How to Fight Condensation in Your RV

Camping in the mountains can yield cooler weather.

Most recreational vehicles, or RVs, are meant to be used for shorter periods of time during the warmers months of the year for travelers. However, some people use their RV more often and sometimes will camp in a location where the weather is cold. Because an RV is primarily built for warmer weather, the windows and vents are not meant to keep out the cold. Therefore, condensation has a tendency to build up when you use your RV in the winter months. It is best to reduce the amount of condensation that occurs to preserve your RV from damage.

Things You'll Need

• Heat-shrinking plastic
• Double-sided tape
• Hair dryer
• Electric heater
• Portable dehumidifier
• Polyethylene sheet

Instructions

1. Create an additional layer of protection over the single-paned windows in your RV. Use double-sided tape around the perimeter of each window. Remove the paper from the backside of the tape and secure a piece of heat-shrinking plastic to the tape. Press firmly to ensure a tight seal. Use the hair dryer to shrink the plastic to fit the window with no wrinkles or loose spots in the plastic.

2. Crack the roof vents in your RV while you complete daily tasks that typically create moisture, such as cooking, showering, washing dishes or mopping the floor. Letting fresh air into the RV helps to dissipate the moisture in the air and reduce the condensation.

3. Use electric heaters in your RV in place of the propane heater to reduce the moisture put into the air by burning propane. Electric heaters reduce the amount of propane you use in general, and also reduce the water vapor released into the air.

4. Purchase a portable dehumidifier to use in your RV to help extract excess moisture from the air. A dehumidifier can take up a lot of space in an RV, so if you have a smaller one, it may not be a practical option.

5. Open a window slightly if you do not use plastic over the windows. This allows the moisture-rich air in the RV to exchange with the drier air outside. This is a good option if you have a lot of people in your RV.

6. Avoid overpacking your storage areas, and open cupboards and closets to allow the air to circulate throughout your trailer. This avoids cool spots that can contribute to your condensation problem within the RV.

7. Park your RV on a solid surface, if possible. A solid surface does not hold moisture and will not contribute to the problem. If you must park on grass, dirt or gravel, place a polyethylene sheet beneath your trailer before you park to seal out the excess moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Running your heater at higher temperatures may use more energy, but it keeps the exterior of your RV warmer and keeps the moisture content in the air lower.

References

• Marx RV; Surviving the Winter in Your RV; Mark S. Nemeth; November/December 2001
• Camping World; Condensation; January 2003