Humidity is always an issue to worry about when using or spending much of your time in RV or camper. Therefore, to solve this issue, you will need to have a dehumidifier which is designed specifically to help you in removing humidity from the air inside your RV more efficiently.

Most RVs have a somehow sizeable open space which allows a lot of air exchange and humidity levels to build-up, and that is why you will need a dehumidifier to draw in moisture from the air.

Besides, Dehumidifier can still work better in a restricted airflow inside your Rv. Most of the dehumidifiers uses crystals that collects moisture, and once the saturation point within all crystals is reached they are then replaced.

There are four kinds/types of dehumidifiers that one can use.
a. Desiccant dehumidifier
b. Heat Pump dehumidifier
c. Homemade dehumidifier
d. Dehumidifying ventilator.

Why is dehumidifier needed in RV?

Think about this, RV is like you little home, right? So inside your RV, you will spend your time either cooking, taking a shower or boiling water. Therefore, all these activities will increase humidity levels inside your RV.

Even your breathing and outside weather alone can too affect the level of humidity, which in turn brings about breathing difficulties if you are suffering from asthma or allergies and it also causes skin irritation and rashes.

And, if you aren’t suffering from any of these health problems, it will make your RV excruciating and stuffy which may affect your vacation. However, having the best RV dehumidifier around will solve these humidity problems by helping you prevent contaminants such as fungus and bacteria build-up.

A dehumidifier will not help you clear all the humidity in the air since it isn’t a good idea to do so. Instead, it will help you regulate humidity at around 30% to 50% in your RV. During cold weather, ventilation is not an option to take, hence RV dehumidifiers will then make up for vents.

Another thing is that you can get either electric or non-electrics RV dehumidifiers and they all work in a similar fashion.

What will happen if a dehumidifier is not used inside the RV?

It is crucial to use a dehumidifier in your RV at all times. Failure to do so and your RV will turn into damp that will be unbearable to live in it. If your RV becomes humid, you will face lots of trouble getting rid of it. It can result in mould and stuffy living space, mold and mildew will start appearing which will affect or get into your mattress, cushions, curtains, wood, and walls.

Checking humidity and damp levels in your RV is strongly advisable since it is a big problem that affects not only your living conditions but also your health conditions. So, before purchasing an RV, you should check to ensure that the humidity levels aren’t high, because failure to do so may result in you spending thousands of dollars rectifying it.

Also, make sure your RV or travel trailer is well ventilated. You can also open the RV vents to keep proper air circulation. Luckily, you can run a dehumidifier in your RV and prevent it from becoming damp.

Can I run the dehumidifier when the AC is on in RV

Yes, if your goal is to get quicker dehumidification that either unit can offer while working alone. Remember that dehumidifier works to get rid of humidity while slightly warming the room at the same time.

The electrical power dehumidifier along with heat from water condensation produces warmth for your RV during cold days or seasons. While the Air Conditioner (AC) on the other hand, work in getting rid of humidity by providing a cooling effect to your RV. It refrigerates the condenser by using the condensed water from the evaporator hence providing the cooling effect.

Generally, you should run AC only when you need dehumidification and cooling, preferably during summer time in a hot, humid room. If you have cold RV living Space during winter, then running dehumidifier only will be advisable since you need dehumidification and some heating.

What else can you do instead of running dehumidifier?

If electricity bill or expenses of getting a dehumidifier scares you, here are some of the best alternatives for a dehumidifier. The thing to note is that dehumidifier alternative will always depend on the causes of humidity, budget, and your RV’s features. So, let’s have a look at some of the other options for a dehumidifier. This methods also help keeping the mold out of RV (linked article is my previos detailed article on how to keep mold out of camper or travel trailer)

1. Improve the Air Flow

The first step lies on improving the air flow, which relies on windows and ventilations of your RV. Run fan or if the outside’s humidity levels are lower than humidity inside then you can open the windows.

This will help stop mold and mildew growth on the walls and floors since airflow will prevent condensation on walls and floors. You can also opt for an air conditioner which will help you reduce humidity levels in your RV.

2. Absorb the Moisture

There are many commercial products that have been designed to absorb moisture in the air. All you need is to get them and place them in a container inside your RV. These desiccants will help you manage the levels of moisture without any trouble. Ensure you check them once or twice a week to check which container needs replacement.

