Trailer condensation in cold weather

[samhain7]

Did some FallFest camping the past weekend. Got down to 0 degrees celsius one of the nights.

My wife trying to conserve energy closed all the windows and the bathroom vent. We had the thermo set to 71.

We woke the next AM to a TON of condensation. Even one of the window wells were filled with water. Some of the cabinets inside walls were wet.
Is this normal?

We had zero rain btw...

[ktmrfs]

tnrv'er wrote:
Probably a dumb question but do you get the same kind of condensation problems with 4 season campers??

you still could. If the "4 seasons trailer" has single pane windows and/or aluminum window frames, you'll still get window condensation.

The higher the indoor temp, the less condensation. so the better insulated (especially if heat is off/down at night) the higher the temps will be so that helps.

but still your putting about the same amount of moisture into the air from cooking, perspiration, showering etc. that you would in a 3,000sq ft stick house but into 300 sq ft. so inside RH will be much higher in the trailer, hence more chance of condensation.

[colliehauler]

tnrv'er wrote:
Probably a dumb question but do you get the same kind of condensation problems with 4 season campers??

Only if you breath, cook, or open the door in cold humid weather.

[tnrv_er]

Probably a dumb question but do you get the same kind of condensation problems with 4 season campers??

[Mikesr]

richk88 wrote:
This is dehumidifier I have, it's small enough when in use I just stick it in a dead corner but it's big enough to be effective.

Thanks for the suggestion

[ktmrfs]

richk88 wrote:
This is dehumidifier I have, it's small enough when in use I just stick it in a dead corner but it's big enough to be effective.

the one you have is pretty similar in size to the one we have. easy enough to move around and store, yet high enough capacity to solve the humidity problem.

Sometimes it takes some searching to find these smaller units. Seems like the big box store often have much larger ones, more for a home, but local hardware stores, etc. often carry these smaller units.

[ktmrfs]

atreis wrote:
Not an expert, but my understanding of the dessicants is that they're relatively slow-acting. Good for storage, but not, for instance, for removing a large amount of moisture added while cooking or other active use.

yes. in an area of high humdity, you need to be able to remove gallons of water/day, dessicants remove pints of water/week.

and when in storage, your not adding moisture from cooking, bathing, or perspiration as well, so dessicants can work ok.

[atreis]

Not an expert, but my understanding of the dessicants is that they're relatively slow-acting. Good for storage, but not, for instance, for removing a large amount of moisture added while cooking or other active use.

[richk88]

This is dehumidifier I have, it's small enough when in use I just stick it in a dead corner but it's big enough to be effective.

[ktmrfs]

myredracer wrote:
You would appear to the THE expert on this.

How would the dessicant type dehumidifiers compare to a "real" dehumdifier as far as moisture goes for winter storage? Obviously a TT isn't being used in storage and moisture being created. Ignoring the issue of freezing, would a dehumidifier do a better job? Or are dessicant types better because you use several (one in each room or area)? We used 2 last winter and were surprised to see how full the containers got and was a good thing I checked before they overflowed.

On a somewhat different but related note, how would a person figure out what size or how many dehumidifiers to use in garage workshop at home? Had a hard time finding good info. by googling. Have about 1000 sq. ft. shop that I have lots of valuable tools and vintage car parts in that I don't want to end up with damage from humidity (rust & mildew). Maybe just one or two ordinary 70 pints ones? I guess I'd have to pipe them directly into a drain.

Not sure I'd qualify as an expert, but do have some experience and things I've learned I will pass along. For background, we live in western oregon, so we get lots of winter rain, and often pretty high RH in the winter.

Question 1: I've used the "dry the air" canisters for years during storage. I also store my trailers with the upper vent cracked open. This seems to work reasonably well, good since our storage area doesn't have power. As you've noticed, you just need to check them and refill and empty as needed. I've also noticed that a trailer with a proper cover, (not blue plastic, but a real cover that breathes) seems to help interior humidity and keep the trailer much cooler in the summer, warmer inside in the winter.

you could run a real dehumdifier, but IMHO only if other stuff doesn't work. you'd need a way for it to drain outside, or be emptying it pretty often.

