Community Forums

wagonmaster2 · 10-18-2008, 02:24 PM

Has anyone figured out a way to keep the condensation off the shower dome from staining the ceiling material during cold weather camping (18-34 nightime temperatures)? I tried rolling up a bath towel and laying it along the top edge of the shower stall against the outside wall, which helped a little keeping condensation off the wall paper and bleeding up onto the ceiling but still didn't stop condensation off the dome. About every 3-4 weeks I have out the Woolite Oxy Deep carpet cleaner and go at it. So far the stains are coming out but wonder how long before they set in too deep. As as been stated, Winnebago really dropped the ball by not insulting where the roof meets the walls.
Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

wagonmaster2 · 10-18-2008, 02:24 PM

Has anyone figured out a way to keep the condensation off the shower dome from staining the ceiling material during cold weather camping (18-34 nightime temperatures)? I tried rolling up a bath towel and laying it along the top edge of the shower stall against the outside wall, which helped a little keeping condensation off the wall paper and bleeding up onto the ceiling but still didn't stop condensation off the dome. About every 3-4 weeks I have out the Woolite Oxy Deep carpet cleaner and go at it. So far the stains are coming out but wonder how long before they set in too deep. As as been stated, Winnebago really dropped the ball by not insulting where the roof meets the walls.
Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

jimandsue60 · 10-18-2008, 02:36 PM

You have to keep a roof vent open to prevent long term condensation problems. Even when it is cold outside a vent or two must be open when showering or boiling water. The human body adds a huge amount of moisture to an enclosed motorhome. Anytime we shower the bathroom vent is opened or opened with the fan running.

Jim

NeilV · 10-18-2008, 03:03 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jimandsue60:
You have to keep a roof vent open to prevent long term condensation problems. Even when it is cold outside a vent or two must be open when showering or boiling water. The human body adds a huge amount of moisture to an enclosed motorhome. Anytime we shower the bathroom vent is opened or opened with the fan running.

Jim </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just got back from the Mountains of Northern New Hampshire and had no condensation in the bathroom despite the sub freezing temps at night as the bathroom vent was opened and the fan running during showers and for 15 minutes after the last one. That was with three women showering daily. The

GG1 · 10-18-2008, 05:04 PM

Always use the exhaust fan when showering and when cooking, keep both roof vents open slightly other times. Also keep a dehumidifier running. One more important item, in November head south!!

wagonmaster2 · 10-18-2008, 07:15 PM

Forgot to mention, we are running a 24 pint capacity dehumidifier at all times except actually during a shower. It would be nice if there was a roof vent to open in the bath area. There is one in the kitchen area and one in the enclosed toilet room but none in the shower/vanity area. Wish there was. Have tried opening one of them but doesn't seem to have that much affect. The dehumidifier (which this is the first trip to have it) removes a tremendous amount of water, more than I would have even imagined, and has helped some. I have 2 humidity gauges in the coach, which usually show between 30% & 50% but guess I need to get it down below 30%. Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the one to head south but do enjoy sleeping under 2 blanket with the electric blanket turned on. Can really hibernate for a few hours.
Wagonmaster2

NeilV · 10-19-2008, 03:11 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wagonmaster2:
Forgot to mention, we are running a 24 pint capacity dehumidifier at all times except actually during a shower. It would be nice if there was a roof vent to open in the bath area. There is one in the kitchen area and one in the enclosed toilet room but none in the shower/vanity area. Wish there was. Have tried opening one of them but doesn't seem to have that much affect. The dehumidifier (which this is the first trip to have it) removes a tremendous amount of water, more than I would have even imagined, and has helped some. I have 2 humidity gauges in the coach, which usually show between 30% & 50% but guess I need to get it down below 30%. Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the one to head south but do enjoy sleeping under 2 blanket with the electric blanket turned on. Can really hibernate for a few hours.
Wagonmaster2 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Below 50% humidity is kinda dry and not very kind to your sinises. If you are having problems at that low (30%) a level of humidity then start looking at taking a bit cooler/shorter showers and examine the sealant around the skylight as you may have a leak.

Have you tried leaving the toilet room door fully open and the vent fan on high while showering? You may need to crack a window open in the bedroom to encourage airflow also.

