Do not use a Dehumidifier in Your Motorhome earlier than you READ THIS!

Questioning if it’s okay to make use of a dehumidifier in your motorhome, caravan or campervan? Frightened about damp, mould, hearth, value or practicalities? After years of expertise, right here’s all the pieces it is advisable to find out about utilizing a dehumidifier whenever you’re not utilizing the van.

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Utilizing a dehumidifier in a motorhome or camper

Look on any discussion board or group, and also you’ll see a dialogue in regards to the practicalities of utilizing a dehumidifier in a camper, motorhome, RV or boat to take away moisture from the air.

Some individuals swear by them, others say they’re a waste of cash. So which is it? When you’re going to depart your motorhome unused for a time period (often over winter), do you have to be utilizing a dehumidifier?

Why Moisture is a Drawback in Motorhomes

Motorhomes are AWFUL for moisture construct up. The confined area and vary of makes use of (kitchens, loos, dwelling areas, and sleeping) create the right atmosphere for moisture to build up.

Simply being in a single for a day causes one thing like a litre of moisture to enter the air. Add to that moist coats, pets, restricted air flow and many sizzling drinks, and you may see the way it rapidly builds up- particularly in Autumn and Winter.

Left unchecked, all this moisture can result in a bunch of points that have an effect on each your consolation and the longevity of your motorhome, together with:

Condensation Buildup: Persistent condensation can result in water pooling on surfaces like window ledges, which can seep into the construction of the motorhome (particularly unhealthy you probably have any wooden within the base construction.)
Mould and Mildew: Excessive humidity ranges create an excellent breeding floor for mould and mildew, which cannot solely harm your motorhome’s inside but additionally pose well being dangers, significantly for these with allergy symptoms or respiratory circumstances.
Damp Smells: A musty odour is usually one of many first indicators of moisture issues, attributable to damp materials, carpets, or hidden mould progress.
Harm to Fixtures and Fittings: Over time, moisture can warp picket fittings, corrode metallic fixtures, and harm upholstery or insulation.
Everlasting Harm: Extra moisture can considerably cut back the lifespan of your van’s inside and result in expensive repairs. For full-time vanlifers or these touring in cooler seasons, addressing moisture is essential to make sure a dry, wholesome dwelling atmosphere.

Dehumidifier in a motorhome, caravan, campervan and RV

Find out how to monitor the humidity ranges in your camper

In case you are uncertain of the humidity degree in your van and don’t have an inbuilt monitoring system, you can add one in all these humidity screens to your motorhome or campervan:

When you’re leaving the van in storage for winter and aren’t there on a regular basis, you’ll in all probability desire one thing just like the final one, which has an app and alerts for monitoring the automobile whenever you’re not there.

The Issues with Dehumidifiers

So, we all know we don’t need a whole lot of moisture within the automobile. Certainly a dehumidifier is the right solution- sure?

Nicely… perhaps. But it surely’s not that straight ahead.

Dehumidifiers work by eradicating moisture (humidity) from the air, stopping that moist air resulting in issues like mould and condensation in your motorhome.

They work to take away any extra moisture till it’s in an optimum vary (often 40-60% humidity).

The difficulty is, most motorhomes and campers aren’t absolutely sealed. They’ve (intentionally) air holes to permit gasoline to flee. There are additionally usually tiny gaps round door frames and window frames (intentionally or attributable to many miles of driving over bumpy roads!)

All of which means- the dehumidifier isn’t glad. As extra (damp) air enters the van, it retains working and dealing… and dealing.

This could result in issues resembling massive electrical drain, burnout and, in essentially the most excessive circumstances, hearth.

However that doesn’t imply they’re not worthwhile. In truth, there are some I extremely advocate. Learn on…

Fulltime Vanlife vs Storage

Many individuals who reside full-time of their motorhome or camper don’t have any want of a powered dehumidifer, as they’re always within the automobile to provide air flow and heating. For that purpose, if you happen to’re in your van quite a bit all year long, I like to recommend one thing like these Moisture Absorbers – a pal of mine who lives full-time in her van swears by these.

HOWEVER… if you happen to’re winterising your motorhome (placing it away for the winter), it is advisable to do one in all these three issues:

Dehumidifiers Vs Heaters Vs Air flow

As talked about above, there are a few different methods to cope with the winter damp and chilly. Heating and Air flow.

