Living with your Trailer - continued
Q. - In cold weather, my windows and walls look like they're sweating. Is that con-
densation?
A. - Yes. Your windows are a good way to know if the humidity in your RV is too high. All
air contains water vapor. When air is warm it can hold much more water vapor than when
it is cold. When the air cools, the water vapor "condenses" back to a liquid. Since your
windows are usually cooler than the air, the water collects on the surface of the glass.
Q. - Where does all the water come from?
A. - Moisture in the air comes from many sources. Some of the most common are:
Cooking - Meals prepared for a family of four can add up to a gallon of water per day
into the air from cooking.
Bathing - An average shower can put between 1/4 - 1/2 pound of water into the air.
Dishwashing - Doing the dishes for a typical day's meals can add up to one pound of
water into the air.
Floor mopping - When an 8' x 10' kitchen floor is mopped and rinsed, almost 2 1/2
pounds of water can be released into the air.
Clothes drying - After 10 pounds of clothes have been washed and spin-dried in a
washer, they still contain about 10 pounds of water. If these clothes are dried inside,
that water is released into the air in the RV.
Propane appliances - When Propane is burned, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water are
given off into the air. For every 1000 cubic feet of Propane burned, nearly 88 pounds of
water is released into the air.
Humidifiers - Humidifiers are designed to put moisture into dry air - up to two pounds
per hour. So in a 24-hour period, an uncontrolled humidifier can put almost 50 pounds
of water into the air.
House plants and aquariums - Plants give off almost as much water as you put on them.
Open aquariums permit higher rates of evaporation than closed types.
People and animals - A large source of water in the RV is the inhabitants themselves.
A family of four can put up to 12 pounds of water into the air per day through breathing
and perspiration.
As you can see. Just the normal course of living adds a great deal of water to the air.
Q. - What will all this water do to my RV?
A. - The least it will do is for your windows. If it is really cold outside, frost or even clear ice
could form on the inside of the glass.
Excessive moisture in the air could show up as water running down or dripping off walls,
ceilings or fixtures. It may look like your roof or windows are leaking. This water may
stain woodwork, carpeting, ceiling panels or even furniture.
But the most damage is caused by water you can't even see. Water will penetrate
almost any material - except glass and metals. Water vapor in the air always wants to
to move toward dry air. Scientists call this "vapor pressure" action. It will go through
walls, floor covering, plywood, paint - just about anything. The water that gets trapped in
these materials can cause warping, mildew, paint failure and rotting.
The damage caused by excessive humidity can be invisible, and worse, expensive to
fix. Please remember that this damage is not covered under the warranty.
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Summary of Contents for 2013 Creek Side
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