Help - water inside front window, any cure?

PATMAU
PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
edited April 2017 in Caravans #1

We have condensation in our caravan windows which dries out once the sun shines.  Seems to be a Spring/Winter problem,.  However, this year, one of the windows has water between the two layers.  Not much but it is also going green.    We have removed the bungs to see if that helps air circulation.  My husband has considered drilling a small hole in the area of the water to drain it out, but I have fears of the window cracking if he does so.  Any ideas of how to solve this without paying out for a new window.

Comments

  • charlie25
    charlie25 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    First Comment
    edited April 2017 #2

    We had to have a new front window fitted because it had filled with water.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #3

    Just  A thought  undecided  !

    If  the  water  disappears  usually  - is  that  because you  have  removed  the  little  plastic  plugs ?  or  is  it  just  happening  naturally  over  time  ??

    Whichever  it  is,  you  must  have  a  leaking  seal  between  the  inner  and  outer  layers  of  plastic  { not  as  in a  rubber  seal  but  where  the  two  layers  come  together }  Using  a  hand  magnifying  lens  might  show  where  that  is  --  allowing  careful  application  of  "Captain  Tolley's  Creeping  Crack  Cure"  {  Other  tongue  twisting  sealants  are  available  innocent ! }  to  seal  it.

    If  the  Green  mould/mildew  does  not  disappear  perhaps  a  DILUTE  application  of  Milton  solution  into  one  of  the  plug holes   a  time  or  three  might  help.

    {  I  say  Milton  because  it  is  used,  I  understand,  for  sterilizing  Babies  Bottles  and  does  not  cause  them  to  go  brittle  as  far  as  I  know  } 

    When / if  you  get  them  dried  out I  wonder  if  it  might  help  if  you  leave  out  the  plugs  when  stored  then  the  air  inside  will  be  no  more  moisture - filled  than  the  air  outside.

    A B M

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited April 2017 #4

    Drying out the window void is easy. Don't drill more holes.

    I suggest you go to a shop that sells fish tanks and equipment for aquariums. Buy a medium sized air pump and about four feet of plastic tubing that attaches to the pump. The pump will be mains electricity operated. Push the other end of the plastic tube through one of the bung holes and down inside the window space. Switch on and air will be blown through the void and out of the other bung hole. After a few hours it will slowly dry out. Best done on a hot sunny day. I also bought a small hygrometer (not hydrometer) from a hardware shop (cost 3 pounds) which measures air moisture. You can use the air pump when the air is at it's driest. 

    ABM is correct, let a drop of Creeping crack cure trickle down the sides of your window, if it has delaminated the droplet will go into the crack and you will see where it is. It is milky coloured. Immediately clamp the two sides of the window together with mole grips and the glue will dry in about 30 minutes. Put a piece of thin cardboard in the jaws of the mole grips to protect the window.

    I have done all of the above and so far the repair has held.

    PS. The air pump will cost about 20 pounds, a new window could be 200 pounds. Good luck.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited April 2017 #5

    One final comment, if you buy new bungs and put them in, only push them in the minimum amount. Then if you want to take them out again they will not break. 

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #6

    Brilliant guys. Thank you. You learn something everyday, My windows are fine but this is great info for any time problems occur- thanks. 

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited April 2017 #7

    Thanks for the advice everybody.  We have a fish tank and paraphernalia packed away in the loft, will have to get the pump and piping out.  Certainly worth a try and the creeping crack stuff as well.  I knew if I posted on here I would get some help.  Thank you again.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #8

    { I say Milton because it is used, I understand, for sterilizing Babies Bottles and does not cause them to go brittle as far as I know }

    Every baby I have encountered was very floppy.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #9

    innocentsurprisedinnocent

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited April 2017 #10

    Creeping crack cure is like very runny milk and is in effect a liquid plastic. Only apply one small drop at a time and let it run down the edge of the window where the inner and outer sheets have been bonded. If there is a hairline crack it will go into the crack and set in a few minutes if it is a warm day. If you accidentally drip some on the caravan surface, wipe it off immediately, otherwise you will never get it off. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #11

    " A B M is  correct "

    Thank  you  for  that  Nuggy,  Quite  made  my  day  innocentcool

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited April 2017 #12

    I'm sure your other half says that to you? Several times a day!!!  laughing

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #13

    surprised  No  danger  of  that  Nuggy  smile  --  You  are  addressing  the  original  Born  Bachelor  ere  I'll  have  you  know   laughing  !!

  • Skye Terrier
    Skye Terrier Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited May 2017 #14

    Thanks for the info muggy but I always thought the windows were vacuum sealed !!

     

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,682 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited May 2017 #15

     Hi PATMAU.  It may be worth looking HERE - where someone has obviously had a similar problem.  Hope this helps.

    David 

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited May 2017 #16

    I have spoken to companies who repair windows, and been told that even when brand new there is no vacuum in the void.

    In hot weather there is a huge build up of pressure in the void and any weakness with the bonding could fail, allowing air to be pushed out through the crack. When the temperature drops the internal pressure also drops so air is then sucked back in. If there is rain water on the outside edge the water is also sucked in,

    However many windows that have NOT delaminated do have low levels of moisture in them which appears when the window is warm and the outside air is cold. This should not be a problem and usually disappears.  

  • Rayrowe35
    Rayrowe35 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    edited May 2017 #17

    I too had this problem a year or so ago. I removed the plugs and on a warm dry day, placed the suction end of a vacuum cleaner over one opening, to draw warm dry air through and humid air out. It worked well. A little fogging has since appeared on a cold damp day.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited May 2017 #18

    I found it very helpful to use a hygrometer and choose a time when humidity is low., Hot sunny days can be humid with high moisture content in the air.  My air pump works using a diaphragm and was very quiet, just a gentle hum. No loud noise for me or the neighbours so I could leave it running for a few hours at a time.

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