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Subject Topic: Help - tent seeping water in from below! Post Reply Post New Topic
Persongerr1986
07/7/2011 at 11:44am
 Location: Preston
 Outfit: Outwell Hartford L View gerr1986's Profile View Profile   Reply to gerr1986 Reply   Quote gerr1986 Quote  
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Can anybody help me please? We have footprint groundsheet, then tent, then carpet for extra warmth. But last two times camping (still here now) water seems to be seeping up from below - I have checked the footprint - no holes - none in tent either - where is it coming from??? I'm very lost as to how it's getting in - never had problems like this before?!? Can anyone shine a light on it for me please?!

Thanks - one very confused camper?!?

P.S I have an outwell hertford L


Personraf48
07/7/2011 at 11:53am
 Location: E Yorkshire
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It's probably condensation, I had the same problem over the last hot weekend. I have thought that perhaps the woven groundsheets are not fully water proof, so next trip, I will also take a piece of poly sheet to lay between the footprint and sleeping pod ground sheet. If I have water on top, then I will know it's condensation.

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Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.


Personmikegalagher
07/7/2011 at 11:58am
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Most footprints and tent groundsheets aren't complete barriers to water coming in. Their Head Height rating tells you the amount of water pressure they can hold back but above that, water can penetrate, especially with the weave type material in common use. In this case you're standing on the source so are likely exceeding the rating and water is permeating - assuming no actual holes. I'd aim to stop the water coming through by nipping out for a cheap plastic sheet from somewhere and get it between the tent and the footprint, ensuring as best you can that no water can get in to lie twixt sheet and tent. Other option if possible is to move to a drier area on site. Good luck.

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Mike

My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it

Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017


Personmikegalagher
07/7/2011 at 12:00pm
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raf's idea is sound. Hadn't thought of condensation.

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Mike

My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it

Prague May/Jun 2017
Lake Annecy Aug 2017


Personpally
07/7/2011 at 1:02pm
 Location: Yorkshire
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If it's near the walls its probably condensation running down and you haven't noticed.

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Pally

The pen is mightier than the sword - but only if the sword is very small and the pen is very sharp...


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PersonSpeedcamp
07/7/2011 at 1:11pm
 Location: Sunny south coast
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I'd go for condensation too as the explanation.

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Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!


PersonPaper clip
07/7/2011 at 4:08pm
 Location: north west
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Another vote for condensation, personally I think that water penetrating from the groundsheet is highly unlikely unless there is damage somewhere. we have quite literally ended up in a pond after heavy torrential rain with absolutely no water ingress through an outwell sig and that was without a footprint. I am not sure that adding an extra layer of plastic under the tent would do anything other than cost you more money.

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good things come in cookies


PersonANGEDAWS
07/7/2011 at 4:29pm
 Location: Northern England
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Hi, also make sure that any groundsheet you have isnt visible around the edges of the tent. Any rainwater needs to run off your tent onto the grass and soak away. If water can run off your tent onto a groundsheet it will then run under the tent and could seep through.

I also echo what others say though, if a modern tent appears to be leaking it is condensation 95% of the time so make sure you have some vents open.


PersonWaynetod
07/7/2011 at 4:30pm
 Location: Essex
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Do you think you could have a leak in your tent/door? It could then run under the carpet to the lowest point.

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You don`t stop playing `cos you get old, you get old `cos you stop playing!


Persongerr1986
07/7/2011 at 4:45pm
 Location: Preston
 Outfit: Outwell Hartford L View gerr1986's Profile View Profile   Reply to gerr1986 Reply   Quote gerr1986 Quote  
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It's sounding like it might be condensation - thank you all for your help - at waynetod I don't think it could come in through the door as we have a porch on the front so water tight there and back door sealed brilliantly! I will have a good inspection when I take it down tomorrow - all be it the weather is kind to us and holds of with the rain - Im beginning to think I've pitched in the middle of Glastonbury!!

Thanks again :-)


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PersonBob61
07/7/2011 at 5:03pm
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I have never been a great believer in using footprints. Keeping the underside of a tent groundsheet spotless isn't a priority with me. If water does get between the footprint and the tent groundsheet you will basically be sitting in a pond and I am not sure how waterproof a groundsheet would be if permanently sitting in water and being walked on. Without a footprint the underside of a tent's groundsheet will not get too wet unless you are unfortunate enough to suffer torrential rain and flooding. Cold water laying between the footprint and the groundsheet may also be responsible for condensation within.


Personpingvin
07/7/2011 at 8:54pm
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I vote for some kind of condensation too.
On my last trip I experienced water puddles on the SIG of my tent, it hadn't been raining and the grass was dry.
Then I saw that the water was close to the walls, and at places, were shelfes or boxes had touched the fly sheet from the inside. The condensation at night on the OUTSIDE of the tent that way could seep through the fly and ended on the floor, although we hadn't recognized any condensation on the INSIDE of the fly sheet!

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Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.


PersonTravel 2010
07/7/2011 at 8:56pm
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Funnily enough we had water between sig and footprint while in Inverness. It had rained steadily during the day and heavily overnight. On leaving the next day, during a dry spell in the weather, we found quite a puddle on the footprint in a depression in the pitch - if you follow me.

The pitch sloped very gently and we use an airbed that would have been above the puddle. Luckily, we had no real ingress of water through the groundsheet and the tent was dry inside - so definitely not condensation. I suspect because of the slight slope and the heavy rain that water had run in between the tent and the footprint.

I am not sure how to avoid this apart from paying careful attention to pitching and run off. We completely dried out the tent at the next site - near St Andrews - so were quite lucky



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