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10-07-2015, 06:32 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2015 28' Flying Cloud
2018 33' Classic
Cumming
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 518
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Newbie ?: Fall nights and condensation
Daytime temps 78, night to 60. When we get up in morning, there in a lot of condensation in AS. 1. Is this harmful?
2. How do you prevent? Would running heat pump at night to maintain a constant temp inside minimize?
Help
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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10-07-2015, 06:47 AM
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#2
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2 Rivet Member
1994 30' Excella
Kiefer
, Oklahoma
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 89
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An electric dehumidifier with a drain hose to your kitchen sink
drain.
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10-07-2015, 06:49 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,673
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The problem is moisture on the inside with cold walls and windows. Open some windows and/or vents a little to let moist air out and cooler, drier air in. Then run heat if necessary for comfort. Alternatively get a small de-humidifier, if shore power available.
We were in 40 degrees and lower without significant condensation except on windows but we have an older trailer with "mouse fur" which I think provides a little more insulation and doesn't provide a cold surface like the newer metal inside skins.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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10-07-2015, 06:55 AM
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#4
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
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We have experienced this problem. When we turn on the heat pump, it gets worse. What we have been doing is to turn on the gas furnace to heat up the trailer a bit. Then we switch over to heat pump. This seems to do the trick for us.
Brian
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SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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10-07-2015, 06:56 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari
Fairhope
, Alabama
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 305
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We just keep a couple of chamois cloths on hand and dry all around the windows in the mornings.
__________________
Tom and Robin
2007 Safari 25' FB Twin
"If you have to go through a minefield....follow somebody"
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10-07-2015, 07:06 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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I have measured high moisture levels in the plywood subfloor below the bedroom pano window from high condensation (cold rainy weather, very humid air inside and outside the Airstream) running down outside and inside the interior walls. This could result in floor rot over time because the vinyl finish floor does not allow the subfloor to dry out easily. There can also be corrosion of metal parts.
Try to ventilate the trailer as much as possible, even running the furnace and wasting some propane to be comfortable while helping dry the air and walls. Circulation of the air with the furnace or a space heater with fan helps a lot. We have vent covers over both Fantastic Fan roof vents so we can keep them open even in rain to help ventilate.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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10-07-2015, 07:30 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,351
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I run heat and AC together to dry the air.
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10-07-2015, 07:49 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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When camping I crack open the roof vents. I do not like to run the dehumidifier if I am in the trailer, it is loud and puts out a lot of heat.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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10-07-2015, 08:33 AM
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#9
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New Member
Currently Looking...
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
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We crack our Fantastic vents ( have 2 on our 23fb) a bit, seems to work, no condensation on the windows.
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10-07-2015, 09:22 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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You breathe, you cook, you bathe - all put moisture in the air that collects on cold surfaces and can find its way to your plywood subfloor and in a few years be an even bigger problem.
Open a window or vent, use a dehumidifier, run the AC and heat together (so the AC acts like a dehumidifier).
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10-07-2015, 11:11 AM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1967 26' Overlander
Spartanburg
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 437
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Add gas heat to the list of moisture sources. Running A/C and furnace together is a good idea. I enjoy cool sleeping weather so I open windows wide, put on an extra blanket and snooze away. Any breeze will keep the inside dry unless it is raining. With shore power, I use an electric heater which does not give off moisture as gas heat does.
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10-07-2015, 11:27 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
1977 31' Sovereign
Lynnwood
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 311
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Over time, condensation will destroy the floor. You will also have a mold problem.
I use an LG dehumidifier; model # LD301EL. It's the smallest one they make that's on wheels.
I also use plenty of DampRid.
Tom
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10-07-2015, 11:45 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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10-07-2015, 11:48 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2018 33' Classic
Newport
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 239
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Ok
I will stop cooking and bathing but breathing is where I draw the line
haha
Earl
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10-07-2015, 12:07 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacob D
Add gas heat to the list of moisture sources. Running A/C and furnace together is a good idea. I enjoy cool sleeping weather so I open windows wide, put on an extra blanket and snooze away. Any breeze will keep the inside dry unless it is raining. With shore power, I use an electric heater which does not give off moisture as gas heat does.
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Burning propane does produce water vapor in the combustion exhaust, but with the Airstream furnace that exhaust is all vented outside the trailer. Same with the water heater and the fridge. However if you use an unvented propane catalytic heater or cook with the gas range that water vapor is released inside the trailer.
So heating with the furnace will not add to the moisture level, and when used with an open window or roof vent can help remove moisture. Warm air can take up more moisture than cool air, and thereby vent more moisture from breathing, showering, cooking to the outside.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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10-07-2015, 12:21 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
2004 22' International CCD
2015 30' International
Box Elder
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 187
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In the morning, lift up the mattress and check for dampness. Especially if there are 2 of you, your bodies produce moisture all night that can collect on the colder side of the mattress. It's a scary hidden place to find mold. I use Hypervent material under the mattress to keep it from turning into a mold problem. It's the only safe way I've found to keep the cabin temp lower and use an electric blanket to save on heating costs.
HyperVent Marine - Putting An End To Condensation
You can also add lots of slats/dowels under there, or drill lots of holes in the platform, but that can make the bed colder.
I also use a small dehumidifier. It's a pain, and noisy, but essential to prevent mold. Don't buy a thermoelectric one (no Peltier units) — it won't function at the lower temperatures in your cabin -- if you read the fine print they only reach peak effectiveness above room temperature (in the 80s). So you need one with a compressor. A bonus is, it produces some waste heat.
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10-07-2015, 12:28 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
2004 22' International CCD
2015 30' International
Box Elder
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 187
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I use this dehumidifier in the winter. It's kind of noisy, but it can collect more than a quart of moisture overnight -- just from one person breathing vapor into the air!
http://amzn.to/1j8KSOz
If anyone else has a unit they use, love and swear by (not swear at), I'd love recommendations on quiet small units. If you can tell how much water it pulls from the air overnight (in ounces, etc) that'd be amazing.
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10-08-2015, 12:45 AM
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#18
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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+1 for hypervent. It's great stuff.
We also have vent covers for our fantastic fans which allows us to leave them open at least a bit in nearly any weather. This definitely helps.
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Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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10-08-2015, 12:57 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2014 25' FB International
2007 20' Safari SE
2005 19' Safari
Qualicum Beach
, British Columbia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,096
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nrgtrakr
You breathe, you cook, you bathe - all put moisture in the air that collects on cold surfaces and can find its way to your plywood subfloor and in a few years be an even bigger problem.
Open a window or vent, use a dehumidifier, run the AC and heat together (so the AC acts like a dehumidifier).
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Ok, I'll bite. How do you run the A/C and heat together.
George
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10-08-2015, 05:45 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags
We have experienced this problem. When we turn on the heat pump, it gets worse. What we have been doing is to turn on the gas furnace to heat up the trailer a bit. Then we switch over to heat pump. This seems to do the trick for us.
Brian
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We do exactly as Moostags, PLUS we open the one fantastic vent we have and leave it open all night, just about an inch or so. The fan is not on. With the two of us and two Labrador Retrievers there is a lot of moisture in our unit and doing the above the only time we can see condensation is in rainy cold (below 50) weather.
The vent seems to be key.
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2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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