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 Topic: Dampness : dehumidifier, using cat litter
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05/9/2013 at 5:05pm
Location: Tyne & Wear
Outfit: VW Westfalia California
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For some reason there's sign of dampness under the rear seat. the metal looks to be covered in a mould type substance, although it is dry now
A friend suggested I stick in a couple of those wee dehumidifiers, when I put the van away for the winter.
I had trouble previously from mould under the pop top roof, so this may be a good idea.
I was all set to buy two or three, only a few pounds each online, when somebody said 'cat litter' would do the trick.
Considering a big bag, I think 2.5kg is only a couple of quid, maybe this will work.
I was advised to stick some in a tray, under the rear seat and maybe put some in old stockings, and rest this on top of the upstairs bed, ie next to the underside of the roof.
Does cat litter really work as a dehumidifier ?
The local shop has the 'Fullers Earth' litter .. is this OK.
thanks for any advice given
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Brian & KK
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05/9/2013 at 7:03pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec
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Er, I think you would be better with Cat litter trays filled with ordinary common supermarket salt, one for the front and one for the rear of your caravan, and I suppose an evtra one under any bed box thats giving trouble.
I have used this method to keep my caravans interior fresh and dry over winter for a number of years, and indeed, my new Elddis's handbook recomends this method as well.
Perhaps best to wipe away as much visible mildew and mould as possible using a damp cloth soaked in diluted Milton solution, but dont allow this to come into contact with any carpet, curtains or upholstry as it has the ability to bleach and fade the colours. For soft furnishings either wash in the washing machine for curtains, scatter cushions ect, use a mould inhibiting carpet shampoo for upholstry and carpets, or better still replace carpets with new, which is not that expensive for a good DIY person to do.
Julia
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Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
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05/9/2013 at 7:18pm
Location: North Wales
Outfit: Bessacarr E540
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I used to use the salt you buy for dishwashers.
Nora
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05/9/2013 at 8:11pm
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All putting any sort of dehumidifier inside does is store the water from the circulating air where you don't want it, inside the van. If you are getting mould you have inadequate ventilation or water ingress in the bodywork, that needs a proper repair not pots of salt, etc.
If van is parked unused over winter you need to ensure you have some sort of ventilation & any confined spaces, cupboards etc are left open. To avoid mildew under seat leave it propped open & ensure poptop fabric is completely dry inside & out when van is parked for any length of time.
If its a T3 Westy they are prone to rot from inside outwards due to condensation particulary behind fridge & also seams above rear wheels. Any pin holes already in bodywork will make problem worse.
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Regards, Jack+Jon.
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06/9/2013 at 12:04pm
Location: west country
Outfit: None Entered
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Have to agree with Jack & Jon. Ventilation is the key same as a house. If properly ventilated you shouldn't need any pots and potions and you cannot possible suck all of the moisture out of the ambient winter air.
Our caravans have always been ventilated and not suffered damp/moisture.
Salt is also highly corrosive. It even eats concrete as subtantated by the dip in my garage floor where a bag of salt was once stored.
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Steve
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08/9/2013 at 8:04pm
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I'm still waiting for somebody to explain the reason for extracting water from the circulating air & storing it inside the van in bowls of saturated salt?
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Regards, Jack+Jon.
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08/9/2013 at 9:33pm
Location: crewe
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 and Nissan Campervan
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Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. This is achieved through either absorption or adsorption with the absorbing or adsorbing material becoming physically "changed" somewhat, by an increase in volume, stickiness, or other physical characteristic of the material, as water molecules become "suspended" between the material's molecules in the process. Calcium Chloride (common salt) is extremely hygroscopic and water is locked away from the air.
The dew point is the temperature below which the water vapor in a volume of humid air at a given constant barometric pressure will form condensation.
I advocate a mix of low level heating to keep temp above dew point, hygroscopic materials as back up and ventilating on warm, dry days.
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cramming for my finals in the twilight zone
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09/9/2013 at 8:46am
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All the salt will do is extract the moisture from the air that passes over it. What about the air passing around the rest of the van? so not only is the salt bowl ineffective, once it is full it is creating its own little damp atmosphere.
Why owners are so worried about damp air in an empty van, I don't know, the air will be far damper while the van is being used, cooked in & slept in.
Its a pity the op has not engaged in the thread he started. Older VW campers have specific problems caused by damp getting into the glass wool insulation causing the body to rot from the inside outwards & this requires a bit more than dehumidifiying devices to rectify.
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Regards, Jack+Jon.
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09/9/2013 at 1:22pm
Location: None Entered
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I cant get my head around why you would want to store moisture inside a caravan in a corrosive form of salt or any other attractant.
All you are doing is pulling in more moisture by adding the attractant.
ventilation and open cupboards etc is the answer, trying to extract all the moist air from the atmosphere is impossible.
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alpiner
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11/9/2013 at 7:02am
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The cold air entering the van does not condense if the van is cold, not heated. Also it is a mistake to believe cold winter air is damper than warm summer air, usually it isn't & as I pointed out earlier, the salt bowls will only extract water from the air passing over them & not the air in the rest of the van. The best thing is to ensure adequate ventilation from outside with cubboards left open & cushion stood on edge where possible.
The 'problem' is overated anyway, as pointed out there is a far damper atmosphere in the van when it is being lived in.
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Regards, Jack+Jon.
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I was advised, by the site owners, to use salt and never had any problems.
