Excessive moisture inside a camper will condensate and cause odor, mold and mildew problems. Such condensation can produce amounts of water sufficient to pool inside ceilings and cause the panels to sag, or run down walls and collect at the bottom of insulation cavities causing rot. The issues of moisture created by occupation of a camper are different to moisture problems experienced in an unused camper while it is in storage. The different dehumidification requirements are addressed with different resolutions, including the use of moisture-absorbing material and the use of dehumidification devices.
Instructions
1. Minimize airborne moisture while in the camper. Airborne moisture is primarily created by showering and cooking, so opening roof vents and running exhaust fans in bathrooms and in stove hoods above cookers will create an immediate and very effective reduction of moisture levels. The operation of air conditioner units also dehumidifies, as well as cooling the air.
2. Take action to reduce moisture before storing your camper. Even if you store your camper beneath a cover, moisture can creep in and be trapped. The cover will stifle natural air movement, although the installation of a fan increases circulation efficiency. Running a fan or a heat source such as a small space heater or a heat bulb is both energy inefficient and dangerous and redistributes moisture rather than permanently removing it from the atmosphere.
3. Open a container of moisture absorbent, which is usually sold in a bucket or tub. Set the open container in the camper at a location midway between the front and the back, half way between the floor and the ceiling. Moisture absorbents are typically made from calcium chloride, familiar as the chemical which melts ice from sidewalks and driveways.
4. Open a container of silica gel, which is usually sold in a tray or shallow drawer. Set the open container in the camper at a location midway between the front and the back, half way between the floor and the ceiling. Silica gel is familiar as the content of small pouches in boxed new products, which are used to control dampness inside the boxes.
5. Decide which size of dehumidifier will be most effective in your RV. The size of the unit will be determined by the amount of moisture you wish to control and the space you have available. Larger units by definition take up more space, and space is a priority in an RV, but smaller units dehumidify at a slower rate and must be emptied more frequently.
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