If you find excessive condensation in your home, it’s not a problem in itself. However, if you don’t treat it properly and in good time, it could cause damp patches to form and then mould might start to grow. That’s when it becomes an issue that can cause you serious health problems and damage to your property.

Problem – Excessive Water – Condensation Around Windows

Given how serious it is to find excessive amounts of condensation on the windows in your home, you can imagine how serious a problem it is to have the same problem in your caravan. At Caravan Helper, we are always interested in trying to troubleshoot for owners, especially newer and less experienced caravanners. A problem we have noted some people experiencing is excess condensation around windows.

If that is similar to your own issues, or you are trying to research before investing in a caravan, you’ve come to the right place as we are going to look at this problem and provide some solutions.

Find Out Where the Water Is Getting In

Before you try to seal anything or organise for a full window replacement, you need to first establish where the water is actually coming into the caravan. It could either be that the rubber surround, or the mastic sealant or the actual window that is allowing the water in. If the window is fine, but it’s the sealant or the rubber that has problems, you won’t have to completely replace the window and could save lots of money.

Water is Collecting in the Middle of Double Glazing

It’s a lot easier to deal with the problem if there is a noticeable entry point for the water. However, if the water is coming into double glazed windows, in-between the two panes of glass – this is trickier to solve. You would first need to drain the water away and dry out the windows, then figure out if, like above, the sealant, rubber or actual window is damaged.

First things first, you need to drain and dry the window. There are essentially two options – you can drain it and dry it without removing the window or by removing the window.

Draining and Drying the Window Without Removing it Completely

The easiest and quickest way to drain the window without removing it, if there is water trapped between the panes is to drill two small holes in the pane beneath the seal.

Draining and Drying the Window By Removing It Completely

It all depends on what you’re comfortable with, but if you don’t want to do further damage or start drilling into things and there is an easy way to remove the window, you should do that.

Then tip it upside down and let the water drain out where it has been getting in. By removing the window you will have a less obstructed view of it and be able to work out how badly damaged it is.

To Call Out Someone or Not?

With issues like excessive condensation or ingress of water in your caravan, you need to measure up what the best solution is for you. IF you are a capable DIY enthusiast, you may want to handle most of the troubleshooting yourself and save yourself some money.

However, if you are less than confident in your ability to fix the problem, it may be worth looking at getting a caravan engineer out to inspect the window. Once you know what the problem is, you can use that information to request quotes for the work from several tradesmen to find the best deal.

One of the best pressurised water pumps on the market and popular among caravanners and motorhome owners is the Flojet water pump. It is affordable, relatively easy to use and can supply your tourer with a steady flow of water through the entire system. Something you really need if you want to take caravanning seriously and want to have access to fresh, clean water, wherever you are hitched up – at a caravan park or in the middle of nowhere.

Given the important role it plays in the safe and smooth running of a caravan, it can be frustrating and stressful when it does not work the way it should or stops working completely. In the following post, to help you out if you ever come across the same problem, we are going to look at a common issue and offer a solution.

Noisy and Loud Pulses

With any piece of equipment, unless it’s a noise making machine, you should always be a little concerned or at least keenly aware when it starts making a lot of noise. Particularly, if it’s noises it’s not made before. Some noises are obviously perfectly fine.

However, there is one semi-common issue that some owners have reported with the Flojet Water Pump. If when you are using the water in your caravan and then the pump has been topped up, if you start to notice a very fast clicking noise, this could be a problem. Check to see if the pump symbol is flashing on the control panel. The sound is similar to a relay chattering and it only stops when the pump has been completely disconnected.

Noticeable Drips of Water

You may also notice drips of water appearing directly beneath the pump.

Whether you only experience one of these problems with this pump or both, it’s a sign that something’s really not right with it.  

What’s the Cause?

Although it’s hard to say, without an expert inspecting it, if the above is what is actually wrong with your Flojet water pump, it may be that there is a problem with the pressure switch.

When the pressure switch casing is cracked, that is what can cause the pump to run intermittently and will account for the drips and the noise.

