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Maintenance
97
When condensation occurs
Condensation occurs usually in winter, because
the Caravan is cold and because skylights,
windows and doors are opened less and
therefore the moist air cannot escape.
How condensation occurs
Condensation occurs often for short periods
in bathroom and kitchen areas because of the
steamy atmosphere, and quite frequently for
long periods in unheated areas; it also occurs
in cupboards or corners of rooms where
ventilation and movement of air is restricted.
What is important
Two things are particularly important:
- To provide ventilation so that moist air
can escape.
- To use the heating reasonably
How can you prevent condensation
Provide ventilation so that moist air can escape.
a) Good ventilation of kitchens when washing,
cooking or drying damp clothes is essential.
Use the electric element of the space
heater will help, when washing, cooking, or
drying damp clothes, and particularly when
the windows show signs of misting up.
b) If there is no mains electric supply and
therefore you cannot use the electrical
element of the space heater, open the
skylights or windows slightly, but keep the
door closed as much as possible.
c) After showering, keep the bathroom
window or skylights open, and shut the
bathroom door long enough to dry off the
room.
d) In all other areas provide some ventilation.
Fixed ventilation is provided in accordance
with BS EN 721: 1998 this is through
skylights and ‘heki roof lights’ in the roofs
and from ventilators through the floor
under cookers, doors and in bed boxes it is
important not to block these.
Too much ventilation in cold weather is
uncomfortable and wastes heat. All that is
needed is a very slightly opened window or
skylights. Opening a skylight or ‘heki; rooflights
partially or windows opened to about 1cm
opening will usually be sufficient.
provide reasonable heating
a) Do not use of portable paraffin or flueless
gas heaters at all.
b) If drying damp clothes or towels, open a
window enough to ventilate the area and turn
on the electric element of the space heater
but do not hang items over the heater.
c) Try to make sure that all areas are at least
partially heated. Condensation most often
occurs in unheated areas.
d) To prevent condensation, the heat has to
keep room surfaces reasonably warm. It
can take a long time for a cold caravan
to warm up, so it is better to have a small
amount of heat for a long period than a lot
of heat for a short time.
Caravans use only carefully selected insulation
materials but unlike most rooms at homes they
have all outside walls, so they lose heat through
all walls as well as the roof and floor.
Even in a well insulated Caravan with
reasonable ventilation it is likely during
cold weather if the temperature is less than
10°C that condensation will occur. Ideally
the temperature should be kept about 20°C
although this is not always possible.
Mould growth
Any sign of mould growth is an indication of
the presence of moisture and if caused by
condensation gives warning that heating or
ventilation, may require improving.
new vehicles
New Caravans often take a long time before
they are fully ‘dried out’ because of moisture
in the materials used in the manufacture. While
this is happening they need extra heat and
ventilation. At least during the first winter trips
and may require more heat than they will need
in subsequent winters journeys. Allowance
should be made for this.
Содержание 2009 Charisma
Страница 18: ...Towing code 21 ...
Страница 25: ...Safety security Fire 28 Escape paths 29 Children 29 Ventilation 29 Security 30 ...
Страница 34: ...Services 36 Typical gas schematic drawing ...
Страница 44: ...Electrics 47 ...
Страница 116: ...Maintenance 120 Spare Wheel Carriers The telescopic frame tubes should be lubricated periodically ...
Страница 117: ...Fault finding Water 122 Gas 124 Cassette Toilet 125 ...