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RE: Condensation
Sources of moisture in an RV
Perhaps the most important sources of moisture inside the RV are washing, especially with warm or hot water, and combustion such as in the use of the stove and refrigerator or auxiliary heaters. People also tend to contribute quite a bit of moisture as well. If the air is cold, you can see your breath as its moisture condenses. When the air isn't cold, the moisture in your breath contributes to the humidity.
Since an RV is a confined and small space it won't take a lot of moisture added to the air within it to load up the air with moisture. Activities that add moisture also tend to make the air warmer and warmer air will hold more moisture.
Where will it condense?
There are obvious places where condensation will occur such as on single pane windows as the glass is not a good insulator and will be near outside temperatures. The frames of windows, if made of metal, may also prompt wetness. Condensation can also occur in other places, too. Have you ever looked at the metal parts around the refrigerator burner and wondered why they looked so rusty (or your automobile tail pipe!). Also inspect those hidden areas in your RV where the air is relatively still behind a couch or cabinet near the corner of the floor and an outside wall?
What to do?
Ventilate! To reduce or prevent condensation you have to remove moisture. This means moving air that is likely to be nearing its dew point to somewhere else so it can increase its temperature or mix with air that has a bit less water vapor in it..
When washing in the kitchen or bathroom, crack the window or turn on the vent. Yes you may waste some heat but you will also greatly reduce the moisture in the RV.
Keep absorbing (think rot) or reacting (think rust) materials away from places where condensation may occur. Water soaking into wood or cloth over time may cause rot or other unpleasant deterioration. If things do get wet, make sure they get dried through and through as soon as possible.
Provide a means for any water that does condense to escape. Provide some sort of drain to allow any condensed water to run off to someplace where it can dry out or not cause harm.
A note on measuring water in the air
Water is normally a liquid or solid at temperatures we can live in but it evaporates to a gas up to a point where the water vapor tends to push back and limit further evaporation. The two main factors that limit how much water vapor can be evaporated are temperature and the amount of water vapor currently in the air. Meteorologists measure both of these factors to be able to determine what the moisture in the air (water vapor) might do. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air as a percent of the total amount possible. The dew point is the temperature at which the water in the air would hit maximum possible amounts and start to condense. For any chunk of air, its relative humidity will depend upon its temperature while its dew point will remain constant.
You might note that a very cold, dry winter day might have a high relative humidity. This is because cold air cannot hold much water vapor so what it little has is a high percentage of what it can hold. When this air is moved into your RV and heated, its relative humidity will become very low as the now warmed up air can hold a lot more moisture. Whether the air is hot or cold, its dew point will stay the same. When the temperature gets down to the dew point temperature, you begin to see things like fog or pogonip.
Other condensation problems
Condensation can also cause problems for the RV mechanic. Condensation can occur inside the wheel bearings if they are not regularly exercised. This can cause rust and bearing failure. The smell they put in propane can also condense in the gas pipes. If this condensate gets into the regulator it may fail. So mount your regulator near the top of the tanks so that anything that condenses in the tubes feeding it will drain back to the propane tanks.
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sportrac
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10/29/08 09:18am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Built-in Vacuum Cleaners
I am an RV Partsman and have not seen a Built In Vac come in for repair.
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sportrac
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10/16/08 12:39pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Electric jack noise
Yes it is Normal to have noise when under load
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sportrac
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10/03/08 03:03pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Inverters
You will need considerable power to do so. 3000 or more. I would contact a local RV Parts store and have a talk with them about your needs. They will be able to set you up with a sutable system. If you are looking to run this off Coach Batteries only you will not be able to run an Air Conditioner for very long as you will kill the batteries. A Gen Set is the best way to do so.
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sportrac
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09/26/08 02:24pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Traveling Sales
Most parks do not allow Commercial Adventures.
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sportrac
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06/12/08 07:46pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: How many Fulltimers are there?