How Do You Solve It?

If it does look like there is a crack in the pressure switch casing of your Flojet Water Pump, the good news is that it can be fixed, and it is quite an easy job.

You first need to drain the water inside the pump and place a towel or something absorbent underneath it before you fully disconnect the pipework. Then it is just a matter of removing the pressure switch and replacing it with a brand new one.

N.B. be sure to look out for small parts when you are removing the broken pressure switch as you want to avoid any falling into any of the pipework.

Everything should work fine once you connect the pump back up. It may be a good idea to buy a pressure switch casing if you are reading this and have not experienced these kinds of problems yet, but are just making yourself aware of common issues.

One of the worst things that can happen when you own a caravan is discovering that you not only have a damp and mould problem but that it has caused serious damage to the wooden flooring and the boards are starting to rot. We say one of the worst things is because there is no easy way around this issue – there’s no workaround, you need to tackle the problem head-on and sooner rather than later.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, we hope this post will be helpful. In it, we will look at understanding the difference between a damp issue and what is known as a spongey floor issue and what you need to do to solve the problem of rotting wood.
Understanding the Difference Between a Spongey Floor and Damp, Rotten Floor
Although many people could easily mistake one for the other, there are some noticeable differences between what is referred to as a spongey floor and a damp, rotten floor in a caravan.
What is a spongey floor? a spongey floor does not have any lingering smell and does not involve damp. It actually happens when the insulation beneath the thin plywood floor of a caravan compresses so the floor can flex a little when it is walked on. It’s perfectly natural.
Whereas dampness is a very serious problem and if that has caused the wood to rot, there is more involved than simply just taking the wood out and replacing it.

Is It Fixable?

It really depends on your budget and the extensiveness of the damage that has been caused by the dampness. If it is a relatively small area, and you have a bit of money put aside to play around with, it may be worth taking the chance and fixing it yourself.

You need to remember to do things in the right order, though.

Before you can even begin to fix and replace any rotting wood or other materials and components, you need to fully expose the damp area and allow it to completely dry first.

It is also crucial that you find the source of the dampness – there is likely to be a water ingress somewhere.

Although we would recommend you run a full and thorough inspection, some of the best places to start your search include:

• The low parts of your caravan’s awning rail
• Skirt rails in the area where the damp has been found
• Around the rear light clusters
• Lower sidewalls
• Rear internal panel

Although it sounds like a lot, you may need to contemplate removing cupboards and storage bays, where possible, if they are in the vicinity of the dampness. The alternative is just pretending there is no problem or trying to sell your problem caravan on – both of which are foolish in our pinon.

Remember to Seal Everything With Caravan Sealant

If you do decide to work on the issue and dry out the dampness, find the ingress, deal with it and replace the rotting wood, there is one more step you need to take to prevent similar problems from happening – seal everything. Instead of using inferior products not designed for application in a caravan, invest in some high-quality caravan sealant and make sure everything and everywhere is watertight.

The Truma Ultrastore Heater is an immensely popular solution for heating water while you are on the road in your caravan. With a 10-litre capacity and the option of working via gas or electricity, it is incredibly versatile. Although there are some tricky aspects to the setup, it is generally considered to be very easy to install and use without requiring specialist skills or knowledge. Add to that the fact that it is very efficient at what it does, and you can probably see why it’s so popular.

However, like most things, it’s only popular when it’s working properly. Although there are several different issues and problems associated with this heater, there is one that seems more common than others. If like many people, you have noticed Truma water heater not working on electricity, you’ve come to the right place as that’s the problem we are going to discuss.

Working on Gas but not Electric, Why?

As the Truma Ultrastore is a combi heater, you would expect it to work on both the electricity and gas it was designed to. If you have invested in this heater and have noticed that it works completely fine on the gas, but either struggles or doesn’t work at all on the electricity, you may wonder what causes it.

Although we have not tested the theories or the solutions, a lot of caravan owners suggest it could be one of the following problems.