Do you have a washer/dryer? If it is not vented then the toilet room vent should be left running and the toilet room window opened a crack when you are drying the bath towels actually any tme a non-vented washer/dryer is in use.

Wet bath towels left to air dry in the shower area could also contribute to the problem.

Is there a way to latch your shower stall door open while it dries out? If left closed it would only make it take longer to dry things out. A small fan on the end of the vanity across from the shower may help speed this up.

Just some random thoughts, let us know how you make out.

MrMudstud · 10-19-2008, 12:54 PM

Fresh Air, Fresh Air, Fresh Air is the ONLY answer. Now, I have your attention, this is what I do---and it works for me.

1. When a shower is being used, open BOTH vents with the one in the toilet area running blowing out and the other one JUST open for an inlet air supply.

2. Let it run for 30 minutes AFTER the showers are finished to remove ALL the moist air in the coach.

3. When the last person is finished, upon getting out or before you get out, use your wash cloth or small rag and wipe down ALL the shower and keep wring out the water in the drain until all the walls and tub are dry. DO NOT use a towel to wipe it dry as ALL you doing is removing the moister and soaking it up in the towel. The moisture is still in the coach and the idea is to remove it to the drain.

What I do, is let DW go first and I follow up and after showering wipe the complete shower down before I get out and wring all the water down the drain. Since I started doing that we NEVER had moisture inside of the coach. We live in Louisiana, and the humidity is 70-90 % most of the year. Works for me........

wagonmaster2 · 10-19-2008, 08:06 PM

Completely sealed around the shower dome several years ago when I first noticed this problem thinking that must be the problem. But the moisture is still there even if it hasn't rained in weeks, and the upper edge of the wall between the shower stall and the bedroom sliding door has a slight wet feel after 2 showers also. Have done all suggestions above except running the toilet ceiling fan while showering (tried it a couple time but with outside temps in the lower 30's it makes for a chilly draft on a wet body) but will give it another try.
Wagonmaster2

TXiceman · 10-20-2008, 04:20 AM

What we do to help the moisture problem in cold weather is to just open the vent about 3" while showering...no fan and crack open the bathroom window. As soon as the shower is off, we run the vent fan for a minute of two. This keeps the moisture pretty well under control and not get so cold.

In the kitchen area, we will crack open a window nearby and crack the roof vent in the same area and run the vent fan as required.

The human body expels a lot of moisture every day. So we usually will leave the bed room vent cracked open a small amount (about 1/2") at night to keep the moisture down. Luckily, the warm moist air will naturally rise and heads for the vents.

We have stayed in our trailers as low as 17dF and no real problems.

Ken

John Hilley · 10-20-2008, 04:52 AM

To get rid of all the water on the shower walls and door or curtain, a small squeegee works well. Walls dry almost as fast as they are squeegeed. I got mine at Target. about 6" wide.

FrontRangeRVer · 10-20-2008, 06:00 AM

MrMudStud nailed it...you need to completely dry out the shower and dome when you are finished and RUN your fans.

You are absolutely right about Winnebago dropping the ball with the uninsulated wall to roof mounting along the sides. I wouldn't have bought mine if I knew they were so under-insulated.

Lil'Darlin1972 · 10-21-2008, 12:18 PM

<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">I remember the first time we camped in our new motorhome...it was in Febuary going from Michigan to Missouri. After our showers I noticed the bathroom walls were wet....not just a little damp...but actually wet. I thought I just needed to use the bathroom fan longer.

But then I noticed the exterior bedroom wall was wet....and up near the ceiling above the dinette. I was sure we had made a HUGE mistake and our motorhome was leaking or something !!

I came to this site and sure enough, got my answer from the always helpful people here. Once I understood I needed to leave the vent open all the time and run the fan whenever we showered/cooked we didn't have any more problems.

What a relief !!</span>

wagonmaster2 · 10-21-2008, 06:05 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. Have started leaving a vent cracked and the bathroom vent fan running while we both shower, and running the dehumidifier all night. Will see how this works. Moisture not as bad but where the bathroom wall meets the ceiling just back of the shower stall is still wet after the showers.
Wagonmaster2