De-Humidifier

[upthesolent]

Been covered before I guess but here goes. Work has brought me back to the UK and at the weekends I am living on my Leisure 23. Being winter, I am plagued by terrible damp and now have a lot of mildew having a free for all (probabably during the week when I sleep in the truck).

Who can advise me of a remedy, preferably non electrical that can cope and where I can purchase such equipment as may be necessary, either on-line or better still somewhere near the Gosport area.

Will try to look in later as the Wifi connection here at Rugby Truck Stop is awful tonight.

Thanks.

 

[Malcb]

If you are living on a 23 foot boat at the weekends in the winter, then ventilation, ventilation and more ventilation.

During the night the human body gives off over a pint of water vapour, that has to go somewhere.

When it's cold most people tend to shut all hatches etc, so the water vapour stays in the boat.

 

[Bosunof]

When you wipe down the mildew and moisture have a little bleach on the rag. It will not reduce the condensation but will deter the fungus.

Otherwise it really is down to ventilation.

 

[pbeard]

On my 37 I have had a dehumidifier all winter draining into the galley sink, but into a 4pint container,[ which would if necesary overflow into the sink, then o/board via open seacock] and every visit it has been bone dry! I put this down to the greenhouse heater on the saloon sole that I also have running and which uses very little lecky. We have a solar powered vent in the peak hatch and avent into the lazarette plus 2 dorades, so I am sure "ventilation, ventilation, ventilation" is also a big help!

 

[tobble]

Ventilation helps but if youre living aboard (as I do) you need to ventilate to the extent where you may as well be outside! so unfortuneately a de-humidifier is the way to go. I got one at the begining of this winter and it's a life saver! doe smake shorepower a necessity tho, which I don't like.

Another option which I have been toying with is getting some sot of Mechanical Ventialtion Heat Recovery system as are being installed in a lot of Eco houses now. This basically suckes out the warm, damp, stale air, and uses it to pre-heat the incoming cold air. There are major drawbacks; you have to basically seal the house/boat else where to make it effective, and it for a boat, the costs are probably prohibitive, but cobblingsomething togethe is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

There are some low tech tricks tobear in mind as well. Cooking is easily the biggest source of water vapour/steam, so install a fan assisted vent above the cooker (don't p1ss about with soalr powered ones, wire it into 12V)(sucking OUT not blowing IN, or have a suck/off/blow switch(ooh err missus)) and shut the doors to the cabins when you're cooking! A circulating fan also helps circulate warm air if you'vegot a 'radiant heater' like my Taylor's, or any non-fan electrical heater. Regular wiping down of surfaces stpos the mould, bleach sound like a neat trick I'll try that one. Get rid or any 'textured' vynil head lining, it harbours mould really nicely, and while you're at it, improve the insulation.

or maybe just open all the hatches and wear a coat.

sorry just realised this has turned into a massive digression, but maybe it's helpful!