Condensation is caused moisture in the air condensing and turning back into water when it comes into contact with a cool surface.
In a mobile home this will occur in bedrooms where people are sleeping, in bathrooms and showers where hot water has been used, and in kitchens where kettles and pans have created steam.
For mobile home and static caravan owners, the risks and issues are the same, but some of the methods that would be used on a bricks and mortar building cannot be applied.
Leaving a condensation issue unattended will cause damage with ugly patches on walls and curtains, that will eventually turn into mould. Fixing this can be challenging or expensive, which is why it makes much more sense to simply avoid the risk altogether.
1. Extractor Fans and Open the Windows
As condensation is caused by moisture in the air, you need to reduce this from being trapped inside your home. Where possible open the windows or use an extractor fan whenever you’re cooking so that the steam can then escape either through the extractor fan or out of the windows. This is a simple but very effective technique for preventing wet walls and damp.
2. Dry Clothes Outside
Damp clothes are another major cause of damp. Newly washed clothes leave the washing machine warm and damp, and as a result the water in them evaporates and lands on your walls and windows as condensation. The solution is therefore to dry your clothes outside instead or, if that is impossible, with the windows open so that the warm water vapour has somewhere to escape instead of being trapped indoors.
3. Open the Windows When Showering
Hot showers create instant warm water vapour into the air which once again tunrs back into water when it lands on your mirrors walls.
4. Invest in Ventilation
Install extractor fans or improve on the overall ventilation with vents, grates and air circulators. Your park operator may be able to offer advice or assistance if you are living on a residential caravan park as they may have contacts or additional recommendations.
5. Purchase a Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and maintaining a certain level of humidity, preventing condensation as well as reducing certain musty odours.
6. Block Up Cold Drafts with Insulation
This will increase heat retention, which saves on your heating bill whilst also increasing the temperature of walls inside your home. With a higher temperature indoors and warmer property walls, water in the air will need to be warmer to turn into condensation, reducing the amount of damp your property is subject to.
7. Invest in Double Glazed Windows
If you have single glazed windows, consider upgrading to double glazed alternatives to keep the heat indoors and reduce condensation on walls.
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