Hi, We’re the McCartys, and we live full-time in our RV. We understand firsthand just how important it is to keep the amount of moisture in your RV under control. Not only can excess moisture lead to water damage, mold growth, mildew growth, and musty odor inside of your RV, but it can also cause structural damage to your RV. That’s why we decided to write this blog post, and we wanted to share with every RV owner the easy ways to control moisture in your RV or travel trailer.
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Understand the Sources of Moisture
If your goal is to keep moisture under control, then the first step is to fully understand where the source of it is coming from. Common sources of moisture in an RV include cooking and heating with propane, hot showers, laundry, breathing, and even the surrounding environment like being in a humid climate. Being aware of these sources will help you make choices that will keep your humidity levels and moisture at bay, helping you avoid any serious problems. Like cooking outside when able, showering with a roof vent open and fan on, choosing electric sources of heat over propane when able, and adding extra insulation if RVing in cold weather.
Ventilate Your RV
Proper ventilation is key to reducing moisture levels. It’s a good idea to make sure that your RV has sufficient air flow by using roof vents, opening your RV windows and doors when possible, and utilizing vent fans while cooking or showering. This will help to expel the moist air and bring in fresh outside air. You can also run a small fan when showering to help push the humid air out.
Use Moisture Absorbers
Another handy tool for keeping moisture under control is to use moisture-absorbing products like Damp Rid or other related products. These can take the form of containers or bags filled with desiccants that absorb moisture from the air. You can place them in your RV’s closets with these hanging moisture absorbers, in cabinets with these containers, or in other areas where moisture tends to accumulate. Your health tip of the day is to purchase the unscented ones. As we know, anything with fragrance on it is not the best for our bodies.
Utilize a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is the most effective way to control moisture in an RV. These handy devices draw so much moisture out of the air and trap it in a collection container. They’re beneficial in humid climates or during rainy seasons when moisture levels are high. We have found them so helpful we have two running. One is in the master near the large slanted window, and the other is in the main living room by the kids’ sleeping spaces. This small dehumidifier is the one we purchased and love it. It’s the best RV dehumidifier we’ve used and works so well at capturing that water vapor!
Keep Surfaces Dry
Moisture tends to build up in various locations. For us, it always seems to be on windows, by the beds and cold surfaces. We do our best to ensure they are wiped down often and have even stored a towel in our slanted front window to collect the water droplets that gather here.
Insulate and Seal
It’s important to always check the insulation and seals in your living space. Still, we find it helpful to be aware of any gaps or cracks that could allow moisture to seep in. While RVing in the winter months, we have found that adding extra insulation to areas like the closets, behind drawers, and in the back of cabinets has helped reduce moisture and condensation build-up. We’ve also found that the single-pane windows in our RV tend to have a lot of humid areas, and a great way to prevent moisture buildup is to add extra insulation to the windows. We used the shrink wrap window insulation which allowed us to keep as much natural light a possible.
We hope you have found these tips helpful and now understand the sources of moisture and the best way to combat it. Remember, a little extra care to keep moisture under control goes a long way in ensuring a pleasant and hassle-free journey while allowing you to avoid costly repairs from condensation problems. Safe travels, my friends!