The Electric Element Has Tripped Out – this is probably the case if it only works with a gas connection, but not an electric connection.

What’s the Solution?

Well, normally it should really reset itself. However, if it doesn’t and you still have problems, you need to loosen a special nut behind it and then tighten it up as this performs a reset. What that means is on the outside, it may mean you need to tear at the cardboard, to find the element but without taking it apart.

It may have been that you accidentally tried to turn it on without adding water to it first, as this would also trip it and require e reset, follow the instructions above.

If That Doesn’t Work?

If your heater does not work even after you have left it to cool down, reset it and tried again, it may mean that the element has completely gone, and the only solution is to completely replace it.

Obviously, if you can still use it with the gas, and are fine with that, this may not be a problem, but until you get it fixed, you will not get the full versatile use out of it that’s really possible.

Although there may be other issues you are experiencing with this heater, this is one of the most common. If you would like help with any other problems, check out other posts on Caravan Helper or if we have covered your issue yet, you could always drop us a message and we will do some investigating for you.

Given that Bailey has been one of the leading names in caravan and motorhome manufacturing for more than 70 years, it would seem to be an easy decision to choose one of their models as your tourer. However, there have been several alarming and off-putting posts published over the years, mainly in forums, concerning issues like dampness. Are these serious issues and indicative of a problem in the Valencia line or Bailey caravans in general? Let’s look at this in a bit more detail.

The Problem with Caravan Owner Websites and Forums

Before we even get into discussing Bailey as a caravan manufacturer and the measures they take to ensure their customers are satisfied, it’s worth highlighting a few truths about the internet. The internet, the websites and forums featured there, is incredibly useful in so many ways. You can find out things, do extensive research on whatever subject you want, without leaving your house and even if you do leave your house, you can access all the information through your smartphone or tablet.

It’s certainly made the process of researching, finding, and buying a caravan easier for many people. However, you do need to have your wits about you to a certain extent when using the internet. Especially when large purchases are involved.

One thing that the internet is especially good for, that is not in the least bit helpful, is negativity. You will find that a lot of people online love to have a moan. That is undoubtedly what brought you here. Whether you read it first-hand, or some helpful person said “oooh, you might want to avoid Bailey Valencia caravans” or “bear in mind the well-documented Bailey Valencia problems”.

The Truth About Bailey Valencia Caravans

The truth about Bailey Valencia problems is that while some people have had issues, including dampness, not all owners have. As with anything online, you are more likely to hear a whole lot about negative stuff, because those who have had bad experiences never tire of telling everyone about their bad experiences. And that’s their right.

But people who have had positive experiences tend to just get on with their lives and don’t proclaim it all the time. So rather than looking at the negatives being a real indicator that you should avoid Bailey caravans at all costs, it may be a more rounded view to think “well, that’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I will have the same experience”

Bailey is one of the best manufacturers for a reason.

High Tech Construction Equipment and 10 Years Year Ingress Guarantee

Digging a little deeper and you find that Bailey caravans are manufactured using some of the most sophisticated and high tech computer controlled construction equipment and machinery for the wall panels and ceilings. This and the fact that like most of the big caravan manufacturers, they offer 10 years of water ingress guarantees, makes them a worthy investment.

The Need to Find a Reputable Caravan Dealer

Rather than just being about buying the right make and model of a caravan, like many other things in life, it’s also important to consider carefully where you buy a caravan from. You ideally want a respectable and reliable dealer who is known to handle issues professionally and quickly and who really looks out for the buyers.

Looking at forums and sites like Caravan Helper is a great way to find out where the best dealers are in your local area. Though you may have to travel – it just depends on how much it is important to you to get a great caravan.

When you own a caravan, especially for the first time, there is a lot of different things you need to think about and consider. One thing that is vitally important, though, that you may feel reluctant to talk about is the use of the toilet. Most caravans, unless they are teardrop trailer style caravans, come equipped with working toilets.

One question that is often asked by newbie caravanners in relation to the onboard caravan is “can you poop in a caravan toilet?”

