Condensation on the Camper Windows, and the Vent That Fixes It

Cold night, warm camper, people breathing, coffee boiling: by morning the windows are streaming and the walls near the bed feel damp. That's condensation, and in a small space it adds up fast.

01Where the moisture comes from

• People. Every person breathes out a surprising amount of water overnight.
• Cooking. Boiling water, pasta, coffee.
• Showers in the camper.
• Unvented propane heaters. Burning propane makes water vapor. See propane vs. electric heat.
• Wet gear. Jackets, boots and dogs.

Warm, damp air hits cold glass and walls, cools, and drops its water.

02The fix: let it out

Crack a roof vent and a window. Just a little, on opposite ends if you can. It feels wrong to let cold air in, but moving damp air out works better than anything else. You'll use a little more heat, and wake up dry.

Run the vent fan when you cook and shower, and for a while after.

Use the stove's range hood if you have one.

03Other habits

• Dry wet gear outside or in the truck, not in the camper.
• Use the furnace instead of an unvented heater when you can. The furnace vents its combustion outside.
• Wipe the windows in the morning with a towel or squeegee so water doesn't sit in the frames.
• Keep bedding off the walls. Pull the mattress an inch away from cold outside walls so air can move.
• A small dehumidifier helps a lot on shore power. Moisture-absorbing tubs help a little without power.

04Why it matters

A wet morning is annoying. A wet camper all season is a problem: mold, musty smells, swollen wood, and water damage behind walls.

Same idea for tents. See tent condensation: why you wake up wet.

05Before storage

If you're done for the season, dry the camper out completely before closing it up. See winterizing your camper step by step.

Photo by markusspiske on Pixabay.

Related: Fall Camping: How to Stay Warm When Nights Drop Below 40