Of course we all know the advantages of using a dehumidifier in your RV during the summer, especially if you are camping at a place that is particularly humid. Excess moisture in the air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, and can be especially aggravating to people with allergies or other breathing issues. These same principles can be applied to winter travel and RV storage as well.

While winter air is typically drier than the humid atmosphere you find in summer, the colder weather means you'll probably be spending more time inside your RV. All that time inside can lead to the collection of condensation on the windows, which if left untreated can lead to mold growth. Condensation is just one of the signs of excess moisture in the air. Another cause can be lack of ventilation. Your motorhome may be more closed up in the winter due to the colder temperatures, so the surrounding air has less chance to circulate. Stagnant air may also lead to moisture issues, especially in smaller areas.

If you store your RV for the winter, a dehumidifier can be beneficial in this instance as well. Depending on the surrounding conditions, moisture can still collect inside the RV, even in the drier air of winter. Using a model that does not require an outside power source is often the best way to go for this purpose.

When choosing a dehumidifier, make sure to take into account not only the size of the space, but the level of moisture it is exposed to, and the amount of ventilation it will receive. Your RV's bathroom, for example, is going to see a lot more moisture than most other places in your RV. Closets and storage spaces, with little to no air circulation, can also be susceptible. Eva-Dry offers three different size units to accommodate different needs, with the small and mid-size units using electric power. The Eva-Dry high capacity model is non-electric, as are the units from Camco, Star Brite, and Dri-Z-Air . Next week, we will go over the similarities and differences between these models in greater detail.