A dehumidifier actively removes moisture from the air, tackling condensation and lowering the danger of dampness and mildew. Nonetheless, it doesn’t tackle the basis reason behind moisture. It would heat the air barely, however not sufficient for chilly air to develop into heat.

Heating raises the temperature contained in the motorhome, which might help cut back condensation by warming chilly surfaces, however by itself, it doesn’t take away humidity from the air.

Air flow permits moist air to flee and recent air to flow into, stopping humidity from build up within the first place. Whereas air flow is important for lowering total moisture ranges, it may be much less efficient in chilly or wet climate when retaining home windows or vents open isn’t sensible.

The best choice is to mix these strategies. which is simply one of many causes you must verify in your automobile frequently and keep it whenever you’re not utilizing it.

How Do Motorhome Dehumidifiers Work?

For the aim of motorhome, caravans and campers – there are two forms of dehumidifiers that we’ll take a look at:

Compressor Dehumidifiers
Desiccant Dehumidifiers (I’ve additionally added in transportable dehumidifiers, as they work the identical manner for our functions)

Compressor Dehumidifiers

Compressor or Refrigerant dehumidifiers work by drawing in moist air utilizing a fan. This air then comes into contact with cooled coils, the water within the air condenses and drops down right into a water reservoir, whereas the (now dry) air passes via the nice and cozy coils and heats again up, earlier than being launched again into the encompassing atmosphere.

As a result of these use cooling and heating strategies, these dehumidifiers often require mains energy to work. In addition they require you to empty the water tank frequently or they cease working.

I’ve used a compressor dehumidifer for years in my lavatory and it’s good (particularly for loos with out home windows). It’s additionally nice for motorhomes that are stored someplace with a mains energy supply and will be monitored (like on a driveway)

How They Work: These use a compressor and refrigerant to chill a coil, inflicting moisture within the air to condense.
Finest For: Heat or reasonably cool environments.
Benefits: Vitality-efficient and highly effective in greater temperatures.
Drawbacks: Much less efficient in colder circumstances, as they depend on heat air to operate effectively. Want mains energy. Have to be emptied frequently. Shouldn’t be left on for hours unattended.

Desiccant Dehumidifiers & Transportable Dehumidifiers

Desiccant fashions work utilizing water-absorbing materials to gather moisture. They often encompass absorbent supplies like gels, silica beads, or salts. Humid air is drawn over the fabric and because the air cools moisture is collected.

As soon as the absorbent materials is full you have to to both change or recharge the pouches or change the complete dehumidifier system.

As a result of these dehumidifiers use a fabric already in place, they usually don’t want any energy supply in any respect. These are good for motorhomes or caravans that are in storage over winter. The powered variations are higher in bigger areas, however are sometimes noisy.

How They Work: These use a chemical desiccant to soak up moisture from the air.
Finest For: Chilly climates, off-grid or winter motorhoming, small areas like wardrobes
Benefits: Operates effectively in low temperatures, quieter than compressors. Most don’t require energy
Drawbacks: Powered variations use extra power in comparison with compressor fashions. Want altering frequently to be efficient. Not good for giant areas.

Which Dehumidifier to decide on?

So, which sort is finest if you happen to’re not utilizing your automobile all through winter? Listed below are some questions that can assist you select:

Do you retailer your automobile at dwelling or very close to by so you possibly can verify it every day/ frequently?
Do you may have 230v energy whereas your van is in storage or on the driveway?
Will you have the ability to get to the van to empty a full container?

If the solutions to those are all sure, then I like to recommend a compressor dehumidifier alternated with a heater like an oil-filled radiator. Go away the heater on, and a couple of times per week, run the dehumidifier.

If the solutions to at least one or all are not any, go for a number of non-powered dessicant dehumidifiers. Ideally, go to the automobile a minimum of as soon as per week to place the heating on, air it out and forestall massive ranges of moisture build up. (The humidity monitor can actually assist together with your peace of thoughts.)

Last Ideas

A dehumidifier could be a beneficial instrument in managing moisture in your camper. Nonetheless, it’s not a standalone resolution. Combining a dehumidifier with correct air flow and heating ensures one of the best outcomes for retaining moisture below management.

When you’re nonetheless uncertain, begin by monitoring your motorhome’s humidity ranges with a hygrometer and assessing the moisture points you face. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll discover the right steadiness to maintain your motorhome dry and cosy on each journey. Tell us within the feedback the way you handle moisture in your motorhome—your suggestions might assist others!