could anyone help? we went camping at the weekend and the tent started to drip from the roof every now and again when it rained so the inside of the tent got a bit wet. The tent is an gelert alaska 6 and its two years old should this be happening and how do i prevent it from doing this? surley it should be waterproof?
Heavy rain will eventually come through if it puddles long enough in one spot and the tent nylon isn`t proofed enough (it`s measured and tested by the height of a column of water positioned on a point to see what it will take to force the water through, called the Hydrostatic Head or HH. This is what you see mentioned when buying a tent, usual is around 2000mm HH for an average lower cost tent, could be a bit less, tents with 3000mm HH or more tend to be more expensive due to the better materials and proofing used. Aim for at least 3000mm HH, more if you can afford it for maximum waterproofness).
Sure it wasn`t condensation forming and running to the lowest point to drip off?
------------- Life is one big holiday, only broken up by as little work as possible
Hi adamcolly.
If the water was only from the roof,it is possible it could be condensation.How many people are in the tent, and when it starts to rain do you close up all the openings into the tent the water you breath out will condense on the roof after a while and drip.Did the drip come from a seam,was the rain very heavy and last a long time.
If you have used the tent a few times and you have not had the problem before in the rain It may be worth proofing the seams,but you will have to ask someone with experience with nylon the best way to go about it.
Good luck
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Well done Rex....you have saved us all a job! The only thing I can add is to take some UHU glue to seal any dodgy seams. But it must be applied when the tent is erected and allowed to DRY!!!! You must allow it to dry or it could stick to itself. This will sort out any seam problems.
Have fun!
It also depends on it's use over the last 2 years. UV rays from the sun are a real tent killer. So if you've been lucky enough to camp in a lot of fair weather, predominantly in summer, you may have worn it out.
If the material is starting to feel a little crinkly, a little stiff, and sort of parchmenty, instead of the soft, smooth, new, cool-fabric type feel, it could be a the end of it's life. Reproofing may help, but to be honest, when the fabric's gone, it's gone.
I hope the other advice is right, and it's only condensation! Fingers crossed!
PS - a Hydrostatic head of 2000mm is plenty for average UK weather. The recommended minimum for the UK is 1500mm. Anything above is nice to have if it really comes down, or blows hard at the same time. You shouldn't experience leaks no matter how prolonged the rain is - it is indeed the pressure of the water on the tent - this is why wind affects things.
You need to try and re-create the conditions and then examine the roof in detail to see where the water is coming from. If it is seeping through the seams it may be that the heat bonded tape is not quite adhered fully to the stitching. In this case, use seal sealant on the area when it is dry, and allow it 24 hours to dry before putting the tent away.
If the proofing of the fabric has been degraded by UV this often shows up with whitish patches on the inside where the PU coating is starting to come away from the fabric; if you are seeing this then there is little you can do; proofing on the outside will not equal the quality of the original bonded PU surface on the inside. However UV degradation is unlikely after only 2 years of normal usage. So my guess is that it is condensation.
We camped during the recent heavy rain and the weather meant we had to cook inside too; even with mesh windos and doors and every vent open we ended up with a dripping wet roof where the steam met the cold fabric - so we just swabbed it down with an old teatowel. This is one of the perils of manmade tents and we all need to learn how to manage it; either that or join the ranks of the cotton canvas campers!!
We are going camping next week in our new Khyam Ontario 8. Given the weather conditions and other posts on here about new leaking tents I am wondering what to do if it should start to leak. What water proofing should we take with us? Someone mentioned UHU glue? Any advice gratefully received as I don't want to have to abandon camp after a couple of days due to leaks since other members of my family will be holidaying in our house!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: water dripping in from roof of tent!!
