First and foremost… What is Condensation?
In it’s simplest form, condensation is water that collects as droplets on cold surfaces when humid (moist) air comes into contact with it.
Let’s say your van interior is nice and toasty but it’s cold outside. Now, when the moist air in your van (from breathing, boiling water, etc) hits a cold surface (e.g. your windows), a build-up of water droplets will form on that cold surface.
What are the dangers of condensation in my van?
In it’s simplest form, condensation is water that collects as droplets on cold surfaces when humid (moist) air comes into contact with it.
Let’s say your van interior is nice and toasty but it’s cold outside. Now, when the moist air in your van (from breathing, boiling water, etc) hits a cold surface (e.g. your windows), a build-up of water droplets will form on that cold surface.
What Causes Campervan Condensation?
Campervan and motorhome condensation is caused by introducing moisture into the warm environment of your campervan. The types of things that cause condensation are;
-
Wet clothing left to dry
-
Towels drying after being used
-
Wet pets
-
Overnight breathing and body heat
-
Boiling the kettle
-
Showering
-
Washing-up in hot water
-
Cooking
-
Water ingress leads to damp floors, walls and ceilings.
This moisture becomes trapped in the air and eventually settles as condensation inside a campervan, on any surface that is colder than the dew point, unless there is circulating air to move it around and take the moisture-laden air away.
How To Prevent Condensation in my Van?
1- Keep your motorhome warm
This is our preferred solution to stop condensation on both the boat and in our motorhome and it works, although it will increase your costs.
2- Adding Airflow To Your Van
Adding a vent fan to the ceiling that can run for an extended period of time along with a cracked window is a great solution to mitigating moisture.
Opening a window by itself will do a pretty good job of ridding your van of some condensation, but without the circulating airflow, you can’t be confident that you are getting rid of the humidity before it has the chance to condense.
3- Add A Vapor Barrier from Car Insulation UK
Although it sounds counter-intuitive, a vapor barrier should be placed on the warm side of your insulation. This is because an effective vapor barrier like GlassMat will prevent the humid air inside your van from reaching the cold material (metal) of your van walls and building condensation. GlassMat barrier is available in different thicknesses from 10mm to up to 30mm thick.
4- Insulate your Floors, Walls, and Ceiling
Insulation is a constant debate in the traveler's community, but I can assure you that insulation will help to reduce condensation… With GlassMat. The insulation must run against the metal of the van. If you have gaps between the insulation and the metal, you run the risk of condensation.
5- Install Sound Deadening
One thing to remember is that condensation forms when warm air meets cold air on a smooth surface. So as an added preventative measure, it’s also a good idea to install a textured sound deadening material, such as PeaceMat XR, to make the surface area less smooth and tougher for condensation to form.