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Topic: Covers and open sky lights & heaters

jamesA114

20/2/2014 at 10:31am
Location: south staffordshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe

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Hi, I have a slight damp / condesation issue in the bathroom. The guy i use to service the van has come to replace the seal to see if that will sort it.

In conversation with him he recommends leaving the skylights slightly open when the cover is on to help with air moving through etc. Does anyone else do this, i feel it would make it more damp. The other option is to get a small froststat heater to leave in, again any thoughts on those too?

thanks

michell8

20/2/2014 at 11:52am
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You are describing 2 different things. If by skylight seal you mean where frame is bonded into roof & this is leaking then that is water ingress into body & needs repairing. Condensation inside caravan does not mean that you have water ingress, it might just mean lack of ventilation.

However you do it you need plenty of through flowing vetilation so this may mean leaving cupboard & bathroom doors open to allow access to all ventilation points in caravan. Heating the interior with probably cause condensation so should be avoided.

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jamesA114

20/2/2014 at 1:45pm
Location: south staffordshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe

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Thanks for your reply. Sorry we originally thought the seal had gone therefore causing damp but when he removed the internal part of the skylight there were no signs of water ingress. So this got me thinking of condensation (or possibly a hairline crack in the skylight dome).

I am thinking it is poor ventilation. i pull cushions away from the walls but not left the doors open etc. I will re organise when I clean it after the service this weekend. Also, i assume the cover will also reduce the ventilation some what too.

blueexpo97

20/2/2014 at 2:06pm
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I don't think the cover should reduce ventilation, a lot of the air comes through the vents in the floor.

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jayc001

20/2/2014 at 4:25pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000

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Mines covered over the winter and no issues. I open all doors etc, lift seats etc to allow as much all flow as possible.

Jax365

21/2/2014 at 10:16am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Quote: Originally posted by jayc001 on 20/2/2014
Mines covered over the winter and no issues. I open all doors etc, lift seats etc to allow as much all flow as possible.

same here - and I stand the seats up and leave the lockers open.

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Pickled Onion

21/2/2014 at 10:44am
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

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Hi James,

On mine the bathroom skylight has a double 'skin' and so although down it is never totally closed and allows some ventilation. Heating damp air appears to dry things out because warm air can hold more moisture but it is still there and will fall out when the temperature falls below the 'Dew Point' this is why we get dew on the grass in the morning. The answer is lots of ventillation to dry it out again.

Dave

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jamesA114

21/2/2014 at 1:14pm
Location: south staffordshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe

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thanks all, improved ventilation my weekend task.

saftlad

21/2/2014 at 9:33pm
Location: Taunton
Outfit: Swift Quattro EB

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My van is stored under cover. I went out to check everything was ok before it's annual service next week and found mould on the outside of the cupboards. The bedding felt damp too 😢

I'm assuming that because the van is essentially in a static environment with very little air movement, the natural air vents in the floor aren't able to keep the air moving, so any rising moisture from the floor (with a rising water table in this weather) have resulted in the issue.

I plan on leaving the skylights open next year, and as they are under the cover anyway, shouldn't pose a security risk.

VangoMan02

21/2/2014 at 9:44pm
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Not used a cover myself but is it possible that unless cover is a custom fit it may be slightly big and when straps pulled tight, it might be going under the van at the sides and blocking underfloor vents..?? just a thought.

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sassi

21/2/2014 at 10:20pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger

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Leave the blinds on the sky light open when you have the cover on. If you close them across it seems to create its own micro-climate. When we opened them the first time I got an unexpected shower. Left them open and all has been well ever since

johnks

21/2/2014 at 10:33pm
Location: Hampshire
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I use a cover on our van only in the autumn just to keep leaves off the roof. We have a lot of trees in a park opposite us. Due to illness I was not able to remove the cover until end of December and when I went into the van the skylights were dripping with condensation. I put this down to the fact we had had very wet weather and varying temperatures. All the windows had been left on the latch to allow for air circulation.
The cover was very wet and a puddle had formed on the roof. I removed the cover completely and wiped away the condensation. Cover now in bag waiting for next autumn.
Caravans are made to get wet and normally don't need a cover unless under trees.

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saftlad

23/2/2014 at 5:03pm
Location: Taunton
Outfit: Swift Quattro EB

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Sorry, when I said it was stored under cover, I didn't mean under a cover - it's in a warehouse effect along with approx 100 other vans.

Unfortunately the floor is shale scalpings covered with a breathable membrane. It was originally a huge greenhouse but has since had the walls replaced and the glass ceiling painted. Given the recent water issues in Somerset, I suspect the water table is currently a lot higher than normal hence more moisture in the enclosed environment.

I've never left any of the windows on vent, but having spoken to my neighbours, they've had the same issue until leaving their skylights open (actually open not just the blinds open) so that the air can properly exit the van as well rather than just sitting still.

I've brought the van home for this week and will see if keeping some air movement helps.

Thanks all

jamesA114

26/2/2014 at 2:44pm
Location: south staffordshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe

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Cheers all, i have moved all the cushions and opened everything and realised that most the vent hols were either covered or blocked (wife likes to stop spiders!)
Anyway it is vented to the max and will re assess in a few weeks. Thanks for your comments

brianconwy

01/3/2014 at 9:01pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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I thought the main purpose of the vents in the floor was for safety reasons to let any gas escape.

Pickled Onion

01/3/2014 at 10:41pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

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Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 01/3/2014
I thought the main purpose of the vents in the floor was for safety reasons to let any gas escape.

You are right Brian, it does but it also allows air flow through the roof and windows if on first latch as warm air rises, not a lot though in winter I agree but on a dry breezy spring day I think there is enough to air the cabin. Mould I find tends to form on organic spills and finger prints that were inadvertantly left in situe, I have found a few that we missed.

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.

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