Although it may sound like a silly question, because after all, why wouldn’t you use a toilet when it’s readily available to you. To help you come to a decision, we are going to discuss several different things, including the different situations when you may want to use your toilet and when you may want to use an alternative.

When You May Want to Do a Poo in Your Caravan Toilet

First, let’s look at the different times when you will want to use your toilet. For instance, picture the scene, you are off caravanning in the middle of nowhere, with no caravan park site facilities nearby. Are you really going to go into the nearest forest or woodlands when nature calls and you need to poo? Probably not.

Imagine another situation – it’s pouring down with rain and you are a good distance away from the onsite toilets at the caravan park where you are staying. Are you really going to head out into the rain just to do a poo in the public toilets when you have one in your caravan? Again, probably not.

When You May Want to Avoid Doing a Poo in Your Caravan Toilet

There are also situations when you may prefer to leave your own toilet clean and free from faeces and use the onsite toilets. If the weather is good and you are staying on-site and you are not in a rush, many people see no harm in taking a walk to the shared facilities. Likewise, if you are travelling along the motorway and stop up at a service station or the nearest supermarket to pick up supplies, you probably would prefer to go there than the toilet in the caravan.

Problems With Using Toilet

Why are people against using the toilet in the caravan? It basically comes down to what goes into the cassette toilet in your caravan, must come out, eventually. As it is not hooked up to a sewage system, you need to dispose of the waste product yourself. That is what puts people off. Having to clean it out.

So, can you poop in your caravan?

Yes, but whether you want to or not may depend on where you are staying at the time, how much you value your privacy in the bathroom and whether or not you are responsible for the emptying and replacing of your cassette toilet when its time to dispose of everything that has collected there in 24 hours.

Truma products have a very good reputation among caravanners and motorhome owners, for producing reliable and efficient appliances and accessories. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Truma s3002 LPG heater is a popular choice for those with touring caravans and other leisure vehicles.

However, like many of the best products, it’s not completely faultless. One particular issue that has been highlighted by various owners lies with the ignition. What is the problem, what causes it and how can it be resolved?

We are going to look at all those questions in the following post.

What is the Truma s30002 Ignition Problem?

According to one owner, they noticed with their Truma s3002 gas heater that the battery ignition starts to make an audible ticking noise when the fire heats up. As this fire can be used in several different ways, it’s worth noting that this incident involved the heater set to convection only (without the use of a fan).

When the fire is turned on and the temperature is turned up to anything above 3 on a dial from 1 to 10, once it has heated up, after about 10 minutes, a ticking noise sounds constantly. If the fire is turned off, it stops and if the fire cools down and then is reignited, once it is back to a specific temperature, the ticking starts again.

What Could Be Causing It?

There are a lot of different theories bandied around, as a lot of people have experienced the same issue with these Truma heaters. One suggested cause is that the thermocouple of faulty in some way.

This makes sense because the ticking noise is basically the ignition trying to light the gas flame. It should only make the noise once when you ignite the fire and again if the gas runs out and is refilled or the fire has cooled down.

The thought being that the fire thinks it’s cooled down when it really hasn’t.

Problem solved?

That would make things really simple. The trouble is there is another theory.

Many other users have noted that the thermocouple is designed with just one single function – to cut the gas at the gas valve when the flame disappears, and it’s got nothing to do with the ignition module.

What actually happens is that the spark ignition senses when there is a flame present via the ignition electrode Based on the issues involved, this theory suggests it is either the faulty ignition module or electrode tip isn’t always touching the flame.

What is the Solution?

Well, that depends on what theory you think is most plausible. At Caravan Helper, we feel, without knowing the ins and outs of every piece of equipment, based on what other people have suggested that the latter problem is probably more likely the cause of the ticking.

The solution to that would be to first make sure the flame at the point where it meets the electrode is not distorted and dirty with debris on and around the burner and that the burner jet is nice and clear. If that is the case and the ignition electrode bracket is tightly screwed in place, it may be time to completely replace the ignition module.