I can see it is hard for Americans to have residency. Not much of a problem here in Canada. As for number of full timers, we are a small portion of the population. There has been a lot of speculation as to how many but 150,000 to 250,000 in North America is more likely to be reasonable as we all know it takes a certain type of person to live this lifestyle and most can not do it.
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sportrac
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06/12/08 07:44pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: What is your favourite place to summer/winter?
Vancouver Island BC Canada
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sportrac
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05/08/08 04:09pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Formaldahyde in RV's
Most units will not have the smell in them after they have been aired out.
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sportrac
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04/14/08 02:43pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Philosophical Question of the Day
We have had nothing but positive experiences. I have found that we are more relaxed and I have Come out of my shell. I am more trusting of the people around me now as we are all in the same boat and I feel that we respect each others property. As for people living in Mexico yes they should be concerned but it comes with the territory of living in a impoverished country.
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sportrac
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04/01/08 12:35pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Working from your RV...Share your success story's
I semi-retired but my wife works from our RV. She worked from home before we started fulltiming and her company had no problem letting her continue. She loves her job and everything worked out for both parties. She does Account Receivables and as long as we have Internet access things are good.
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sportrac
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03/16/08 05:32pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Park Model Information
I would suggest you try to buy locally as stated before these are not pull behind units. Normally takes a 3-ton truck or better to pull. Check out Bucars RV in Airdrie they have a good selection and will tow it for you. What you save on PST by buying in Alberta over BC will more then pay for the Trucking. A peice of advise is if you can buy a Canadian made unit as most made in the USA are not made to be in our climate and will have many problems down the road.
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sportrac
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03/16/08 04:57pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: 5th Weel, Motorhome or trailers
ya you got it right.
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sportrac
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03/05/08 07:59am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Trailer furniture..
My advise is to build your own. Folding tables are usually only available from Manufacturer if it was an option and are expensive.
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sportrac
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03/05/08 07:58am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: "Its Not For Everyone" - What Makes It Not For Everyone?
Simply put If you are Materialistic or need Roots it will not work.
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sportrac
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02/28/08 07:22pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Need high speed internet
My wife works out of our 5er and like you she has a VPN Router. My wife's company IT Tech has told us that wireless will not work due to security and stableness the network reguires. Most Parks that have Cable TV to site can also get High Speed Internet. This is what we use and no problems.
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sportrac
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02/28/08 07:21pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Number of Full-Timers?
I do not believe the actual number of Fulltimers will ever be acurate. I live in Canada and the Census takers only go to Residential addresses so there is no one even counting us. I assume they have come up with a number they assume live in other forms accommodation. From what we all have experienced it seams like the government will find numbers that suit there needs not that of the people. Is it not better to show that everyone has a home and living the American Dream. I assume that a number around 300 thousand in North America as a whole is realistic.
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sportrac
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02/24/08 11:55am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: How would you rate the vacuum in the rig
All in all a good product. Not like a house built in vac but good.
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sportrac
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02/13/08 08:12pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How much fun would it be?
At the drop of a Hat.
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sportrac
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02/13/08 08:09pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: How Many of You use a "Full Time Rated" rig?
We Fulltime in a Cedar Creek and love it. Not rated for fulltime use but as long as Maintenance is done regular I see no problems. Fulltime rated units are Expensive, Heavy and as you have already heard you will need large truck to pull them. I can not justify the cost of these large 5ers and Trucks. I ordered my 5er with Air Ride Suspension and Pin Box and this makes it float down the road. This is however my own opinion for what it is worth(I am sure there will be comments about it). Finances are the deciding factor it seems for most so buy what you can afford and enjoy the life style.
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sportrac
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02/10/08 05:57pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Thinking about full-timing
Just my opinion but I would never have fulltimed if I still had children at home. I am 44 my wife is 46 and I could not see it working even at our young age. There are a couple of families in our park at this time that do fulltime,they are having problems and are both in the process of purchasing stick homes.
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sportrac
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02/07/08 05:49pm |
Full-time RVing
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