No seal around water heater gas pipe?
Hello, I was hoping for some advice.
i bought my first caravan 3 months ago and have struggled to get rid of a musky smell that I now fear might be damp.
its the worst in the tall cupboard for hanging clothes in the toilet.
Underneath the cupboard is the gas locker, which is in a metal box in side the bottom of the cupboard when inspecting it today I noticed 2 things, first, Mastic seal at the rear bottom edge of the gas locker (as you look into it from outside) is broken. Could this be letting damp into the van?
Second is that the gas pipe, that runs out the bottom of the caravan, along the underneath and back up into the water heater has no seal around it. I can see the tarmac though the gap. It’s sealed at the water heater end. Is this something to be concerned about?
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Firstly, how old is the caravan, if it's new then go to the dealer and ask for a damp test. If it is a used van brought off a dealer has it got any warranty with the sale, if it does take it back and demand a repair. If it was a private sale then contact the club's legal people for advice on your rights. And finally if you can smell damp then it's not very good.
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Hello,
thanks for the reply, the caravan was built in 2007 so it’s no spring chicken. I bought it from a dealer, but I wanted to get my facts straight before I went to them so they don’t try and bamboozal me. I can’t remember if my warranty was 3 or 6 months, I’d have to check the paper work. If it’s 3 months then I only have a week to get it back to them.
im not even sure what damp smells like? So I can’t be sure it’s that, it might just be cos the van is getting on a bit. I’ve washed the curtains and recovered the cushions, which has helped but it’s still getting in everything we put in there.
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Hi Joe, welcome to caravanning, hope you love it as much as we do.
The area where your gas bottles live should be well ventilated so don't worry about being able to see through to the ground! Damp that causes problems in caravans is water ingress. If you could tell us the make and model of your ‘van someone will probably come along and be able to help you. A lot of us have got some hair-raising stories about our first ‘vans!
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We’ve never, ever, suffered from damp coming up through a floor, but I’ve seen plenty of floors and walls, suffering damp from above. You are right to assume that curtains and cushions can develop a damp odour, but I’ve not found that on clean ones. I suggest that you get an independent dealer to perform a damp test, for which they use a probe with two prongs, which won’t damage your van, but will reveal problem areas. Dry vans don’t smell.
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Thanks again for your replies! I am absolutely loving caravaning, I always did when I was a kid, so it’s really good to have my own.
It’s an 2007 Avondale dart 470-2. This is the area I’m concerned with. https://i.imgur.com/XfLeQsu.jpg
hears the broken seal I can see when looking in the gas locker from outside
https://i.imgur.com/97DKZY7.jpg
and here’s the gas pipe going through the floor I mentioned. (Excuse the filth, it’s normally covered with a self 😂)
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Looking at your photos it’s hard to tell what’s just a little condensation from a real leak. The first shows a tell tale streak down the wall but we can’t see rust on the bolt - which often shows up early on. Which confirms what I said earlier about a damp test.
I’ve caravanned for decades but my husband (now) was a staunch cynic until we bought a trial van as a test for him. From that first night, fetching water, chatting to other campers, enjoying a proper cooked meal and a cozy night, he’s been a serious fan, extolling its virtues to friends and anyone else who’ll listen.
I’m pleased that it suits you, as it does us. Of course we soon upgraded, added numerous accessories and adventures walking and cycling in places where there’s simply no alternative accommodation available. But you could do without that damp smell. Good luck tracking it down.
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