Condensation Management in Cold Weather

[ZachO]

Yeah, it's a common word in my current work and circle. If you like riparian, try thalweg!! Actually most work we're doing lately is in mesic areas. But there are lots of riparian projects, too.

Yep, that was the house. Coming off a dry summer where I was working out in a LOT of juniper pollen, pine pollen, and paint blowing back into my face from marking trees for a timber sale, then that house seemed to have something going on that really irritated my sinuses.

Then we had a July and August of really bad smoke this summer. It's been rough on sinuses!

So maybe a very humid trailer with condensation issues is exactly what I need...

I like the blower on my furnace, but I know a lot of people like going with the Mr. Buddy or similar heaters.

[Jon in AZ]

Wave, Mr. Buddy, and other unvented heaters are bad for condensation, since water vapor and carbon dioxide are the primary byproducts of combustion. That's why I asked. They have their place, but in your situation you're better off sticking with the vented furnace, which sends the water vapor and carbon dioxide outside.

At 20 degrees outside, your options are limited. Definitely limit activities that add moisture- run exhaust fans when showering and cooking and keep it short. Open windows when daytime temperatures permit. Cover them at night. Experiment with chemical or mechanical dehumidification. The chemical products are really intended for trailers in storage, so they may not keep up with water vapor constantly being added through normal human activity. You're pushing the envelope on a 3-season trailer! Let us know how it works.

Where are you getting condensation, by the way?

[Kai in Seattle]

"If you like riparian, try thalweg!! Actually most work we're doing lately is in mesic areas. But there are lots of riparian projects, too."

All good words, thanks!

Sounds like you have a fascinating occupation...and physically demanding.

Have you considered putting up some kind of towels at night, on hooks or rods or hangers to absorb some of the moisture? At least overhead, so it doesn't drip on you?

[k0wtz]

I bet he is the guy who can make all those rock walls look so nice and straight! I can see with my back doing that stuff well that's my excuse today!

bob

[ZachO]

It was someone else who had issues with it actually dripping. Mine hasn't been that bad, yet.

The nice thing about my current job is that I'm not the construction crew. We're doing restoration work, but right now we're just working on small projects to learn a new method, so we can lead work crews in the coming field seasons. We aren't really about "production"...we're just getting out and getting some experience, and having fun.

[Kai in Seattle]

Our amerigo doesn't have observable condensation except on the windows, which is heavy. We have 2-layer fleece curtains that stay dry on our side...and dry fast later; and our Putin door is a beach towel, as are the privacy curtains to separate one bed area from the other. So there's a place for a lot of air moisture to go.

Glad you're not getting dripped on.

You do have an interesting job.