Should we be concerned

[Bailey 15]

We have 486 Benimar
We are using truma 6 inet heater on electric, temp @ 21 and water on eco.

We have just notice condensation on walls (wet to touch) behind both side seat cushions?

We had a Bailey with Alde heating and all walls were warm to touch.
Should we be concerned or is this normal heat touching cold sides
Thank you

 

[Phill D]

Normally there is an air gap behind the cushions and small size air heat pipe underneath to help prevent condensation.
I would start by checking that out.

But I would be concerned about wet wall at the moment.

 

[Bailey 15]

Well there’s no gap or heat pipe

I have removed back cushions and wiped down behind them and let them air and they seem fine, further up the wall is fine also, it’s just behind back cushions

 

[fat haggis]

Is your ventilation ok.

 

[Phill D]

Then in my opinion there in lies your problem.
My experience is that It is common to have condescension behind cushions that directly contact the outer walls this time of year.
It’s not good but not sure how you prevent it unless floor vents are blocked.

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[Lenny HB]

Was it just in the really cold spell or are still getting it now. If it was just in the cold spell probably not much to worry about.
Never seen it myself but I've not had a van where the cushions touch the outer wall.
Sounds like it could be a combination of poor ventilation & insulation.
A suggestion you could put some carpet on the wall behind the cushions, like gel backed carpet it's very thin and could be fixed with carpet spray adhesive and fairly easy to remove.

 

[Bailey 15]

No we noticed it today Lenny, as I say further up the wall is fine, we had heating on 21 but that really shouldn’t matter should it.
I thought these vans were built of a construction for no damp and had good outer shell capability
It’s just 2 yrs old, no damp marks at all, but I was concerned that if making up bed underneath drop-down bed then walls were wet to the touch behind the cushions until I wiped them off
I was just surprised actually, no other outer wall in van is like it so it is condensation behind the back cushions ?

 

[Bailey 15]

Just found this

 

[The Wino]

I would have said it's pretty common to get some condensation on the outside walls in winter. The usual advice in storage in winter is to move cushions from aganst walls for that reason.

 

[pampam]

If your warm body has been leaning against your back cushions and there is no airflow,added to that your heating has been on ,and the cushions are up against outer wall than that combination could cause condensation i would think

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[EuroTrotters]

Was it just in the really cold spell or are still getting it now. If it was just in the cold spell probably not much to worry about.
Never seen it myself but I've not had a van where the cushions touch the outer wall.
Sounds like it could be a combination of poor ventilation & insulation.
A suggestion you could put some carpet on the wall behind the cushions, like gel backed carpet it's very thin and could be fixed with carpet spray adhesive and fairly easy to remove.

I will second that.

we have been in -27c and never had that issue

 

[irnbru]

I can’t say I’ve noticed that happening in our Benimar but we are off in it on Wed so will keep an eye out. We have one cushion that’s directly against the wall but the heater is immediately below the seat. Maybe best for you to create an air gap between cushion and wall.

 

[Deadloss]

We’ve got a 286 (same as 486 but on a Fiat platform) and have had it for 4 years and had exactly the same problem a couple of weeks ago in the cold spell, which is the first time we’ve noticed it. It cleared quickly once we pulled the seat backs away from the walls. I think it’s just a combination of poor design of how tightly the cushions fit against the plasticky wall, the hard cold snap and our desire to keep the inside nice and toasty.

 

[Bailey 15]

Thanks for replies
Yes we are actually in van with heating between 16- during nite and 18-23 during day
One side is directly above heater.
Manufacture issue I would of thought.

Oh well live with it then it seems or put something on the wall

 

[Bailey 15]

I will second that.

we have been in -27c and never had that issue

You may not of noticed it, a pen fell down behind that’s when I noticed it, other than that we would not of seen it

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[autorouter]

This is how it works. The air inside your MH has a particular moisture content. If the air stays above a certain temperature (the Dew Point) then no consensation happens. If it goes below the dew point, water starts to condense out.

Imagine it's +10C inside, and -10C outside. Also imagine the dew point is +5C.

The well-insulated walls will be at +10C inside, and -10C outside. Since the air inside is above the +5C dew point, no condensation happens.

Now put a cushion against the wall. The air is at +10C, so the front of the cushion is at +10C. But the cushion is now acting as extra wall insulation, so the temperature drops from +10C at the front of the cushion to -10C on the outside. What temperature will the back of the cushion/inside wall be? Depends on the insulation, but maybe say +2C. This is below the dew point. So condensation will happen, because the inside air, with all its moisture, is present in the cushion.

In my Hymer, there is a thin layer of plywood, separated from the wall by battens about 1cm thick, to keep the cushions off the wall.

 

[EuroTrotters]

You may not of noticed it, a pen fell down behind that’s when I noticed it, other than that we would not of seen it

No, we never had it behind anything other than in the garage when I forgot to open the heating vents

 

[MR BLO]

This by autorouter is spot on. There has to be an air gap between all of the furnishings to maintain not only ventilation but a consistent temperature profile throughout the van and preventing the moisture precipitating out of the air.
On my Bailey for example I have to drop the drop down bed an inch or two when it’s cold outside or parked up on the drive because the duvet is in contact with the ceiling and condensation will form.

 

[Bailey 15]

This is how it works. The air inside your MH has a particular moisture content. If the air stays above a certain temperature (the Dew Point) then no consensation happens. If it goes below the dew point, water starts to condense out.

Imagine it's +10C inside, and -10C outside. Also imagine the dew point is +5C.

The well-insulated walls will be at +10C inside, and -10C outside. Since the air inside is above the +5C dew point, no condensation happens.

Now put a cushion against the wall. The air is at +10C, so the front of the cushion is at +10C. But the cushion is now acting as extra wall insulation, so the temperature drops from +10C at the front of the cushion to -10C on the outside. What temperature will the back of the cushion/inside wall be? Depends on the insulation, but maybe say +2C. This is below the dew point. So condensation will happen, because the inside air, with all its moisture, is present in the cushion.

In my Hymer, there is a thin layer of plywood, separated from the wall by battens about 1cm thick, to keep the cushions off the wall.

Very informative

 

[Bailey 15]

The side cushions has also got a Velcro strip to attach cushion to outer wall, no gap
Might raise it with Benimar because they pride themselves on winter using.
Thank you all

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[Lenny HB]

You could put some spacers in yourself, A piece of ply or wallboard a bit smaller than the cushions with a couple of vertical 20mm battens spacing it off the wall. And to complete the job tap into the Truma blow air pipes with the smaller 30mm pipe and feed it behind the panel you have just fitted. A fairly simple job that won't take long.

Just been out and taken a pic of my van.

 

[Bailey 15]

Brilliant thank you