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Topic: Condensation

roxy2009

08/7/2018 at 8:45am
Location: west bromwichò
Outfit: Kampa air 4

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We cleaned inside and outside the tent with a solution of weak bleach and washing capsule to get ride of mildew ( after looking online what to use). This seemed to remove the weather proofing and when it rained we got some leaks. Bought some weather proofing spray and did outside and out. Noe getting lots of condensation and drips in the night.
Any suggestions about what to do please?

woodman2

08/7/2018 at 10:56am
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I would try increasing the ventilation level.

roxy2009

08/7/2018 at 11:48am
Location: west bromwichò
Outfit: Kampa air 4

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Hi,we did leave the vent open and top of the door, still had lots of condensation, we were wondering if it was anything to do with waterproofing inside the tent as well as outside

Pickled Onion

08/7/2018 at 12:01pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

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I would doubt it, you need to pour some water on the affected area and see if it leaks through but my guess is that it's condensation. Warm air holds a lot of water, (breath and sweat too), when warm air touches the relatively cold tent sides at night the air cools and cannot hold the same amount of water so it deposits it on the tent walls.
More ventillation is the answer to condensation and mould.

Dave

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.

roxy2009

08/7/2018 at 12:32pm
Location: west bromwichò
Outfit: Kampa air 4

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Thanks for that, it’s weird, we have had a bit on condensation before, but nothing like we’ve just experienced, only seems to have happened since we cleaned the tent with the bleach solution.
The dripping was so bad it kept us awake

woodman2

08/7/2018 at 1:01pm
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The treatment you have applied has probably stopped the material breathing.
I think if you increase the ventilation that will help a lot.

AUSTINS

08/7/2018 at 5:00pm
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The ground is so HOT at the moment and it is chilly at night. Not since 1976 have we had such a long hot spell of weather. When we 'tented' our tent was canvas and had a canvas fly sheet.Other than bleach, what was the product name of the treatment you used. Although I do not think there is a problem with what you say you have done. Is there anyway you can put a fly sheet above your tent?

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Bob61

08/7/2018 at 5:32pm
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Quote: Originally posted by roxy2009 on 08/7/2018
We cleaned inside and outside the tent with a solution of weak bleach and washing capsule to get ride of mildew ( after looking online what to use). This seemed to remove the weather proofing and when it rained we got some leaks. Bought some weather proofing spray and did outside and out. Noe getting lots of condensation and drips in the night.
Any suggestions about what to do please?

A few years ago I bought a polyester ex-display tent on ebay and set it up in my garden. No sooner had I done that than it rained. The tent did not leak but the outside clearly showed that it needed reproofing and I used Fabsil.

I am confident that the tent was dry when I applied Fabsil and that the Fabsil had dried before the skies opened again and I could see a great improvement on the outside with the water beading and running off nicely, however, inside, the roof was a mass of droplets of water and when I stood inside it was like taking a shower.

I asked on these boards if anyone knew why that should be bearing in mind I hadn't actually slept in the tent it was just erected in my garden. There was only one answer and that was that if the tent is damp when Fabsil is applied, or the Fabsil is not dry when it rains again, it can cause wicking through the material.

The weather at the time was warm then cold rain, warm then rain, so I don't know if the droplets inside were water or condensation but I left the tent out until I was confident it was completely dry.

I went camping in it several times after that and it was heavily rained on but no more wet roof.

So, doesn't answer your question except that the same thing happened to me and you might find once the tent has completely dried out that it never happens again.

Post last edited on 08/07/2018 17:38:17

Bob61

08/7/2018 at 5:52pm
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Bear in mind also that detergent (washing capsule?) removes the outer waterproofing coat and if you have not completely washed it off, the Fabsil might not stick to the material and be very effective anyway.

However, what actually waterproofs a polyester tent is the polyurethane layer laminated to the inside of the polyester material and therefore the tent should not leak unless that has deteriorated.

The outer weatherproofing spray is just a silicon layer that helps with waterproofing by causing rain to bead and run off rather than soaking into the outer polyester material.

If the Fabsil has not been effective because detergent has been left on the outer material then water will soak into the outer layer. This of course will be cold thus adding to the condensation problem inside.

Post last edited on 08/07/2018 17:56:06

Molly the One

09/7/2018 at 7:27pm
Location: Reigate
Outfit: Vango Casa

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I don't know if its any help but with weatherproof gear you are advised never to use Biological based detergents. The reason being bio detergents have an oil base - its the oil from them which makes your clothes smell nice BUT its not great for any breathable materials as it clogs the pores - the result is they make you sweat more rather than breathing. What makes waterproof clothes waterproof is the weave is very tight and the water can't get through the gaps easily. Once a friendly coating is applied to help the water simply run off it makes them breathable AND waterproof (up to a point because even top end Goretex gear will eventually leak if its wet enough). Dont know so much a about tent materials and whether they have similar breathing properties - perhaps someone can advise.

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Its not what you don't know that gets you into trouble - its what you think you know which just ain't so.

Cross Camping

13/7/2018 at 7:14am
Location: Hertfordshire
Outfit: Anything I like !!!

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First of all Bob, what a perfect explanation.
I can't believe people would advise bleach an washing capsules. Before anyone uses any kind of solution just try good old fashion warm water. You will be surprised what warm water and a big sponge will do. Soap of any kind can ruin the out side DWR durable water repellency. It won't help the inside waterproof coating as well. If the solution you used wasn't totally washed off afterwards it could be the water is seeping through. Get some fabric, place it over a bucket and poor some water on it, come back a couple of hours later and see if any water has seeped through.

Post last edited on 13/07/2018 07:18:10

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roxy2009

13/7/2018 at 7:43am
Location: west bromwichò
Outfit: Kampa air 4

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Thanks all, very useful comments

TimCESmith

13/7/2018 at 9:30am
Location: London
Outfit: Karsten 350 + SE CA EA RA FW & ZIG

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The weather proofing spray you applied to the inside of the tent will make the condensation bead off, which would make it "drippier". Might be worth trying to remove it - I'd try wiping a test area with a tea towel dipped in weak washing-up water to see whether that improved things (assuming you have a polyester tent with PU coated interior).

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