Question 2: I'm sure a lot will depend on your typical RH. personally, I'd try one of the medium sized ones (70 pints maybe) and see how it works. Give it a few days to pull humidity down then see how it does.

hope this helps.

[myredracer]

You would appear to the THE expert on this.

How would the dessicant type dehumidifiers compare to a "real" dehumdifier as far as moisture goes for winter storage? Obviously a TT isn't being used in storage and moisture being created. Ignoring the issue of freezing, would a dehumidifier do a better job? Or are dessicant types better because you use several (one in each room or area)? We used 2 last winter and were surprised to see how full the containers got and was a good thing I checked before they overflowed.

On a somewhat different but related note, how would a person figure out what size or how many dehumidifiers to use in garage workshop at home? Had a hard time finding good info. by googling. Have about 1000 sq. ft. shop that I have lots of valuable tools and vintage car parts in that I don't want to end up with damage from humidity (rust & mildew). Maybe just one or two ordinary 70 pints ones? I guess I'd have to pipe them directly into a drain.

[ktmrfs]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:

colliehauler wrote:

Mikesr wrote:
I've been following this thread and reading about the use of a small dehumidifier. Can anyone recommend one that would store easily in a TT ? Our home dehumidifier is a large 60 pint unit that works well in our basement but I could not imagine lugging that around in a TT.

Read Ktmrfspost. Small units are not very effective in humid conditions. I think they make a 25 pint and a 30 pint that uses a refrigeration unit.

I have been doing research on this issue..

30 pint per day is about the smallest with a compressor... I have found and about 150 in price..

I have a 70 in the basement... big, heavy, noisy....
and a 30 is about 30 pounds.

as this winter will be our first time using the travel trailer in the winter... even in South Carolina.. cool/ heat on...

last month.. in Ohio we fogged up all the windows in our 30 footer... making food for supper... Now we RUN the exhaust fan when cooking.

the 32ish pint is a good size for a trailer. 32 pints=16 quarts=4 gallons. in an area with high outside humidity, it may initally fill the bucket in 8hrs or so, then go 12-24 depending on conditions. and it is small enough to easily move and roll around and store. that is around the size of what we have. IIRC 32 pints is about the smallest compressor driven unit.

BTW there are only 2, maybe 3 mfg of ALL these compressor driven humidifiers, then multiple brands. haier is one of the mfg. the units can be found at lots of big box stores/amazon etc.

BTW when I said "small" I was referring to the units that have maybe 2-8 pint capacity using a thermoelectric element (peltia), no compressor.

we have used ours now for 3 years, and we camp 3 months/year.

you most often need the dehumidifier when outside humidity is high. in that case your near the dew point, add moisture from you, cooking etc and all the sudden inside is near the dew point, drop inside temps and cold windows= condensation.

[Chuck_thehammer]

colliehauler wrote:

Mikesr wrote:
I've been following this thread and reading about the use of a small dehumidifier. Can anyone recommend one that would store easily in a TT ? Our home dehumidifier is a large 60 pint unit that works well in our basement but I could not imagine lugging that around in a TT.

Read Ktmrfspost. Small units are not very effective in humid conditions. I think they make a 25 pint and a 30 pint that uses a refrigeration unit.

I have been doing research on this issue..

30 pint per day is about the smallest with a compressor... I have found and about 150 in price..

I have a 70 in the basement... big, heavy, noisy....
and a 30 is about 30 pounds.

as this winter will be our first time using the travel trailer in the winter... even in South Carolina.. cool/ heat on...

last month.. in Ohio we fogged up all the windows in our 30 footer... making food for supper... Now we RUN the exhaust fan when cooking.

[colliehauler]

Mikesr wrote:
I've been following this thread and reading about the use of a small dehumidifier. Can anyone recommend one that would store easily in a TT ? Our home dehumidifier is a large 60 pint unit that works well in our basement but I could not imagine lugging that around in a TT.

Read Ktmrfspost. Small units are not very effective in humid conditions. I think they make a 25 pint and a 30 pint that uses a refrigeration unit.

[Mikesr]

I've been following this thread and reading about the use of a small dehumidifier. Can anyone recommend one that would store easily in a TT ? Our home dehumidifier is a large 60 pint unit that works well in our basement but I could not imagine lugging that around in a TT.