Adding humidity while in storage

[HeadWest]

We are going to store our Airstream in the Phoenix area this winter for the first time. In the past we have always stored it and boats in Michigan and the concern is dealing with any humidity.

When I was at a local dealer this week they recommended that we leave a bucket of water in the shower so they trailer is not so dry (wood drying out and cracking).

I'm wondering if anyone else does this or has heard of it? By the ways, we are in our own full enclosed but not heated/cooled storage unit.

We will probably be back down in 6-8 weeks to use it again so not a super long time.

Thanks!

[terryV]

I'm certainly no expert, but, if you're going to use it every month or two, do you really need to worry about it drying out?

[TinTin]

I'd think the pail of water would add humidity in the short term, but would likely evaporate within a few weeks. I wouldn't worry about it very much, especially since you're keeping the sun off her. They park all those airplanes out in the dry desert for years, they preserve there quite well because the humidity is low. Dry is good, except maybe for guitars and cigars.

[Phoenix]

Our 2005 19' Bambi has been parked next to our house in Phoenix, since it was purchased new. Absolutely no problems with low humidity, even in 118 degree heat. I suspect Airstreams in northern states have more problems with freezing and water leaks, which are not a problem in central Arizona, than we do with low humidity and summer heat.

[Protagonist]

Humidity is your enemy. I live in a naturally humid climate, where 75% relative humidity is considered "dry"! It's a constant battle against mold and mildew.

If you're worried about your wood, use a good furniture wax to seal the pores in the wood, especially on end grains, and call it good enough.

As for a pan of water in your shower, that's silly. If you want water, fill your toilet bowl almost to the rim. Not only will it provide some humidity to the air (not a lot, but some), it will keep your toilet seal moist longer, too. Which is also a good thing. And if the water in the toilet bowl gets stagnant before you return, dumping it is easy; just flush!

[B00merang]

HeadWest
I have stored/used my 20ft FC here in Idaho for the past 4 years. Its high desert... dry as can be...and have seen no damage to any of the woodwork or rest of the interior. I'd advise to add wheel covers, but you're storing her inside, so she'll be fine. Jon

[switz]

The amount of water evaporating out of three 5 gallon buckets we have in our 2014 Classic stored in the shade but outside in the heat at the east edge of Phoenix is pretty amazing. Since we have solid Hickory wood cabinets, we are interested in the humidity staying relatively constant to prevent cracking.

We have a veneer curling issue on the bottom of the large overhead cabinet in the living room area. That will be a future repair made by replacing the bottom with solid Hickory wood rather than the factory laminated plywood.

[BeachHouse]

And, since you have an International, I doubt if you have any wood. It is all plywood with laminate.

[tjdonahoe]

Put a 5 gallon bucket three quarters full of water in it, it don't cost any thing, and it can't hurt anything...

[JamuJoe]

There is no hardwood in our Airstream that would crack due to low humidity, unlike our skin and Indonesian Teak furniture that relocated with us to Durango, CO. Low humidity is great for storage.

Cheers,
JamuJoe


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[HeadWest]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did decide to skip the bucket of water since it will not be in storage that long and it is not being stored in the heat of the summer. We are pretty happy with the storage facility we found in Phoenix but it is pricey, about $350 per month for a 35' individual unit.

Back to the cold.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by HeadWest

Thanks for the suggestions. I did decide to skip the bucket of water since it will not be in storage that long and it is not being stored in the heat of the summer. We are pretty happy with the storage facility we found in Phoenix but it is pricey, about $350 per month for a 35' individual unit.

Actually not that pricey. That works out to about $1 per square foot per month. Less than you'd pay in many other parts of the country. I've seen quotes on self-storage in New York for $2.75 per square foot per month!