Community Forums

Dennis58 · 12-09-2020, 03:52 AM

I was over in another thread talking about Airstreams and this topic came up. I have also read on here that using a buddy heater causes large amounts of condensation.

In the basic terms condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface (or cold air). This leads to wet windows, moist walls, damp beds Etc.

One RV'er said no problem just get a dehumidifier, ok but isn't that just one more thing to drag around and power up. Not a sound solution for boondocking.

Anyway, I don't winter camp (yet) but am intrigued about this subject and how those that have experienced this deal with it.

TonyMac · 12-09-2020, 09:00 AM

Just crack a vent. Let some outside air in and inside air out. The amount of moisture the air can hold decreases with decreasing air temperature. Warm inside air is capable of holding a lot of moisture from cooking, cleaning and even breathing. Condensation occurs when the moisture laden inside air comes in contact with the window cooled by outside air. One can alleviate this by removing some of this moisture. A dehumidifier can work, but so can a cracked roof vent. Both will consume energy, your choice which to use. As you say, the dehumidifier is another item competing for limited storage and floor space.

UTTransplant · 12-09-2020, 09:50 AM

Yup, open a vent a bit. We leave the bathroom vent open after a shower, and we leave the kitchen vent open after activities like boiling water for pasta. You will learn your own needs. BTW, in the southwestern desert we end up running a humidifier in the winter, not a dehumidifier.

95f5334j · 12-09-2020, 10:41 AM

We winter camp frequently, in fact, we're at a spot in the Cascades foothills near a ski area now so we can go snow shoeing. We sometimes use a small plug in dehumidifier or two small 12v fans and always leave the kitchen and bedroom windows open just slightly as well as the kitchen and bathroom vents. All this creates a cross breeze to circulate the air inside the coach. You'll never be 100% condensation free but this certainly helps to minimise the effect.

wildtoad · 12-09-2020, 11:37 AM

One thing we like about our heat pump is that it solves the condensation problem for us as it removes the moisture. Of course when it’s too cold to be used it’s a problem.

grindstone01 · 12-09-2020, 11:49 AM

We full time all over the US, so our solution is to just carry a small dehumidifier with us. It sits between our 2 rear captain chairs behind the end table under the rear window.

Jkwilson1989 · 12-09-2020, 01:24 PM

Anytime combustion of a hydrocarbon occurs, water is generated. Propane produces about a gallon of water for every gallon burned. When running your furnace, the propane combustion products are exhausted outside, but when you burn a portable heater the water goes inside.

The inside of an RV in cold weather is usually already wet from cooking, breathing and other water use without adding the extra from a heater, so when running a heater moisture can become a big problem.

Opening a vent won’t cut it because it just makes you use more heat. A dehumidifier is the answer

twogypsies · 12-09-2020, 02:12 PM

Bath vent and cracking the bedroom and kitchen windows slightly solves the problem when using a propane heater. Did for us, anyway. Love the heater vs. a propane furnace!

Charles L · 12-09-2020, 03:29 PM

I use a small ceramic heater on low with a dehumidifier in the colder months. The vents are closed. I have not noticed any problems yet. This is when I am not using the rv and it is sitting in my driveway.