Tell me about condensation

[EscapingDan]

Hello,
I’m looking at getting an Escape. Key part of my trailer choice is condensation, can you tell me what to expect with Escape? For example, with some trailers (Oliver, Airscape) you can get condensation in the inner wall - does Escape have this issue? What other kinds of condensation do you get? Thanks -

Dan

[ghosthunter]

Condensation in part is caused by a lack of air movement.

I have a 2013 15 B. For two years now. Never had any condensation at all.
I live in the Pacific NW so lots of moisture.

But we always have a window cracked and the Maxi van going when cooking inside.
I shower every night before bed but I always use the bath fan.

In the winter I keep a small heater going on low if below freezing.
Otherwise I have a wall fan on low..

Never had any moisture issues in the trailer.

But mine was built before the new management.

[brroberts]

Every RV I’ve owned has had condensation, especially since they use aluminum framed windows. Careful ventilation is the key.

[RBRV]

Originally Posted by EscapingDan

Hello,
I’m looking at getting an Escape. Key part of my trailer choice is condensation, can you tell me what to expect with Escape? For example, with some trailers (Oliver, Airscape) you can get condensation in the inner wall - does Escape have this issue? What other kinds of condensation do you get? Thanks -

Dan

Well, since I live in the land of humidity and therefore condensation maybe i can provide a few tips. Ventilate if using the shower, ventilate if using the stove, put a small crack in the window even in freezing temps and or open bathroom vent(fan is not necessary). My worst experience was on a freezing cold and very rainy trip where I actually had a water leak from a loose connection that was likley contributing to the interior humidity. I was wiping down every window the next morning on that trip, but since then I have learned to manage it. It can also help in difficult conditions to close the uninsulated front window awning and even use reflectix to help insulate overnight.
All that being said, if I can manage humidity in south Louisiana then I dont think you will have a problem in California.

[cpaharley2008]

The o/h fan operating with a window cracked helps a lot......

[ChuckBC]

I would also recommend something like HyperVent under and around the perimeter of the mattress where it touches the walls. I will be adding the same to provide an air gap around the outside walls where the dinette cushions make contact.

[DT6]

We never had issues with our 19, and don't expect any with the upcoming 21. Like others mentioned I leave the bathroom vent open (fan motor needed) and the window cracked open at the kitchen. Never had an issue and like some others we live in the Pacific NW. This is a link to a great video on trailer mods and mildew mitigation (about 6min, 30s into the video). We saw Angie and Rhonda at the Rally and asked them if the mildew mitigation was still working on the bed and they said it was still working great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOj_T-h3Co0

[skiman]

Originally Posted by ChuckBC

I would also recommend something like HyperVent under and around the perimeter of the mattress where it touches the walls. I will be adding the same to provide an air gap around the outside walls where the dinette cushions make contact.

Definitely Hypervent or similar. Otherwise condensation where mattress touches walls and underneath.

[pkgman51]

Like others, we use ventilation to manage condensation. We leave a window open and the max fan on low (less noise) to keep airflow through the trailer. One night we didn't and in the middle of the night the smoke detector went off because the humid air became a fog! We do camp in some cool weather when condensation is more of a problem. In that case we've gotten by with keeping the temperature low in the trailer and maintaining the ventilation. Blankets keep us warm.
Gary

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

But mine was built before the new management.

That's not a plus. The newer trailers all have double glazed windows where before they were an option and many had single glazed windows.

The newer trailers have more and thicker insulation.

Ron

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

That's not a plus. The newer trailers all have double glazed windows where before they were an option and many had single glazed windows.

The newer trailers have more and thicker insulation.

Ron

....and now you know why I am on Escape #5, they keep making improvements!

[EscapingDan]

Thanks for the tips. One specific question is about inter-wall condensation, which is that between the inner wall and outer hull. I wasn’t clear about this question above. For example, the Oliver, being double hulled, has grated drain holes around the perimeter in between the hulls to drain condensation. Likewise I saw an owner of an Airscape talk about the well known issue that condensation seeps from the window to the inter hull, to the tank levels meter which frequently shorts out. Wups …

Clearly any condensation in between the layers is bad no matter the mitigation, this is why houses have a single vapor barrier to keep the outside cladding and inside walls as separate climate systems that both breathe independently. Oliver touts the drain hole system as a feature but to me it’s an engineering solution to a design which creates an inner space in the first place - effectively three climate areas.

A single hulled fiberglass would seem to be OK, much like a house and I believe they coat it with reflective foil which probably acts as a vapor barrier. So the fiberglass plus any foil is the vapor barrier, and all the inner dressing (insulation, cabinets, carpets and liners) is part of the inner climate and the outside climate is past the fiberglass.

Thoughts? Any reports of opening up cabinets or panels and finding condensation, mould or the like?

[RBRV]

Originally Posted by EscapingDan

Thanks for the tips. One specific question is about inter-wall condensation, which is that between the inner wall and outer hull. I wasn’t clear about this question above. For example, the Oliver, being double hulled, has grated drain holes around the perimeter in between the hulls to drain condensation. Likewise I saw an owner of an Airscape talk about the well known issue that condensation seeps from the window to the inter hull, to the tank levels meter which frequently shorts out. Wups …

Clearly any condensation in between the layers is bad no matter the mitigation, this is why houses have a single vapor barrier to keep the outside cladding and inside walls as separate climate systems that both breathe independently. Oliver touts the drain hole system as a feature but to me it’s an engineering solution to a design which creates an inner space in the first place - effectively three climate areas.

A single hulled fiberglass would seem to be OK, much like a house and I believe they coat it with reflective foil which probably acts as a vapor barrier. So the fiberglass plus any foil is the vapor barrier, and all the inner dressing (insulation, cabinets, carpets and liners) is part of the inner climate and the outside climate is past the fiberglass.

Thoughts? Any reports of opening up cabinets or panels and finding condensation, mould or the like?

There are drain holes in the bottom if the Escape also, but I have never experienced or noticed condensation coming from there. Weep holes were handy for keeping a couple leaky fittings from being a disaster.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by RBRV

There are drain holes in the bottom if the Escape also, but I have never experienced or noticed condensation coming from there. Weep holes were handy for keeping a couple leaky fittings from being a disaster.

Quite a different situation from the Oliver that has hollow walls with air space in them. Escape doesn't.

Escapes drain holes are underneath, draining the pontoons, if any water spilled on the floor etc. gets into that cavity.

If Oliver does have hollow spaces between 2 f.g. walls and provides a drain hole I'd hate to think what anyone opening up that cavity would find.

Ron