We've been finding water under our bed, not just moisture but pools of it, I was terrified damp was getting in from somewhere but we've had it serviced this morning and its 100% damp free all the way around it, the guy reckons it's caused by condensation, we dont keep loads of stuff under there, 2 chairs, 2 windbreaks, the groundsheet & a few other bits but not packed full.
He's said we should leave the bed up when we store it and remove the cushions over the winter.
Can't comment specifically on your fixed bed, but from what I recall the fixed beds vans tend not to have any means of assisting in air circulation to the under-storage area (certainly not those I've seen recently).
As a comparison, I had issue with excessive condensation in the rear of our van as the rear dinette seating doesn't have circulation panels, while the front seating does. Bailey were excellent and provided me with a set of panels to match those in the front and once fitted my problem has completely gone (not fitted originally due to potential of fouling rear bunk).
Like you, I was anxious of water ingress as the condensation had formed pools, but I'm certain your dealers right and would suggest you try the advice of 'airing' when in storage. Maybe not keeping entire base fully up, but just propped enough to allow air circulation underneath.
Just a thought, you mention it is a fixed bed, do you have one of those locker doors giving access to the under bed space from outside? In a previous van I had a problem with a faulty seal letting in water in driving rain. Ended up with a nice puddle under the bed and I've since read of one or two others experiencing the same problem.
We do have lockers on both sides, it's a transverse bed and the puddle does seem to appear more on the left (the headboard side). We've been away in it when it's poured down and felt the locker seals and they've always felt dry, plus the wood that surrounds the cut out isn't bubbled or warped at all.
We were just suprised that condensation could cause such a big pool. There aren't any vents at all under there, the only gap is the space where you put your fingers to lift the bed so we're keeping our fingers crossed the service guy is right.
Had similar problem with our bailey it turned out to be the external access door to the underbed area the seal looked in perfect condition so i smeared it with silicon grease problem vanished and that was two years ago
Had similar problem with our bailey it turned out to be the external access door to the underbed area the seal looked in perfect condition so i smeared it with silicon grease problem vanished and that was two years ago
Our read dinette doesnt have ventilation panels and we also found we had condensation there. We always leave the van with the cushions up when we are not using it and plan to add ventilation panels at that end.
Are there any water pipes threaded through the bed base anywhere. Could be a joint leaking. Condensation doesn't usually form puddles unless it is very serious.
I am just back from a week away and the whole time I was away it never rained once, yet every morning the walls behind the kids bunk beds at the rear of the van were wet. There were also some wet patches under the bad area. I thought DAMP and was going to investigate when I got back on Friday.
Anyway to cut it short, It is peeing it down right now and has been all night and the van inside is bone dry so no leeks (I assume). So where did the water come from?
Under the bottom bunk there is a water heater / storage tank and various pipes but I don't like the idea of this being on when the kids are above it (Gas) so I turn it off at night.
I am interested to see the answers that come back to your question as I think it could be the same thing. I am also going to try and simulate it at some point over the next few weeks even if it means me and kids in the van in the drive over night with aquaroll and EHU all set up.
Cheers
------------- If you Don't ask, you Don't get..............
Easter - Alton Towers
May - Aveniemore
Summer - South West London (theme parks all Around)
September - Not Sure
October - Blackpool (Yet more Theme parks and attractions
Life is a Roller coaster and we will be on loads this year...
Does your water heater not run on electricity too? If so, keeping it on will give out a little heat and may help with keeping things dry.
Condensation happens when warm moist air hits a cold surface. At night when you are all asleep in the van you are producing quite a lot of moist air, and if it is cold outside then condensation can occur.
Increasing ventilation will help, so wll improving air circulation in problem areas. Could you fit vent boards in the bunk area? Possibly fit additional ventilation openings in the front of the lower bunk base?
For those with the fixed double beds, fitting vent boards and extra ventilators in the base should help, as will propping the matress up to allow better air circulation when the van is not in use.
If your blown air system goes anywhere near the problem area, extending the pipe through the bed base and making a few holes in it will help when the van is in use.
easy way to find out if it,s condensation fill plastic bowl with salt and put it where you think you may have water leaking in,check it in a few days and if it,s wet and damp then it is condensation.
------------- its easy enough to be pleasant when the world rolls along like a song.but a man is worth while if he can smile when every thing goes f------ wrong.
