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Delman's avatar
Delman
Explorer
Mar 22, 2014

Humidity Control while in storage

Our 37ft. 5th wheel is stored in Florida for 8 months, from April to December......the hottest and most humid months of the year.
During those 8 months we are home in Delaware so the RV remains closed and unattended. I do have electric at the storage site.
Last year we kept the 4 roof vents open and put pans of kitty litter and charcoal briquettes around but still got mold & mildew inside.

Looking for advice on what we can do to better control the mold/mildew problem.
Appreciate your help!

10 Replies

  • I would leave the 50 amp shore power connection. If you have a smart charger or smart converter it will be fine.

    If a "stupid" one, if it has a separate plug/outlet, put it on a 20 amp HD timer and set it to come on for, say 30 minutes a day.

    If you can have someone check on it monthly, particularly the batteries, that would be great.
  • I, too, have been storing my RV in FL for the six months of summer. Prior to this year we just move this 36 foot fifth wheeler to the back of the RV park for storage and put in every thing we can think of to alleviate humidity including multiple cans of those dehumidifier things, bags of charcoal, kitty litter etc. and usually have been pretty lucky. But last year was a real wet one in FL and we had more mold than usual...even had to throw a mattress (couch) out.
    So this year we are leaving the unit on the lot (paying more) so it has access to electricity and going to leave a dehumidifier in the closed up unit. The park will charge us monthly for the electric bill which is fine. My problem is .....
    I can leave the whole unit plugged into the 50 amp outlet which powers my converter and all the 12v stuff along with all the 120v outlets. Just plug the dehumidifier into an outlet and leave.
    Or.....because there is no 120v outlet on my post (or even a 30 amp outlet) try to jury rig a 50 amp plug so I can plug a 120v extension cord into it, thus power the dehumidifier. (figure I can surely engineer a way to rig a 50 plug in this manner).
    But the cost of plugs and the assurance of RV parts place folk saying just 'leave the unit plugged in' and use the 120v available inside the unit. "Keeps your bats charged", etc.
    I worry about leaving the inverter running all summer.
    Anyone have any thoughts?
  • Check with your local box store-- you only need a 30 pint unit.

    Features would be settable humidity and way to drain through hose to gray tank or overboard.

    Set in bath tub or on galley counter. Of course if at your house, you can just empty the bucket every couple of days.
  • Close all vents.

    The dehumidifier is modifying the atmosphere indoors. To keep it dry, the humid outdoor atmosphere must be shut out.

    I've been storing my trailer in the Gulf Coast atmosphere all my life. The dehumidifier is the only practical thing to keep the interior dry, fresh and mold-free.
  • Do you have a recommended unit to use. Also, do you keep the roof vents open or closed.


    Roof vents ..closed

    One that has gauge built in. Flat top so you can use it to put stuff on when not in use.
  • Thanks for all the great advice......looks like it'll be a dehumidifier!
    Do you have a recommended unit to use. Also, do you keep the roof vents open or closed.
  • As already suggested, get a quality, small house-type dehumidifier and plumb it to the outside. Set humidity at 50%. DampRid and other absorbents may make you feel better, but become saturated very quickly and do no more good.

    When you see how many quarts the dehumidifier removed in the first 24 hours, you will know that a bucket of absorbent won't do the trick.

    We do this on our motorhome and our sailboat.
  • Use the dehumidifier (get a decent one!) and get some DampRid in tubs! Place those all around the RV.

    WoodGlue
  • Don't know if you can do this the way your set up at storage, but I put in dehumidifier. Drains water to the ground so I don't have to worry about bucket filling up and I can leave for long time.
  • Buy yourself a dehumidifier, stick it on a table and run a hose outside. No more problems.

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