Raining indoors!

[Penk]

We like to get out even in the depths of winter and, by and large, feel pretty snug. I’ve always made up extra insulation for roof lights using the sort of silver stuff you put behind radiators, with no ill effects. But tonight I went to get into bed and realised it was wet. When I looked up, it was ‘raining’ down condensation from the roof light. When I pulled the blind aside and removed my insulation there was a positive downpour. I found the same with all the roof lights. I’ve now dried them, put the insulation back and pulled the blinds across again. Is it the insulation that’s causing this? Or the pretty exceptional cold? Do I need to expose and wipe them down daily (we’ve been here 2 nights)? Any tips gratefully received - or we’ll have to sleep under an umbrella

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Any gap between insulation and a colder surface will be at risk of condensation if warmer air can migrate into it.

Any insulation material placed into a rooflight is not going to be totally sealed around perimeter. So condensation can form above. Same issue as those who use internal screen covers to windscreens. This very cold spell will risk exacerbation of the effect you won't see in cold but less extreme conditions.

 

[Minxy]

Do I need to expose and wipe them down daily (we’ve been here 2 nights)?

Yes, I always remove ours in a morning and wipe the condensation off then leave them off until bed time to let the residue dry off. If you don't the condensation will build up as you've found.

 

[mikash]

You main weapons against moisture and condensation are ventilation and heat. So, even if it feels a bit counterintuitive, the colder it gets the more important it is that enough warm (wet)( air is "lost" outside and enough cold (dry) air gets in to replace it. Making this work without the van feeling drafty is a tough nut to crack and your heater radiator/air outlet positioning is in a key role.
Enhanced venting during/after moisture generating activities like cooking, showering, bringing wet clothes (or dogs) in are very effective, as are short 5-10min bursts of high output ventilation.

 

[Penk]

Thank you all for these helpful tips . I can see I’d got everything in place for the ‘perfect rain storm’. This van is the warmest and most air-tight we’ve ever had, with the best shower and cooker, so that’s probably not helped matters. I shall change me ways!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[L' Hobo]

Thank you all for these helpful tips . I can see I’d got everything in place for the ‘perfect rain storm’. This van is the warmest and most air-tight we’ve ever had, with the best shower and cooker, so that’s probably not helped matters. I shall change me ways!

If your parked up for a few days, have you tried putting bubblerap outside of the skylight and tucking it under the edges.

Would that work???

 

[oldiesontour]

As said ventilation and if you are pulling a fairly ineffective insulation barrier over the vent all you are doing is forming a sheet 1 side warm the other side cold and preventing air movement,many roof vents although appearing sealed don't actually seal but are designed to leave background air flow, that your sheet of silver plastic(can't really call it insulation) impedes ,so allow air to flow if reqd by opening the vent(s) and lose the plastic sheet

 

[L' Hobo]

As said ventilation and if you are pulling a fairly ineffective insulation barrier over the vent all you are doing is forming a sheet 1 side warm the other side cold and preventing air movement,many roof vents although appearing sealed don't actually seal but are designed to leave background air flow, that your sheet of silver plastic(can't really call it insulation) impedes ,so allow air to flow if reqd by opening the vent(s) and lose the plastic sheet

The most effective insulation I have found, is a full bonnet & screen cover + and most important, is a thick wooden blanket between the cab and habitation area.

 

[Minxy]

The most effective insulation I have found, is a full bonnet & screen cover + and most important, is a thick wooden blanket between the cab and habitation area.

Wood that be a knotted (knitted) wooden blanket?

 

[L' Hobo]

Wood that be a knotted (knitted) wooden blanket?

Bloody Spellchecker!

I suppose a bit of ply wood (see what I did there) work nearly as well?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Just smiffy]

The most effective insulation I have found, is a full bonnet & screen cover + and most important, is a thick wooden blanket between the cab and habitation area.

The best insulation for the winter is southern Spain or Morocco…

 

[nicholsong]

Bit of ply wood (see what I did there) work nearly as well?

If you apply it correctly.

 

[Penk]

As said ventilation and if you are pulling a fairly ineffective insulation barrier over the vent all you are doing is forming a sheet 1 side warm the other side cold and preventing air movement,many roof vents although appearing sealed don't actually seal but are designed to leave background air flow, that your sheet of silver plastic(can't really call it insulation) impedes ,so allow air to flow if reqd by opening the vent(s) and lose the plastic sheet

Now binned

 

[Penk]

The best insulation for the winter is southern Spain or Morocco…

Love it! Wish I was that brave

 

[Penk]

The most effective insulation I have found, is a full bonnet & screen cover + and most important, is a thick wooden blanket between the cab and habitation area.

Have just got such a cover, and it is helping . Can’t really section off the cab though, as that’s our main seating area.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Penk]

Thanks again for these tips. I’ve now turned to the matter of the water heating dumping automatically! I’ve decided a clothes peg holding the wotsit up is the best option, as the water in it is at 60 degrees, so it can’t possibly freeze up - can it? Note to self - remove peg and drain down when we leave the van…

 

[Badknee]

Friends of ours use a cushion, slightly oversized and squash it in the skylight and hold it in with the mesh blind which seems to work Us, we do what Just smiffy suggests and bugger off to Spain for the winter

 

[Oldrat]

Friends of ours use a cushion, slightly oversized and squash it in the skylight and hold it in with the mesh blind which seems to work Us, we do what Just smiffy suggests and bugger off to Spain for the winter

We use DIY memory foam pads, great for sound deadening on motorway trips too.

 

[L' Hobo]

Have just got such a cover, and it is helping . Can’t really section off the cab though, as that’s our main seating area.

All you really need is to keep the bed area warm as that is where most people are at the coldest part of the night, use the hanging blanket for that.

In Scotland, and other areas, they used to use a box bed, (similar to the bunks on the old trawlers) where one slid in and drew a thick curtain along the front.
Rich people took the design, used silks instead of wood on 3 sides and called it a Fourposter!

 

[Terry]

We like to get out even in the depths of winter and, by and large, feel pretty snug. I’ve always made up extra insulation for roof lights using the sort of silver stuff you put behind radiators, with no ill effects. But tonight I went to get into bed and realised it was wet. When I looked up, it was ‘raining’ down condensation from the roof light. When I pulled the blind aside and removed my insulation there was a positive downpour. I found the same with all the roof lights. I’ve now dried them, put the insulation back and pulled the blinds across again. Is it the insulation that’s causing this? Or the pretty exceptional cold? Do I need to expose and wipe them down daily (we’ve been here 2 nights)? Any tips gratefully received - or we’ll have to sleep under an umbrella

Roof lights are designed to have ventilation, hence no rubber seals etc. By you putting insulation under the lid you are stopping air circulation and causing condensation / wet.
Remove your insulation and simply pull the blind across. Put up with the small amount of ventilation and buy a thicker quilt or turn up your heating. Every person in your van breathes out approximately 2 pints of water overnight, it has to go somewhere.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CAB96]

A blanket over the dash and covering the footwells may help keep the cab area draught free.

 

[Minxy]

Every person in your van breathes out approximately 2 pints of water overnight, it has to go somewhere

Maybe a pillow over the mouth breathers to reduce their exhalations? Could be tricky to get the pressure right so they don't keel over though! .

 

[Miggs]

We concluded a long time ago that the best way to overcome condensation and discomfort during the winter was to use hotels and Airbnbs!