HOW TO DEAL WITH DAMP
Damp is the motorhome’s enemy all year round, but it’s especially important to keep an eye on it in winter. Peter Byrne outlines what you need to know
Your motorhome is a great place for making wonderful memories, but it is also a major investment, so keeping an eye out for signs of damp is a key part of maximising its life.
Moist air in a ’van can be caused by a number of factors, such as condensation – from cooking and showering – and water ingress, where rain gets in through gaps. Knowing what to look for is very important, whether you’re checking your own ’van or buying pre-owned.
Moisture traps
Shane Malpass from We Buy Any Motorcaravan explains: “Damp is what happens when moist air is trapped in a small space. Motorhomes are confined living spaces, the perfect trap for moist air. The UK has a wet climate, so there is always plenty of moist air that can easily be trapped inside.
“Older motorhomes are more likely to suffer severe damp. And while many newer models have been designed with the intention of stopping water ingress, they are not totally immune.”
To help you to protect your vehicle, We Buy Any Motorcaravan offers some sensible habits to get into when you’re cleaning your motorhome, so you can check for those telltale signs of damp, particularly in the winter months.
Look carefully around the seals, and sealant found by the windows, seals and doors, along with anywhere you have drilled to fit equipment (such as aerial points or bike racks) and accessories into the main body.
Examine the sealant for signs of damage, including cracks, peeling and knocks. If there’s recently been a heavy downpour, this could make it simpler to spot water entry points.
Check if any of the cushions, curtains or other fabrics have a musty smell.
Make sure wallboards are showing no signs of pimpling, by running your hands over them; you’re checking for anywhere on the surface that feels wet or has a spongy texture.
Check the walls for discolouration, which can include black spots or other marks. They could also go a blue or pinkish colour, which will typically occur near windows and lockers.
Do the floors feel spongy or creak? Either of these symptoms could be a sign of water ingress or damp.
When water is getting inside your motorhome, it might ‘hitchhike’ on channels and pipes. This means that it dumps water in random parts of your vehicle, making it much harder to identify where the original entry point might be – this is something to bear in mind when you are checking the interior for signs of ingress.
Check the internal screws for rust.