PNW_Steve
Feb 15, 2016Explorer
Moisture & mildew issues?
Hey Everyone,
We have our 5er on our lot on the Western slopes of the Cascades in Washington. We have spent a month or two at a time over here in the past but this is our first full winter in the rig.
FYI: the trailer is parked under a full roof/cover that keeps the rain off.
We have always kept a dehumidifier running and not had any significant issues. Well recently we started smelling a bit of a musty smell. Then serious moisture issues on the bedroom windows and in the bedroom closet. Then the dehumidifier died...
I replaced the dehumidifier with an identical unit. Things are better but have not returned to the comfort level we enjoyed previously.
Last night it was about 50F in the bedroom. The dehumidifier was running as well as a fan. It was still too muggy to sleep.
This morning my Wife lifted the mattress up to put on fresh sheets and found significant mildew spots on the underside of the mattress...
YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need to figure out how to get this under control and how to clean/treat the spots already on the mattress.
I do understand that the moisture issue occurs when the warm moist air inside comes in contact with a cooler exterior surface and the moisture condenses out.
To address the mattress (after I figure out how to clean it properly) I had considered elevating it on something resembling a shipping pallet. This would allow airflow between the mattress and base. Another idea I had was to place a sheet of foam insulation board between the mattress and base to provide a "thermal break" and avoid condensation on the mattress.
I don't know if either of these ideas will be effective. I am hoping that someone out there has experienced this and can share their solution:
How do I clean the mildew spots?
How do I prevent future problems?
Thanks in advance.
Steve
We have our 5er on our lot on the Western slopes of the Cascades in Washington. We have spent a month or two at a time over here in the past but this is our first full winter in the rig.
FYI: the trailer is parked under a full roof/cover that keeps the rain off.
We have always kept a dehumidifier running and not had any significant issues. Well recently we started smelling a bit of a musty smell. Then serious moisture issues on the bedroom windows and in the bedroom closet. Then the dehumidifier died...
I replaced the dehumidifier with an identical unit. Things are better but have not returned to the comfort level we enjoyed previously.
Last night it was about 50F in the bedroom. The dehumidifier was running as well as a fan. It was still too muggy to sleep.
This morning my Wife lifted the mattress up to put on fresh sheets and found significant mildew spots on the underside of the mattress...
YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need to figure out how to get this under control and how to clean/treat the spots already on the mattress.
I do understand that the moisture issue occurs when the warm moist air inside comes in contact with a cooler exterior surface and the moisture condenses out.
To address the mattress (after I figure out how to clean it properly) I had considered elevating it on something resembling a shipping pallet. This would allow airflow between the mattress and base. Another idea I had was to place a sheet of foam insulation board between the mattress and base to provide a "thermal break" and avoid condensation on the mattress.
I don't know if either of these ideas will be effective. I am hoping that someone out there has experienced this and can share their solution:
How do I clean the mildew spots?
How do I prevent future problems?
Thanks in advance.
Steve