Caravan Damp Test The Ultimate Guide.

[@emyrbrown]

Hi Mark awesome vlog once again thanks👏🏻 It was myself who won the Extech MO55 damp meter when you all done the competition on the Halloween special of the motorhome show. I've got to honest it is a superb bit of kit and well worth the money for ordinary caravaners/motor homers like myself. I had my caravan serviced by the main dealer where I bought it. It was Lunar which didn't have the manufacturer warranty when I bought it as they had just gone bust, but this meter proved its worth as it found a slight reading of damp on the front left side near the roof strap, which was then dealt with by the dealer and re-sealed before it got out of hand and expensive for me to deal with. In fact due to this I spoke with the dealer and negotiated to a have the whole van re-sealed under their warranty and I paid a small labour charge which I didn't mind doing as at least I knew it was done properly. Since this I use a mobile technician, who is absolutely amazing, and the meter gave me a heads up on a potential issue before hand, so at least I could tell hime before hand. So when he came to do my annual service on the drive he also dealt with the issue of the higher reading at the same time as he then had factored in the time to deal with it on the day. Great bit of Kit well worth the money👍🏻

[@thecaravanplace]

Hi Emyr, I do remember that, fantastic to hear that it saved you a lot of hassle by using it. 👍

[@martinkitchin6204]

That's very useful. Thank you Mark ! Good to see how honest and thorough you are as a dealer. Some years ago we bought a used c'van from a main dealer here in the NW. In the washroom not just damp but rot had been hidden with fresh matching wall boards...😳 We fixed it ourselves at a cost but once bitten twice shy !

[@paoloallen]

A very good video Mark... honest and very helpful as ever......we really must come along and see your place again ..... cheers 'The Camp Caravanners'

[@mathewb2]

Hi Mark. Very informative video. What setting would you recommend for a 2017 Bailey on the Extech. Thinking of getting one as a service picked up possible damp starting around the toilet. As you say, maybe environmental factors at play there. I'm wondering as there isn't wood in the caravans construction. Unless the floor is some sort of wood. Many thanks.

[@thecaravanplace]

Hi Mathew, yes the floor is wood. It would be a case of having a play with it until you get a similar reading to what the damp report was and that should give you a good start point. Hope this helps

[@barthurkens]

Hello Mark, bought the protimeter because of your video. I’ve got two questions and hope you’re willing to answer them: 1) sometimes the back section and very often the pins don’t seem to measure at all. Is this because the material is to dry? 2) my van is new from the factory. I’ve got two 20 ish readings. The pins don’t measure at all at those spots. Can I assume that it’s a false reading and probably some metal in the wall? Thanks a lot!

[@thecaravanplace]

Hi Hugo, yes if no readings then all OK, if you get something with rear and nothing with pins then should be OK, but make a note and keep a check every so often and compare the readings. 👍

[@barthurkens]

Thanks for responding. Really appreciate that. Do you know if the protimeter is programmed so that is doesn’t measure when it’s to dry?

[@ThomasPaxton-p5j]

Hi, could you please tell me the make & name of the damp meter you use.

[@thecaravanplace]

Protimeter survey master.

[@ThomasPaxton-p5j]

Thanks 👍

[@stevechurchman1824]

Hi. Mark. What about caravans that are GRP outside and inside? I believe our dealer just checks the floors on these models.

[@thecaravanplace]

Yes of its a bailey or newer swift just the floors

[@barryelstone2992]

Would I be correct in saying below 20% is acceptable, also I have a Swift elegance 2015 is it right that these do not have any wood in the build including the floor.

[@thecaravanplace]

Yes in theory on a protimeter and damp report it will be 17-20% requires further investigation or retest in 3 months, over 20% investigation and possibly remedial action depending on time of year. But if its not a protimeter then the reading levels may be slightly different so checking what the damp meter manufacturer says regarding readings. Yes I believe your elegance was no wood but will check the damp matrix tomorrow

[@davidashley3970]

Hi Mark, if the meter shows no reading at all does this mean it is full of water?

[@MrG.42]

Excellent video as usual. Regarding newer carans with modern building techniques, do you find any particular make of caravan worse than others? We have a 2019 Bailey Phoenix, I would love to see how you would carry out a damp test on one.

[@thecaravanplace]

It's mostly just the floor that needs testing. We will do a video to cover this also over the next few weeks.

[@MrG.42]

@@thecaravanplace That would be brilliant. Thanks

[@andrewmitchell9935]

Is that cheaper damp meter worth getting or is there better for same price.

