De-Humidifier CAUTION

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Mitzi Agnew-Giles

Sophapkin, it's great you don't have humidity problems in your Scamp. I have them big-time in everything, and if the air temperature is balmy enough to do without a/c the very clothes in my closet in my house start to mildew, to say nothing about the rugs. And if I don't blow dry my hair that starts to mildew also.
It's nice that such a simple solution works for you. It didn't work for me in the past. The towel I had left in the Snoozy cabinet soaked up the humidity and may have damaged the cabinet it was in.
I use 3 of the "pots" of damprid-one in the fridge and 1 on a cabinet counter and 1 on the floor
YMMV.

My in laws were stationed in Florida for training during WW2
My mother in law said it was one of the worst times in her life
partially because of the war and partially because the climate.
She said they would set their shoes out at night and by morning they had mildewed. When they returned to Minnesota she said she had to wash their clothes and towels 3 or 4 times and hang them outside to get rid of the mildew smell.
They left Florida in 1944 and refused to ever go back.
Pretending that Florida does not have problems related to heat and humidity is like me pretending that living in Minnesota we have no problems with cold and snow.

[Donna D.]

There's many methods to accomplish the same thing. It just depends on where the trailer is stored and the weather. Some can open windows, others use a dehumider that requires electricity and still others use a passive system like Damp Rid or Dri-Z-Air.

But everyone needs to figure it out. When you come back from camping, all the fabrics and cushions contain moisture. You don't want these items to mold... cushions mold in the foam where you can't see it and by time you smell it, it's too late.

[Al and Cindy K]

Our boat which was docked year round at a coastal NC marina had major fungus and mold problems until we added a powered dehumidifier. Sold the boat, bought the Scamp and transferred the drier. No moisture problems in the camper.

https://www.amazon.com/DryWave-Preve...t+dehumidifier

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

There's many methods to accomplish the same thing. It just depends on where the trailer is stored and the weather. Some can open windows, others use a dehumider that requires electricity and still others use a passive system like Damp Rid or Dri-Z-Air.

But everyone needs to figure it out. When you come back from camping, all the fabrics and cushions contain moisture. You don't want these items to mold... cushions mold in the foam where you can't see it and by time you smell it, it's too late.

And some just head for the desert for the winter. Quartzsite is warm & dry!

[Darral T.]

I live in Tennessee where it's hot/humid in the summer. Fairly cold winter spells- single digits rarely but has happened. I keep the windows and Fantastic vent opened slightly 24/7 and for 7-1/2 years, NEVER had a mold/mildew problem.

[padlin00]

I don't understand the open window thing.

If I close up the trailer, run the electric dehumidifier till it stops collecting anything, the air is dry, and it seems to stay dry. If I leave the windows and or vent open a bit the camper should come up to whatever the outside humidity is.

The only time I had mildew grow was when I left the vent and 1 or 2 windows part way open.

I tried Damp Rid in the tub. Dropped down below freezing for the winter and the crystal stuff froze solid and stayed that way till spring. Can't imagine it does much frozen, it certainly didn't fill the tub with water, frozen or not.

[Darral T.]

[QUOTE=padlin00;673901]I don't understand the open window thing.

All I can tell you it works for me. The "theory" is, the RV changes conditions with the weather. If it's real cold at night then warms up in the day time and the RV is shut up tight and cant "breathe", then you're going to have condensation and THAT'S where the mildew and mold can start.

I keep my Scamp under its own carport thus preventing it from heating up in the sun during the winter (AND summer) as much so the temps inside wont fluctuate as bad.

I dont go in my Scamp during the winter and see condensation on the windows. Of course if I turn on some heavy heat, YES. But I still leave the windows and vent cracked open...even with heat. (But it's rare- I do not camp in the winter). Anyway, with the windows and vents open, my Scamp is continually "breathing".

SO, you'll have to go to Brother Google and see if he can explain it better. But that's my story and I'm a stickin to it.

[patf]

Just from condensation, my Scamp was getting musty inside, with a bit of mold appearing on the interior doors - hard to ventilate 'cause it's parked outdoors in the rain.
This little powered dehumidifier does a good job for me, get a cup or so of water to dump out every couple of days. 40 bucks on amazon.
Ivation ERSDM18 Mini Dehumidifier

[TheWanderers]

We use DampRid regularly. We have seen the creeping effects of mold and how pervasive it can be as it crawls around behind cushions and throughout storage areas that don't have adequate air movement to allow proper drying.


We've never had one leak, yet. With the new-to-us camper, we hand it in the shower stall and leave the bathroom door open. We have used the DampRid cups in our basement and they work well there also; just be careful when checking/dumping because they work well and you'll get a cup of moisture slopped all over yourself if'n you're not careful.

We just prefer to use caution and deploy tools like DampRid to ensure success.


bill(not laura)