Travelers3
Arkansas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/04/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
We are fulltimers and we are in the midst of fixing a major leak in the plumbing lines of the rv.
However in the process of searching for the source, we discovered that the underside of our mattress is very damp in one area. The wood pedestal upon which it rests is water stained to the left of center.
The front half of the bed pedestal raises for storage, as well as houses the on board water tank. The back half of the bed frame is the topside of the rear basement. I have examined the basement as well as the sides and floor under the bed pedestal. Everything is dry, except the actual underside the mattress and the wood pedestal upon which it rests.
It is much damper on dh's side--is it actually possible this is from body moisture? it is slightly damp on my side and very damp on his side.
I feel totally perplexed.
We have taken the mattress outside to dry in the sun. I have no idea what else could cause this dampness, or how to really prevent it.
Anyone else experienced this????
|
MrTravelDecal
wandering
Full Member
Joined: 11/22/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I think it could be from body moisture. On my rear bed 24 ft MH the water tank is below the bed. There are a couple of cutouts in the platform to access the drains, water pump, water heater bypass valves, etc. One day I thought I would use a piece of coroplast (corogated plastic) to kind of cover the access holes and make for a sturdier mattress at those points. Well after a couple days went by I lifted the mattress for some odd reason and mine was damp too! I got rid of the coroplast and put a piece of cardboard over those holes instead. I think the wood paneling baseboard and cardboard allow it to breathe a bit more than a plastic barrier would. I also think this occurance is worse in the winter with cooler temps.
Like old travel decals? me too!
Two cannibals were eating a circus clown,
One cannibal says to the other-
"Does this taste funny?"
|
alaskan-rver
Anchorage, AK
Senior Member
Joined: 09/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Have you checked nearby window frames for leaks? Signs can include wall delamination adjacent to the lower portion of the window frame, and possible wall discoloration.
|
kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
Senior Member
Joined: 12/30/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
might try a water resistant/stain resistant mattress cover. Not expensive. If its body moisture you'll find out, and if the mattress continues to gather moisture, you'll know to look elsewhere.
|
Travelers3
Arkansas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
No signs of window leaks--although during the winter when we tried to keep the windows closed and the heat running, a TON of moisture gathered on the inside of the windows. Leaving a window cracked eliminated the problem.
We have a piece of foam on top of the mattress already. Perhaps it trapped moisture underneath?
I wonder if keeping a few tubs of Damp-Rid under the bed would eliminate the problem, as well as a different mattress topper....
Mainly I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this, and I'm glad at least one person has....
|
|
|
Fisherman
Angus, Ontario, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 09/28/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
It's perspiration, you need air movement under the mattress.
|
mobeewan
Hampton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 01/03/2007
View Profile
|
I had a problem with the futon matress my dad slept on in my old trailer having condensation under it. I believe it was due to cold air drafts under the bed coming from the bagage door keeping the area under the bed cold. Body heat warming the matress caused the platform to sweat under the matress. When I bought my new trailer there was another on the lot that had the outside pass thru storage under the bed. I chose mine without the pass thru storage. You can only access the storage under the bed from inside the trailer. I have had no problem with the matress or platform getting damp from condensation. If it is condensation and you have an outside baggage door accessing under the bed you may need to see about insulating the back of the baggage door and around it to help seal out drafts around. An alternative would be to try to ventilate or warm the space under the bed.
|
Lucy Spence
Ontario
Full Member
Joined: 01/04/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
This is caused from body moisture. We have the same problem in the winter as half of the bed is on the storage box and the other half is over the rear dog house. The top half of the matteress over the dog house was also wet. We found a product called HyperVent available at marine/boat stores fixed the problem. They use this in boats under the cushions and matresses. Its a type of fiberous material that we put under the mattress and it works.
Lucy Spence
Ontario, Canada
|
Travelers3
Arkansas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Wow thanks for these last few replies--exactly why I post here.
Yes the bed is atop both an exterior storage bay and an interior storage space under the bed. That makes sense--it's cold under the bed but we heat it up on top--no pun intended--and the result is condensation.
I am so glad to hear there is a product for this. Other than keeping damp-rid under the bed I wasn't sure what to do.
I will re-seal the storage bay and put some HyperVent under the mattress.
|