[@thecaravanplace]

Value for money the cheap one is pretty good and worth getting 👍

[@rickypilk8697]

Hi mark so my question is if the prongs give you a reading of let’s say 15 but the non invasive gives a reading of 50 to 60 what’s does this mean ?

[@thecaravanplace]

It could be metal, a reading of 50 to 60 should give a bigger reading on the surface, this is where a note should be made and recheck the area in a few weeks/months time. If the readings are the same it will confirm, if they have gone up then it's a leak.

[@tofty21]

If I get a high reading, find the leak and seal it, would that be ok?

[@thecaravanplace]

Yes, you can either have a go at fixing, or have it looked at by a caravan workshop.

[@chrisr547]

Hi Mark, just had my caravan serviced and it showed 22% damp between 2 of the front windows. They've recommended a retest in 3 months but this goes against their policy and is more inline with 15 to 20% damp. Having had a damp disaster with a bailey in the past, this is my worst nightmare. What do you reckon? Should I insist it's looked at again? It's still under warranty.

[@thecaravanplace]

As long as the warranty is for longer than the 3 months then you should be OK, but they should have investigated if they can see any reason for the readings. Maybe worth getting a damp meter to double check the readings after rain etc.

[@chrisr547]

@thecaravanplace just done that today with a £30 pinless reader off amazon. Getting 50% plus readings in all different places. Worried sick now. I've heard the cheap readers can be inaccurate but it's definitely consistent. Same readings in the same places each time.

[@evelynmelville3814]

Hi what damp meter do u recomend as there so many out there

[@thecaravanplace]

amzn.to/41fveq0

[@thecaravanplace]

That's a decent cheap damp meter which will give you an idea of if you have damp or not.

[@scott8579]

Could you tell me what sealant you recommend for this thanks

[@thecaravanplace]

Sikka 522 is very good. amzn.to/3FdxW60

[@pinaconorth007]

What readings are high and low

[@Mark-tq2jm]

Hi Mark If a pinless damp !eter had density settings 1 - 10 which setting would you recommend putting it on when testing caravan

[@thecaravanplace]

If you have a look in the instructions does it give a guide to the thickness of material? If not I would try mid setting and then test on a panel like I did on the bathroom wall. Then adjust accordingly.

[@Mark-tq2jm]

Ok thanks I will have to dig them out if not I will do as you said. Cheers

[@dotshaw1660]

Hi Mark , we have a Bailey Cadiz 2015 S3 and have found damp on both rear underside corners about an inch in from the edge. It’s ‘softish ‘ but seems to be drying out. What would you recommend to treat this ? Thanks

[@thecaravanplace]

Has the leak been fixed? I would have the rails Overseal, check all the roof caps, and then rear handles. It's trying to sort out where it is getting wet from, then let the underside of the floor dry out and see if it needs replacing or not. Hope this helps

[@dotshaw1660]

@@thecaravanplace Thank you for your advice , it’s appreciated,we’ll certainly check the places you’ve suggested as it isn’t obvious where the water has come from at the moment . We’re finding the videos you put on really useful and informative, so thanks .

[@channymassey]

Bought an extech dual prong and scanner MO55 not sure which setting for scan is it wood or building materials" plasterboard,concrete etc" it has pins..wood or building materials or scan wood or building materials....also if checking floor from underneath do I use wood or building materials BUILDING MATERIALS SAYS..WALL BOARDS,SHEETROCK,CARDBOARD,PLASTER,CONCRETE,MORTAR. SORRY I'M CONFUSED...regards Ian

[@channymassey]

Could you advise,I have searched KZbin and Google for info ?????

[@Lostsome]

If u find damp how is it fixed? Thanks

[@thecaravanplace]

Depends where it is, as mentioned in the video, if its a awning rail and you have high reading then a rail reseal, but depends on how high the readings are.

[@Lostsome]

@@thecaravanplace thanks for reply ur channel is great 👍 good content mate

[@Lostsome]

@@thecaravanplace thanks for reply ur channel is great 👍 good content mate

[@Darelislt]

Just for your reference Never slide damp meter over the testing surface!!! Readings won’t be accurate Please read protimeter instructions 😂👍

[@thecaravanplace]

We actually were the ones who did the testing for protimeter originally lol

[@Darelislt]

😂😂😂 Please read below Copied from Protimeter user manual It is recommended that users place the meter onto different areas to measure and do not slide the meter across surfaces