Forum Discussion

alanaks's avatar
alanaks
Explorer
Dec 18, 2015

Window "leak" + Oregon storms = wet bed

My beautiful Scotsman is 49 years old and still has the original windows. The larger window near my bed leaked pretty badly, so after several failed attempts at finding the source of the leak and modestly patching it with waterproofing tape (and a little bit of rubber caulk), I finally dispatched the rest of the roll on the outside perimeter of the window to a decent amount of success. However, Oregon has been undergoing a lot of unusually heavy rains recently and I've now noticed that all of the windows in the trailer, to some degree or another, are displaying intense condensation along the inside rims of each window. This includes the window that I patched externally (which is a single pane of glass), as well as all the others (which include another large single-paned window and a number of smaller louver-styled windows).

I considered that it may be condensation from heat inside, but it seemed strange to me that it was concentrated to the edges/rims of the windows, and not the glass itself.

I'm pretty sure that this is simply a case of "really old windows must be taken out and have caulking re-done", but I want to make sure before I go through such drastic measures. If that's the case, I'm going to just have to find an extra large tarp to drape over my entire trailer in the meantime while these winter storms keep coming, because this will certainly be a dry-weather project. Thanks for any advice you have to offer!
  • alanaks's avatar
    alanaks
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2015
    Thanks so much for all your kind words and advice! I think the course of action for me is a de-humidifier. The rain is letting up, thankfully, but the temps are going down. :) here's to staying warm and dry
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2015
    Being a fellow western oregonian, I sympathize with you for our current weather!! And I've also delt with condensation. First, the aluminum window frame will cool faster than glass and hence pick up condensation before the glass. So you may or may not have a leak. However, here is what I would do that will help find out.

    Go to BiMart, Freddy's, etc. and pick up a small portable dehumidifier, something that will hold 30 pints or so. Will cost around $100. plug it in and run if for a few days. More than likely you will completely fill the 3 gallon tank within 8-12 hours, then fill it again in less than 24 hours. Once humidity is down to a reasonable level, see what you get on the windows,

    And then keep the humidifier around for those fall/winter camping trips to the coast in the rain. works wonders.

    Ventelation alone is a marginal solution now. RH is near 100% outside, outside temps are reasonably high, so you are near the dew point even inside unless the inside temps are in the mid 70's includingthe temp on the window or frame surface. Hard to do.
  • Fishinghat's avatar
    Fishinghat
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2015
    Aluminum will conduct heat much more efficiently then glass, so that's why the window frames have condensation and not the glass.

    A dehumidifier would be the obvious solution. If you lower the amount of moisture in the air inside your RV, you'll have less condensation.

    An alternate solution would be to improve ventilation by opening a roof vent, but this would cause some heat loss. Because of the high humidity already, ventilation alone may not be sufficient to solve all of your condensation problems.

    Finally, replacing the windows with double pane (insulated) windows would normally not be cost effective due to the age of your rig and the cost of having the windows replaced. However, that would be one potential solution.

    Good luck and stay dry.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2015
    Almost certainly you need a dehumidifier. That will answer your question about condensation.
  • Murphsmom's avatar
    Murphsmom
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    We had that experience of waking up to a wet bed under a front window after a particularly hard rainstorm. Unfortunately, we ended up finding that it had been an undetected ongoing problem in our 15 year old travel trailer. The floor below the window was starting to rot by the time we found it. We, too, thought it was condensation until we got under the bed and checked it out. Apparently it was a leak that was going down the inside i the wall, and it took that hard storm to bring it all the way through.

    I don't want to be a Gloomy Gus, but you might want to check to make sure you don't have the same problem.
  • RVcircus's avatar
    RVcircus
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2015
    If you suspect a window leak and have already done some patch fixes there I'd pull the window and reseal it. One window takes < 1hr. I'm actually working on a short how to video for resealing windows that I'll be posting on Tuesday.
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    Condensation on windows is common - also note that your metal windows frames get very cold which is why condensation tens to accumulate their. Providing some ventilation will help with condensation - a dehumidifier will help as well.

    Removing and replacing the original caulk isn't very hard - should be lots of posts on the subject. Won't help with the condensation but will eliminate the leaks.
  • alanaks's avatar
    alanaks
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    Thanks, Kathy. I just amended my post to say that I considered condensation, but thought it was strange that it was forming only on the aluminum rim/edges, and not really on the glass itself. Any thoughts?

    As for ventilation, good idea either way, all I have right now is a little 4X3-ish vent above the range, but that's not much circulation. I just weather-sealed all of my windows on the inside, so I could also just remove the plastic from one window and leave it a little cracked. I'm just worried about how difficult it will be to keep the trailer heated, though it would be better to have it a little cooler than warm and wet.
  • louiskathy's avatar
    louiskathy
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    Condensation on the interior of glass windows is very common in the winter in the NW if you are not vented properly.

    You need to crack a window open just a tad (or better, if you have a vent protected by a hood so the wind don't rip it off, open the vent - put the fan on from time to time during the day.)
    and
    you need to keep an interior fan circulating the air past the windows...

    This can be an air purifier.... which I highly recommend you have and run 24/7.

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