Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-09-2020, 06:33 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 33
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Humidity and ventilation

Hey guys!


So I had a conversation yesterday with someone that got me thinking. Not having an experience with RV's or trailers I did not think too much about this.



If I spray foam the bus am I doing to have to worry about humidity/moisture inside the bus?


Also are you guys running an exhaust fan of some sort to keep moisture or humidity down?


Thank you as always!

asquarecan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2020, 03:21 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
It depends on climate and how much moisture you add to the environment.

I have lived in a bus with spray foam insulation in the Seattle area in the Winter.. FWIW in a 5th wheel trailer as well.

Just breathing adds a fair bit of moisture to the air. Showering and cooking on a propane stove a lot of moisture. When that moist air hits cold surfaces it will condense and create problems.

Living in a cold damp climate I found a dehumidifier to be a necessity.

Living in Arizona in the same bus through the winter moisture was a minor issue. Cracking a roof vent took care of it.

The spray foam insulation does not contribute to the moisture trouble.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2020, 03:22 PM   #3
Bus Crazy
 
TheHubbardBus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,064
Year: 2003
Coachwork: IC / Amtran
Chassis: CE300
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 23
Regardless of insulation, or even lack thereof, you're still in a big steel tube that will not breathe with everything closed down (assuming leaks/gaps addressed). Ventilation will be required. That could be opening a couple of those big windows, exhaust fans, etc. But I don't think insulation would have much if any impact on that need. Either way nothing's getting in or out through the skin. Like Steve said, you & the environment are what determines the moisture in the air. Insulation will affect temperature, & temp will affect RH (relative humidity), but that's not really what we're talking about here.
__________________
Go away. 'Baitin.

Our Build: Mr. Beefy
TheHubbardBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 04:23 AM   #4
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
The dehumidifier that worked best for me was a Whirlpool brand that I bought at Home Depot on sale for about #120. It had a drain hose connection that eliminated the need to dump the collected water 1-2 times daily.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 11:57 AM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
mmoore6856's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: arkensas
Posts: 1,076
Year: 1997
Coachwork: bluebird
Chassis: chevy
Engine: 3116 catapillar
Rated Cap: 71 now 2 humans 1 cat
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
The dehumidifier that worked best for me was a Whirlpool brand that I bought at Home Depot on sale for about #120. It had a drain hose connection that eliminated the need to dump the collected water 1-2 times daily.
good advice from your pnw rainforest!
mmoore6856 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 03:03 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmoore6856 View Post
good advice from your pnw rainforest!
I live in the desert now.

I spent a number of years N.E. of Seattle in a spot that gets quite a bit more rain than Seattle. We were in a canyon with what they called a creek in the back yard. It was one of the wettest places I have been. Once we finally got electricity, we ran the dehumidifier 24/7 about ten months of the year.

Now I live in the part of Washington that you don't hear about. Sage brush and rattlesnakes are easy to find.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.