Understanding Caravan Damp Meters | RV Moisture Meters

Ceiling stains. Punky floors. Distorted walls. A musty smell. Visible mold.

These are the immediate signs of a moisture issue in a residential home. But they’re also a good indicator of a dampness problem in a caravan, RV or mobile home.

Preventing dampness in a caravan is about being proactive. Left unaddressed, a small damp issue can become a much larger one – the kind that ruin the vehicle.  

For touring vehicles such as caravans (RVs), a dampness issue can carry high repair costs. What’s more, dampness presents potential health & safety hazards -- where there’s moisture, there may be dangerous molds. 

How do you stay ahead of dampness? 

A caravan damp meter (moisture meter) is your #1 tool in making sure dampness doesn’t stop you from enjoying the vehicle for years to come. 

[Overview] Where, When, & How to Use a Damp Meter in a Caravan

A home away from home, caravans are susceptible to the same moisture issues as a house. Just like your home, caravans can have leaky roofs, plumbing issues, or damage from excessive condensation 

Inspecting a caravan for dampness isn’t unlike a moisture inspection in a home or any other other y type of building. A thorough damp survey involves: 

1. Checking the right spots 
2. Inspecting at the right times
3. Using the right damp testing equipment
   
   

1. Caravan Damp Testers: Where to Check

Just like a house, there are plenty of places where water ingress can cause issues in a recreational or touring vehicle. A moisture inspection should always include the obvious places to test, such as:

• Walls
• Ceilings 
• Around windows, doors, and skylights 
• Near plumbed fixtures  
  
  

There are not-so-obvious spots to check, too:

• Inside cabinets and storage spaces
• Upholstery 
• Baseboards 
• Exterior walls 

Overall the best place to inspect for dampness in a caravan: Everywhere 

2. When to Inspect Caravans for Dampness

While there’s no set time for how frequently you should test a caravan for moisture, there are key points during an RV’s life when a moisture survey is recommended: 

• Before use: There’s nothing worse than traveling with a caravan far from home, only to discover a moisture-related issue, such as a deteriorated section of floor or wall.
• After use: Caravans are meant for outdoor use. Exposure to the elements, or even minor damage while traveling, may provide an opening for dampness to make its way inside.
• In between uses: It may be weeks or even months before you hit the road again. That’s more than enough time for a small moisture issue to become a much larger one. 
• Seasonally: This one goes hand-in-hand with before and after use. For those who head to more permanent dwellings during the colder months, it’s best to give your caravan a good once-over when you winterize and again when you ready it for a new season. 

3. How to Inspect Caravans for Dampness: The Damp Moisture Meters You’ll Need 

When inspecting a touring vehicle for dampness, having the right tools -- primarily damp meters and a hygrometer-- are critical. 

There are two types of damp meters for caravan moisture inspections: pin-type and pinless. 

• Pin-type damp meters determine actual moisture content in a material. Using electrodes, a pin-type meter gauges moisture by measuring electrical residents between its pins.
• Pinless moisture meters confirm dampness within a material. These noninvasive meters use radio frequencies to assess average moisture content within their depth of measurement. A pinless moisture meter is ideal for taking readings in hard-to-reach places, such as behind walls or underneath floor panels.  
• Hygrometers measure relative humidity (RH) within a space. A good starting point for a dampness survey, if a hygrometer determines high humidity in a caravan, a dampness issue may be the cause. 

What’s the Best Damp Meter for Caravans?

When taking damp meter readings in caravans, there’s only one damp meter choice: all of the above. 

Pin-type and pinless moisture meters go hand-in-hand. One lets you seek out and confirm the presence of dampness in a caravan, while the other tells you the extent of moisture within its materials. And hygrometers are a great tool for detecting condensation.

Caravan Damp Meters for Regular Maintenance & Inspections

Causing damage that can go unnoticed for long periods of time, dampness is one of a caravan’s worst enemies. In a short amount of time, dampness can take a caravan that’s ready to hit the trails to one that should be headed to the scrap yard. 

By using a caravan damp meter for regular inspections, you’ll have the upper hand on preventing dampness issues from ruining the vehicle.

Need Damp Testing Equipment for Your Caravan?

Browse our selection of moisture meters and other damp testing tools:

This article was originally published in August 2021 and was recently updated to reflect current industry standards.