Heating during winter storage

[ballme1]

I have just bought a 2kw Oil radiator to heat our motorhome during the coldest months of winter having found some mould on a lot of the wood surfaces last week even though it is stored on our drive and opened occasionally. I have put the radiator on for about 6 hours overnight (from midnight to 6am) on a low 500w setting and this morning all the windows are steamed up and I am now worried that I am creating more dampness than ever.
Any thoughts on whether I should leave on longer, or a higher setting or both ??

 

[Tombola]

No real need for heater if you keep air flow but some do including me if really cold.

Make sure your cab air vent intake is set to air from outside and not "recirculate" and open a small crack in a roof light at the rear or some similar changes to allow air to flow through. Air flow takes out the excess moisture and will help, also leaving cupboards, wardrobes open will help avoid build up in them

This all assume obvs that you dont have a damp problem or leaks

 

[Peskyrabbitt]

You will get mixed answers regarding having heating on, but if you do, you need to have ventilation ie windows open, also open cupboards and keep seats / cushions etc back from walls allowing the air to flow and stop / prevent damp and mould.

 

[EuroTrotters]

17 years. Never had a problem .

keep a radiator on frost protection

 

[Riverbankannie]

I have just bought a 2kw Oil radiator to heat our motorhome during the coldest months of winter having found some mould on a lot of the wood surfaces last week even though it is stored on our drive and opened occasionally. I have put the radiator on for about 6 hours overnight (from midnight to 6am) on a low 500w setting and this morning all the windows are steamed up and I am now worried that I am creating more dampness than ever.
Any thoughts on whether I should leave on longer, or a higher setting or both ??

Get a max min thermometer and check how warm the radiator is making the inside. Like EuroTrotters I put mine on frost setting and it works for me. Thermometer shows that it allows the inside to get to 1° C . This is enough to prevent condensation.

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[EuroTrotters]

I also pop the Truma gas heater on occasionally. Stops things on the boiler seizing up like fans etc

 

[ballme1]

Thanks all. I have cracked open the rear vent slightly and see what happens over the next day or so.

 

[poppycamper]

Only time I heat is to raise lithium batteries temp so I can charge.... when I do my my
windscreen goes from dry to having water running down it.... so IMV no heat...

 

[WillH]

Can't leave a rooflight cracked open here, I lost a rooflight last year in a storm. The rooflight was closed and the van was parked on the drive!

 

[Bailey 15]

Get outside silver thermal wind screen coverMakes huge difference and windows clear

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[poppycamper]

Get outside silver thermal wind screen coverMakes huge difference and windows clear

Agree wholeheartedly.. WHEN VAN IS IN USE..
Condensation caused by a surface being subject to two different temperatatures. So reduce temp difference reduce condensation.
The only way to achieve that is to allow inside van temp to mimic outside van temp.
Therefore no heating....no temperature difference and no condensation.!!!

 

[gpat]

I think with heating, its gotta be all or nothing.

1. Best would be keep it warm ALL the time, which unless you are very rich is not doable so
2. Keep it off all the time
3. Worst is intermittent heat

A useful tip is, take a look outside. If the road is dry you have drying conditions. Open up all the windows and air the van. If the road is wet (and it's not rained), then you have poor conditions. Batten down the hatches.