3. Dry the Air

You can dry the air inside your RV by warming the air, which reduces humidity levels in the air. Use dry heat source such as space heater or wood stove to warm the air. Ensure the room temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent steam damage to the walls. You can achieve this by running fan inside your RV while warming the hair.

4. Make use of exhaust fan

Rving includes cooking and taking hot showers. And, this can result in vapors that can catch on your travel trailers windows, walls. This ultimately will result in increasing the humidity levels.

One thing that you can do during such times is to run an exhaust fan. This will help in pushing out the moist air. It may seem like a small thing to do, but over a long period of time it can really contribute towards issues in terms of molds and mildews.

5. Make use of a product like damp rid

I have heard of this product but haven’t used it myself. This is a calcium chloride crystal that helps in absorbing the excess moisture. This is a low-cost alternative to the dehumidifier and it works great. But, if you are one of those Rvers who are in high humid region then better solutions like dehumidifier is a better option.

6. Avoid things like drying cloths inside RV

This is a thing that you should avoid always. Moist clothes drying in RV will obviously lead to vapors and humidity. This will result in dampening and causing all sorts of problems. Try to make use of RV campsite dryers instead. This will keep your RV free from all moisture-related issues.

Best dehumidifiers you can buy for your RV

So what different options you have in dehumidigiers. There are lots of them and you need to choose the one that best suits your RV and budget. What type of humidifier you buy will also depend on your RV type. For a small pop up camper or smaller travel trailer you would need a mini dehumidifier. Here are some of the best dehumidifiers that you can buy for your RV or camper.

1. Homelabs 4000 Sq Ft Dehumidifier.

If you are looking for one of the best RV dehumidifier, then the best recommendation is homelabs dehumidifier. It is designed with six different setting and a 24-hour timer that helps in preventing excess moisture in the air. For comfortable usage, this dehumidifier comes with a touch panel controls with defrost, turbo mode, shut-off, and restart functions. Check it here on amazon.

Its keys features include below:

-It has touch panel controls.
-It is designed with Six different settings.
-Has a 24-hour timer
-It is portable.

2. Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier

This dehumidifier is a valuable investment due to its incredible features and performance. If you want to prevent problems caused by higher humidity levels in your motorhome or travel trailer, then Pro Breeze Electric Mini dehumidifier will be a great choice. 59 and 86° Fahrenheit is an operating temperature range for this dehumidifier with the lowest temperature being 41° Fahrenheit. Check its price and reviews on amazon.

Its key features include below:

-Quiet operation
-Lightweight moisture absorber
-Has a low energy consumption.
-Has Slightly lower tank capacity
-It is portable
-Can extract up to nine ounces of moisture daily
-Has led light to inform that the tank needs draining.

3. Eva-dry E-333 Renewable Mini Dehumidifier.

In your RV, excessive humidity isn’t good. Therefore, the Eva-dry E-333 Renewable Mini Dehumidifier will provide you with a reliable and a long term solution for humidity problems. This dehumidifier offers a smooth operation that is, its mess and spill-free at all times. Its key features include:

-Easy to use and efficient.
-No leak and spill operation
-Innovative for its silica gel technology
-Can last up to 10 years
-No expensive refills, renewable

4. Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier.

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier provides you a most accessible and effective way to control humidity levels inside your RV. Mold, mildew, and black mold have no chance at all if your RV is adorned with this dehumidifier. Its key features include:

-It has a low-temperature operation.
-Has a great ability to get rid of humidity for up to 2200 Cubic Feet
-It has an easy to use electronic controls with a digital display
-Has a safety certification from UL/CUL|CSA
-It is an energy star rated dehumidifier

What to look for in a dehumidifier for RV

Finding the best dehumidifier for your RV is shouldnt be probelm, but one has to define the need in terms of below.

• The type of dehumidifier you need.
• Space inside RV. What kind of RV it is, whether its class A motorhome or class C RV or fifth wheel, depending on its typesapce will vary.
• Portability of that dehumidifier.
• Installation process needed.
• Noise level of that dehumidifier.
• It’s Controls.
• Tank capacity.
• And other cool feature included.

With all these as your guidelines, you will be able to acquire useful and efficient dehumidifier for your RV easily.

Conclusion

Full time living in RV or camper needs you to tackle all such problems. Humidity can be an issue whose effects can be loong lasting. Your travel trailer or motorhome may start the growth of mold or mildew if the humidity levels are not kept low. Running a dehumidifier can be avoided if you can keep the humidity level low using other methods.