Leaks

[Julie N]

We opened our trailer (Scamp 13)yesterday after having it covered all winter. Everything to the left of the door was wetding, additional mattress, cushions which firm the mattress base, the doors to the benches below the cushions. There is no apparent area where it leaked-no stains on the rat fur, the ceiling area or the side walls. It was covered all winter. My husband checked around the vent and AC but no obvious leaks.
Any ideas??

[Lisa in Michigan]

How old is your trailer?
Had you leaked tested it by spraying it with a garden hose to try leaks before storing it?
What did you cover it with?
What state do you store it in? (AZ problems vs FL problems vs MI problems might be quite different)
Were all the windows and roof vent(s) closed tightly or did you leave some cracked open for ventilation?
Do you use a heater or dehumidifier or damp rid?
Do you think amount and location of the water might be condensation or are you sure it is a leak?

If it is a leak, good luck! They can be interesting to track down.

[floyd]

temperature differential condensation

[Fred762]

Think large tubs of DampRid next time.

[steve dunham]

Did you leave the windows and roof vent open slightly to allow for ventilation ?
Did you cover / tarp the trailer clear to the ground ?
I think Floyd is on the right track !!

[Casita Greg]

Have you checked your plumbing and water lines real good for leaks, cracks, loose fittings and connections? Did you "winterize" the trailer before you stored it? It may just be possible that something could have frozen and burst, and then may have leaked when it thawed out. Just something else to check and consider, since there doesn't seem to be any signs of wetness up above.

[Radar1]

Was it vented? If not, I agree with Floyd, it was probably condensation that built up from the difference in temperatures between outside and inside while sitting for a long time. (I can't believe I used more words than Floyd to describe that!) We keep our fan vent open and bathroom window open year round when parked.

[RogerDat]

Use a hose to check for leaks, if none are found then I think it would be safe to assume condensation.

I ran a dehumidifier in mine one year with the hose running out under the door. Even a small leak can accumulate a pretty large amount of water in a fairly sealed camper.

Behind the rat fur is bubble insulation that can provide a path for water to migrate down without the rat for over it showing signs. All water follows gravity to the lowest point. Then can migrate along the bottom edges of wall, cabinet and seat to a location a fair distance from where it came in.

[Doctor Harold]

Originally Posted by Fred762

Think large tubs of DampRid next time.

DampRid will saturate with water, and if it isn't drained it will cause more problems than it will solve.

Also: NEVER ever use DampRid in a gun safe.

Don't ask me how I know.

Harold

[Kai in Seattle]

We lost a mattress and other things to condensation while running a small heater on low the first year we had a Get-Away Van that we left sit over the winter...it wasn't even tarped. But it was all tightly closed. Whole mattress was damp and moldy. Awful!


With Peanut, we've always used Damp-Rid but YES, you have to check it at least every month and drain the container, adding new crystals when necessary or a new one. We've found them at the Dollar Tree as well as hardware stores (only $1!) and they work about the same.


Since then, Paul checks inside Peanut every couple weeks all winter, and we find the "Dries-Z-Air" or Damp-Rid crystals to do a great job. But we don't let it sit for months on end--and we definitely no longer run a heater in there. The temperature differential condensation is a real phenomenon--of course Paul checks for actual leaks, too, when he goes in there.


BEST

Kai
"K"