Cool weather..Can I use a dehumidifier instead of vent?

some folks must not breath out or perspire much water that a simple "cracked" window lets out their moisture.

Just myself in 15-20°F weather, I can leave the large window full open and roof vent full open and still have condensation rolling off all the other windows and metal door frame. Bring in the dog and the humidity level gets down right tropical.

If I'm camped where there's a plug, the dehum. runs 24x7. If I'm camping on battery, things get tricky; a single 2000 watt genny isn't enough to run the dehum and my battery charger at the same time. if I'm running two 2kw genny, no problem aside from the noise of two genny.

yeah, i think im almost better just turning on the vent fan and cracking my window... It waste alittle bit more propane because the heat goes right out the fan vent, but im dry as a whistle this way......

Depends on how many humans & dogs in the TT as well as how often the shower is used and how much cooking is done. I doubt many would cook or shower without the fans on, but exterior (make-up) air needs to be drawn back in and if vents are closed tight, it can reduce the amount of exhausted air. An adult human body releases around 0.35 lbs/hour of moisture (approx. 0.35 pints) from respiration and transpiration (which adds up in a 24 hour period) and could help in sizing a dehumidifier.

If a longer TT, because there is no air circulation fan in a TT, perhaps a smaller unit at the front and another at the rear would work better? You may want to look at the dehumidifier's capacity at it's rated temp. and relative humidity level vs. the temp. and RH you want/will have inside the TT as lower values will reduce performance. A single larger unit can't hurt and may have some benefits as noted above.

You still should have the vent(s) open a little to vent stale air due to CO2, maybe formaldehyde gas, odors, etc. Having a window and vent cracked open as far apart as possible helps to get cross-ventilation.

I would definitely use a hygrometer to monitor the relative humidity to try and maintain it below 50%.

X2 on the larger unit. I got a 70p GE unit for our trailer and it works great. A side benefit is clothes dry off much quicker when hung up in the bathroom.

yankeeslover wrote:
sorry about dumb question. I camp all summer long in the Adirondacks..Of course in spring it gets down in the 30s. I have to open my fan vent and crack a window to keep the place dry. Of course then im wasting heat..If i were to get a small dehumidifer instead next spring will i be able to use that and keep the vent and windows closed? will a dehumidifer keep the condensation from forming? or is it a waste of money?

Get a big humidifier if you can. The small ones can't keep up so well all the humidity generated in such a small space.

I upgraded from a 25 pint to a 70 pint this year, and it really works well. The more powerful unit is the same size, a lot quieter and the extra heat it kicks out helps chase out the chills.

Hi,

As temperatures drop the effectiveness of compressor type dehumidifiers drops off.

I think that would depend on the size of dehumidifier, how much cooking and coffee making, and how many people are bathing and breathing.

I have a small one like this that sits on the kitchen counter. With just DW and I, no cooking or showers, just coffee in the mornings, the poor little thing works over time and can't keep up.

There's already another thead going on this. Here's the link.