Things are making sense... Please forgive me as I am new to this game and this is only my second season
I am not sure if the water heater runs on electric as there only seems to be a symbol for Gas but I will consult the manual later today (when I can find it).
There are warm air pipes (the big ones with pin holes in) all around the van including under the beds, but as it also appears to only run on gas and we have paid for electricity anyway, we use an oil filled radiator left on all night (on Low) just to take the chill out of the air.
I blocked the vents on the floor so's not to cause a draft for the kids in the back (maybe not such a good idea in hinesight)
It could be that a combination of not allowing warm air to pass under the beds and storage areas and also turning the water heater off is allowing a build up of condensation to occur. This kind of makes sense as last year (same sort of time) we were completly new and left everything switched on including water heater and warm air and no problems.
I think I will test it out in the next few weeks to confirm and if so maybe alter the way I use the van in terms of the heating.
I hope the answers have been usefull to you Esther1 and thanks for asking the question!!
Cheers
Richard
------------- If you Don't ask, you Don't get..............
Easter - Alton Towers
May - Aveniemore
Summer - South West London (theme parks all Around)
September - Not Sure
October - Blackpool (Yet more Theme parks and attractions
Life is a Roller coaster and we will be on loads this year...
... Condensation doesn't usually form puddles unless it is very serious.
You'd be surpsied, I was.
I initially thought I might have a leak on the rear nearside of my Bailey as the front seating lockers were dry as a bone, so too was the rear offside; the rear nearside developed quite worrying 'pools' and the outer wall beneath the seat cushions was wet.
On investigation and testing with make-shift vent panels, I proved it was purely down to condensation and since adding proper circulation panels to the rear dinette, no problem what-so-ever (the rear offside houses the water heater, hence this sorted out the issue on that side of the van). The panels do foul the rear bunk, but as I don't use this it's not a problem to me, plus explains why maybe they weren't fitted as standard.
I've since discussed this thread with a colleague who has a fixed bed van and he's fitted some fairly neat grills to the vertical face of the bed frame to provide ventilation and he's cured a condensation problem too, that again he thought initially was a leak.
Things are making sense... Please forgive me as I am new to this game and this is only my second season
I am not sure if the water heater runs on electric as there only seems to be a symbol for Gas but I will consult the manual later today (when I can find it).
There are warm air pipes (the big ones with pin holes in) all around the van including under the beds, but as it also appears to only run on gas and we have paid for electricity anyway, we use an oil filled radiator left on all night (on Low) just to take the chill out of the air.
I blocked the vents on the floor so's not to cause a draft for the kids in the back (maybe not such a good idea in hinesight)
It could be that a combination of not allowing warm air to pass under the beds and storage areas and also turning the water heater off is allowing a build up of condensation to occur. This kind of makes sense as last year (same sort of time) we were completly new and left everything switched on including water heater and warm air and no problems.
I think I will test it out in the next few weeks to confirm and if so maybe alter the way I use the van in terms of the heating.
I hope the answers have been usefull to you Esther1 and thanks for asking the question!!
Cheers
Richard
Unless it is a pretty old van, I would expect the heating and water to run on both gas and electricity.
Blocking the floor vents is not good, at least leave one open.
I've since discussed this thread with a colleague who has a fixed bed van and he's fitted some fairly neat grills to the vertical face of the bed frame to provide ventilation and he's cured a condensation problem too, that again he thought initially was a leak.
Yes, that was what I had in mind, we have them in our bed base, we also have the vent panels, and the heater is under the bed, so we never have any problems.
I have just had a similar problem. We use a caravan cover over the winter and this year found there had been a lot of condensation - the previous year it was pretty clear. It may have been due to the warm weather in early April when the cver was still on.
This year we found that the fixed bed frame was full of water. Also under the bed was a steel BBQ and the bag it was in had loads of water in it. It was very messy up that end of the van. The springs in the mattress had gone rusty and there was a lot of mould on the mattress, bed slats, cushions.
In future I shall take extra precautions when winterising the van:
1. Take mattress off the bed 2. provide extra water absorbing crystals 3. Open more windows 4. Check the interior during the winter
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: Condensation under fixed bed
, yet every morning the walls behind the kids bunk beds at the rear of the van were wet. There were also some wet patches under the bad area. I thought DAMP and was going to investigate when I got back on Friday.
