What can I do about damp in my car?
Discussion
I'm not sure there is a solution here but it's worth asking.
In my front garden I have a natural pond. It's big, over 120ft wide big. We moved here 2 years ago and last year didn't seem as bad, but this year I'm really struggling with damp.
We have a garage but thats currently home to other half's TR6 and that has had to be put in a car bubble because the damp levels are so high in there.
My car is parked alongside the garage. Every time I come to it, it's soaking wet inside. This morning it was actually iced. I've just noticed mould spores on the plastic and I don't doubt that unless I can solve this soon my headlining will start to show mould as well.
I've tried one of those microwave bags and it had no effect at all. I cant park it anywhere else.
Husband also has a Hyundai Ioniq thats parked close to my car, but that doesn't suffer from damp inside at all. I can only assume it's because my Fiat 500 is an older car.
Any suggestions?
In my front garden I have a natural pond. It's big, over 120ft wide big. We moved here 2 years ago and last year didn't seem as bad, but this year I'm really struggling with damp.
We have a garage but thats currently home to other half's TR6 and that has had to be put in a car bubble because the damp levels are so high in there.
My car is parked alongside the garage. Every time I come to it, it's soaking wet inside. This morning it was actually iced. I've just noticed mould spores on the plastic and I don't doubt that unless I can solve this soon my headlining will start to show mould as well.
I've tried one of those microwave bags and it had no effect at all. I cant park it anywhere else.
Husband also has a Hyundai Ioniq thats parked close to my car, but that doesn't suffer from damp inside at all. I can only assume it's because my Fiat 500 is an older car.
Any suggestions?
If you have damp in the car it's leaking or something is leaking into it, nothing to do with the pond.
Check door seals, boot floor seals and sunroof (if you have one). If you get the front window steaming when you turn the blowers (with heat) on you may have a heater matrix leak, check the footwells for damp.
Check door seals, boot floor seals and sunroof (if you have one). If you get the front window steaming when you turn the blowers (with heat) on you may have a heater matrix leak, check the footwells for damp.
jdwoodbury said:
If you have damp in the car it's leaking or something is leaking into it, nothing to do with the pond.
Check door seals, boot floor seals and sunroof (if you have one). If you get the front window steaming when you turn the blowers (with heat) on you may have a heater matrix leak, check the footwells for damp.
It's not leaking, that I can promise you. If I park with the rear screen to the water then the rear screen is wet inside, front to the water and the front screen is soaked.Check door seals, boot floor seals and sunroof (if you have one). If you get the front window steaming when you turn the blowers (with heat) on you may have a heater matrix leak, check the footwells for damp.
All seals are fine, no sunroof, footwells are fine.
You perhaps underestimate the water it's next to. I'm in no doubt it's condensation from the pond.
andyxxx said:
I too have tried the microwavable bags and wasn’t impressed with them.
If it is really bad – run an extension cable for a dehumidifier – that should sort it - It did for me, but is hassle unless you don’t use the car regularly.
I think adding to the issue is I don't use it regularly.If it is really bad – run an extension cable for a dehumidifier – that should sort it - It did for me, but is hassle unless you don’t use the car regularly.
I've just found a rechargeable dehumidifier on Amazon for £40, wondering whether to give that a try.
It won't be the pond that is causing damp in the car.
I find that on cold mornings the car windows furthest away from the house have the worst frost and it is probably the same for condensation.
It will have a leak somewhere, is any of the carpet wet? Is there water under the spare wheel/bottom of boot?
Do you run the aircon at all? especially when getting in with wet coats?
Water has to get in before it can condense on cold windows.
I find that on cold mornings the car windows furthest away from the house have the worst frost and it is probably the same for condensation.
It will have a leak somewhere, is any of the carpet wet? Is there water under the spare wheel/bottom of boot?
Do you run the aircon at all? especially when getting in with wet coats?
Water has to get in before it can condense on cold windows.
It’s definitely condensation from that pond.
I had a similar problem. In the end I ran six immersion heaters in the pond to raise the water temperature to 20 degrees and that stopped the condensation. It also kept my garden free from snow in the winter.
...I think you’ve actually got a leak somewhere in the car or very damp carpets from a prior leak. Leave the windows down on a warm day or try to get an electric dehumidifier in there. I really don’t think the pond has any connection unless you parked your car in the pond at some stage.
I had a similar problem. In the end I ran six immersion heaters in the pond to raise the water temperature to 20 degrees and that stopped the condensation. It also kept my garden free from snow in the winter.
...I think you’ve actually got a leak somewhere in the car or very damp carpets from a prior leak. Leave the windows down on a warm day or try to get an electric dehumidifier in there. I really don’t think the pond has any connection unless you parked your car in the pond at some stage.
Is your fiat a convertible? Any soft top, if not used much will start getting damp and mouldy inside. I've literally not come across any model that is 100% immune to this.
If not, there'll be a leak somewhere that's not getting a chance to dry out. Sunroof/replacement windscreen are the usual suspects..
How (if at all) are any of the footwell carpets damp?
