It’s that time of year again where I get questions about windows
steaming up. It happens at the beginning and end of the season when we see the
sunshine either start to get a bit of power behind it, or when the temperature
starts to drop at the end of the season.
The plastic windows that we have in caravans do not have a vacuum
inside them. If this was the case they would be flat with no space between the
panes, think of sucking the air out of a plastic bottle.
Air is a fantastic
insulator but will always have a water content within it, because of this, in
certain situations this water can condensate on the cold outer surface of the window when the temperature inside the van is warm due to the greenhoues effect we get in a caravan.
This is what Polyplastic say.
Acrylic has the property that it is very slightly permeable. As a result of this the air in the cavity can contain an amount of moisture. Conditions may cause this to condense. This is a natural phenomenon and does not mean that the window has a leak. This condensation will always disappear after some time.
Condensation can be prevented by properly ventilating the vehicle.
The key to the above statement is that the condensation will disappear after some time when the conditions change.
If the condensation does not disappear after some time then that window could have 'blown'.
There is a difference between the look of the two different situations.
Condensation will form a fine mist of water vapor on the outer pane of the window between the panes. It will normally form in the center of the pane and fade out towards the edges.
Where as, is the window seam has came appart allowing air to freely pass into the void between the panes, the water that condensates on the inside of the window will form in larger droplets and will run down the window and start to pool in the bottom.
It will also cover the whole pane and will not clear.
If this does happen there are two choises, either drill a small hole in the bottom of the window to let the water out, but this will not cure the problem, or replace the window which can be ordered from Miriad through a caravan accessory shop.
Acrylic has the property that it is very slightly permeable. As a result of this the air in the cavity can contain an amount of moisture. Conditions may cause this to condense. This is a natural phenomenon and does not mean that the window has a leak. This condensation will always disappear after some time.
Condensation can be prevented by properly ventilating the vehicle.
The key to the above statement is that the condensation will disappear after some time when the conditions change.
If the condensation does not disappear after some time then that window could have 'blown'.
There is a difference between the look of the two different situations.
Condensation will form a fine mist of water vapor on the outer pane of the window between the panes. It will normally form in the center of the pane and fade out towards the edges.
Where as, is the window seam has came appart allowing air to freely pass into the void between the panes, the water that condensates on the inside of the window will form in larger droplets and will run down the window and start to pool in the bottom.
It will also cover the whole pane and will not clear.
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