was one of the best investments that we made. We have the same problem with humidity. It is a little loud so we either run it when we are out or put it in the bathroom. It will fill up in a day. And we have cool comfortable nights
Mike
Well, I got an LG dehumidifier and it's really dried out the inside of the trailer. The only problem is the size of this thing. It's very quite and works well but the only place to put it is in the bathroom. I'm not sure if I want to travel with this beast. I'll have to see the next time we go out.
You just answered your own question. If your airconditioner is too big it will cool the trailer too fast and not run long enough to remove the humidity. To work effectively as a dehumidifier the compressor should run continuously, since that is when it removes moisture from the air.
Obviously the right sized unit is a compromise since you want enough capacity for the hottest days of the year.
Al
Sometimes we have damp mornings, and you can feel it in the air...it's not un healthy I figure but still don't want moisture collecting on the interior. Sooooo, we have a small (the smallest there is...) ceramic box heater...and it can be a booger bear in the winter cause it does 'cook' the moisture out of the air, and everybody starts to itch (ha!) But on wet mornings we will use it to cook the water hoovering in the air. And for an Airstream interior- it does not take long at all.
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Our A/S is stored under a covered porch which is great for keeping direct sun off it but it does create an environment inside that encourages mold growth--especially here in humid, coastal SC. I keep a regular sized dehumidifier running on medium speed all the time when it is stored (it sits on the kitchen counter and drains the condensate into the sink, grey tank and then out into the yard harmlessly). This helps a great deal--no musty smell, cabinets doors don't stick, etc. This may be a helpful solution to start out your trip with most of the humidity removed from the trailer before you leave home base--the AC won't be struggling to catch up and pull the moisture out during your stay in it. It does take time to get moisture out but once you get there it can be maintained pretty well even if your unit is slightly oversized.
Something else that may not have been specifically mentioned is to run the AC on the lowest fan speed available. This will allow the compressor to run longer during each cooling cycle and allow more moisture to be removed over time. I don't know if your unit has only one fan speed option but there may be some way to adjust the fan speed internally.
__________________ Bill Cantrell __________________________________________________ The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden by their simplicity and familiarity.
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