If not, there'll be a leak somewhere that's not getting a chance to dry out. Sunroof/replacement windscreen are the usual suspects..
How (if at all) are any of the footwell carpets damp?
Carpets are dry, as are seats etc. Not convertible, no sunroof.
Literally just the insides of the window that faces the pond thats wet. If I back in the windscreen is soaked, go in forwards and the back window soaked. Whichever side faces the water.
Hopefully if the weather stays ok I'll get it opened up at the weekend and have a good look at whats going on. I did find if I left the window cracked a few mm it didn't get as wet inside.
Literally just the insides of the window that faces the pond thats wet. If I back in the windscreen is soaked, go in forwards and the back window soaked. Whichever side faces the water.
Hopefully if the weather stays ok I'll get it opened up at the weekend and have a good look at whats going on. I did find if I left the window cracked a few mm it didn't get as wet inside.
It's parked on flood land and driven apart?
Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
carinaman said:
It's parked on flood land and driven apart?
Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
It's parked on hard standing next to the garage about 10ft from the edge of the water. (though could be less if we have more rain Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
)No sunroof.
No odour no dry throat etc, levels are all fine and carpets and seats dry to the touch.
It's the inside of the window nearest the pond that is running with water when I come to the car. I usually drive in forwards so the rear screen gets the brunt of it meaning the parcel shelf is wet where the water runs down. If its cold the rear screen ices inside.
I cured the damp in my old Z car by throwing in a load of industrial sized silica gel bags and changing them out every couple of days over the course of a fortnight or so. You can dry out the used bags on the radiators in your house and re-use them.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/INERRA-Pouches-Quantity-O...
That type of thing but you want the largest sachets you can find.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/INERRA-Pouches-Quantity-O...
That type of thing but you want the largest sachets you can find.
SistersofPercy said:
carinaman said:
It's parked on flood land and driven apart?
Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
It's parked on hard standing next to the garage about 10ft from the edge of the water. (though could be less if we have more rain Water is getting in through an opening or it's coming from a leaking heater matrix?
Does the car have a sunroof? Is there condensation on the inside of the sunroof glass?
Is there condensation on the inside of the windscreen?
Is there a new odour in the car and are you getting a dry throat from driving the car? Is the coolant level in the expansion tank correct or has it dropped, possibly indicating a coolant leak?
Place some old newspapers in the footwells overnight and see if they get damp or sodden with water? Are the carpets damp to the touch?
)No sunroof.
No odour no dry throat etc, levels are all fine and carpets and seats dry to the touch.
It's the inside of the window nearest the pond that is running with water when I come to the car. I usually drive in forwards so the rear screen gets the brunt of it meaning the parcel shelf is wet where the water runs down. If its cold the rear screen ices inside.
Anyway, i used to get really bad condensation after sleeping in a car once. When the condensation was bad I wiped down all the windows with kitchen roll so the water was actually being taken away. Continued doing this until all was gone. Then went on a long drive alternating between air con on full hot, then all windows fully down and kept swapping. That did the job.
Some people say use cat litter but the long drive was more fun.
Olas said:
a two pronged approach consisting of placing socks filled with kitty litter in the car, and parking it somewhere else, is almost guaranteed to work.
the other alterative is that you need to fix the leak. just because you haven't identified it yet doesnt mean it isn't there.
Unfortunately there is nowhere else to park really without being in the way, but the kitty litter is a plan to start with.the other alterative is that you need to fix the leak. just because you haven't identified it yet doesnt mean it isn't there.
We have a moisture meter in the garage thats showing air moisture at about 96%, hence the TR6 being in a car bubble. The moisture around the pond is ridiculous.
SistersofPercy said:
carinaman said:
It's parked on flood land and driven apart?
It's parked on hard standing next to the garage about 10ft from the edge of the water. (though could be less if we have more rain ) SistersofMercy said:
Flood land and driven apart
Run cold (hey now, hey now now)
Turn
Cold, burn like a healing hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RVJyNpfDkRun cold (hey now, hey now now)
Turn
Cold, burn like a healing hand
Please excuse the silliness, but it's almost the weekend.
I hope you sort the problem. Dampness in cars can be a pain.
If tools left in the car start getting spotted with rust it may be an indicator it's quite serious.
Hopefully PH can help with a healing hand on this problem.
do you close all vents, turn off the fan, and move the selector from 'fresh' to 'recirc' when you park up?
close the vents and the condensation cant get in
You have to understand that the water is gettnig into the car through some opening, and if you dont have a 'leak' in the conventional sense then the vents are the only other option. (assuming no body grommets or firewall grommets have fallen out/perished etc)
check the kitty-litter-socks every couple of days, some will still be dry and some will be noticeably wetter. This can help to identify WHERE the moisture is getting in.
close the vents and the condensation cant get in
You have to understand that the water is gettnig into the car through some opening, and if you dont have a 'leak' in the conventional sense then the vents are the only other option. (assuming no body grommets or firewall grommets have fallen out/perished etc)
check the kitty-litter-socks every couple of days, some will still be dry and some will be noticeably wetter. This can help to identify WHERE the moisture is getting in.
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