REVEALED: Damp Check Report - We show you what readings we get

We've just had to play the unexpected game of "Return to Dealer" with our beloved Dethleffs motorhome for a remedial damp check.
Spoiler alert: it passed, but we're not taking any more chances!
In this video, we're diving deep into the world of motorhome maintenance, showing you how we're now doing weekly damp checks using not one, but TWO damp meters.
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Join us as we:
Reveal the drama behind the dealer visit (and the relief that followed!).
Break down the science (or is it more like voodoo?) of using ultrasound and pin meters for damp detection.
Share tips on how to keep your home on wheels as dry as a good martini.
Engage in some light-hearted banter because, let’s face it, maintenance is only fun when you make it fun!
Don't forget to:
Like this video if you've ever had your own motorhome or RV woes!
Comment below with your damp detection stories or tips. Have you ever caught a sneaky leak?
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Join the community where every journey is an adventure, and every problem is a story. Let's keep the damp at bay together!
#MotorhomeMaintenance #DampCheck #RVLife #TravelWithUs #TheHappyTravellers
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[@TheHappyTravellers]

All seems well with the damp in the garage. Still getting condensation though so we need to keep an eye on that :)

[@DDLovett]

Hi guys. We haven't used our oven once since we got an air fryer. I would take out the oven and use the space to store a nice two drawer air fryer. Quicker cooking and way easier to clean.

[@richardhewitt.easyvanlife.6957]

I love Oundle, a pretty little town,with lots of character. Glad your keeping Just William.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Yes it's such a releif it is all working out :)

[@dawnvallance861]

So glad your back in Just William and happy. You can now look forward to your adventures in Portugal 🇵🇹 happy days for you both Steve & Wendy 😎 xx

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you Dawn ❤️❤️❤️

[@ReadySteadyTow]

You guys look like a big stress has lifted !! Glad it's all working out. Looking forward to seeing that winter sun!!

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you :) We're booked on the channel tunnel next week ! 😁

[@kierandoherty9292]

So pleased your damp problem has been resolved satisfactorily. We use replaceable damp crystal kit and leave them in the garage area when not travelling. Open your locker doors in good weather and let fresh air circulate. We noticed a lot of the items in your garage are plastic no fabric which would absorb moisture naturally. On a happier note we will be in Benidorm over Christmas &New year so might run into you. We are stuck in France with a brocken turbo waiting to be fixed at a garage. We are going to a hotel for 3 days while they fix it for us. Take care x

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hey Keiran, thanks for the comment. Sorry you're stuck in France and for the broken turbo :( We're probably in Benidorm sometime in March on our way back to the UK. If you're still down there then yes would love to meet up :)

[@Craftaholic36]

Glad to hear all went well and you're back in Just William. Sending you both a big hug and good luck with your travels x

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you 🙏 ❤️

[@myhomeonthehillside]

I'm so glad to hear that things are going well with William . You are both looking so much happier now :) I hope you are OK in this storm! It's bad here, but should be over by 6pm :) Happy Sunday!

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Caroline, Yes we are OK but a very windy night. Just William is looking good :)

[@user-Tortured-soul]

Treat yourself a good De’Longhi DEX212F dehumidifier. Another good buy is Karcher rechargeable window moisture remover hoover. Both items are great for keeping condensation away. Don’t buy cheap dehumidifiers. Both items are cheap to run. All the best lovelies. Ps One more good buy is an air fryer with drawers they are better than the gas ovens.Happy Holidays ❤

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you for those excellent suggestions 👍😀😎

[@susannetoon2709]

Big relief because damp can be a big problem .William sounds like a great motor home.justthoupughy check everything and maybey get that Thetford fridge exchange.Needs to be everything that you need though with advent of long power hybrids a d hydrogen cella you could change your mind further down the Riad.Be Happy.Stay strong .Love sx

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Ah the Thetford Fridge, they're usually a problem at some point. We lost loads of frozen food TWICE in the comanche due to the thetford fridge randomly stopping working. We'll maybe change to a 12volt only next year OR when this one goes wrong. We're planning on upgrading th ebattery to a 300amh lithium, getting a DC charger (50amp Victron XS) and adding lots of solar panels. with that lot we should become self sufficient for electricity throughout the year :)

[@susangranger3089]

So glad you have got your van sorted, you can now move on, with your travels. Keep checking though and take care. ❤️ xx

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you Susan, yes we can "move on" now. Just need to do the final storage clear out this week and then we are off to Europe on 19th December 👍😁😎

[@thomasoleary2865]

Hi, from Killarney, Ireland. Please don't worry about damp, we really want you to enjoy Just William and your journey your travels. I think you should ease off on the damp readings and try to enjoy your motorhome. With the cooker just remove the cutlery drawer and let the heating escape while cooking. Our cooker is so below par, I don't think it will cook up enough heat to cook anything. That said I believe one can remove the cooker and fiddle around with it to make it cook at a higher temperature. Perhaps the cooker might have been given a turbo boost by the first owner. Just take the drawer out and let the heat escape. We are really enjoying your UTube presentations and took forward to your travel reports. God speed.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Thomas, excellent practical advice ❤️❤️❤️

[@patsyS1955]

So glad you have got it sorted. Happy Travels now

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Patsy, Yes we are on the channel Tunnel on 19th December and off to France, Spain and Portugal for our 90 day winter sun trip :)

[@patsyS1955]

@TheHappyTravellers marvellous 👍. I travelled around Australia for 8 years, working for 6 months and then playing for 6 months. I loved the lifestyle. Enjoy your travels x

[@MotoGoYo]

If you are on campsites (and I'm probably telling you what you already know), it's dryer to use electric rather than gas for reducing condensation. Not practical off-site though to use electricity for heating unless you have a diesel heater installed which in my experience are excellent.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks for commenting :) We are on gas only heating which is a bit of a pain. We plan to have a diesel heater fitted next year when funds allow.

[@EuroStylingUK]

Glad all is ok ❤

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you 🙏 ❤️

[@gailh3048]

So glad you’ve got Just William back 🙂

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thank you Gail. Having Just William back is such a relief 👍😀😎

[@mrstevepace]

I have one of those pinned damp meters that looks exactly the same as yours. I experimented on a piece of dry wood that had been stored for several years on racking in my dry insulated garage attached to my house. I had readings from 15 to 25% and the wood felt bone dry.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Yes 15% can be considered “dry” and not a problem at all 👍😀😎

[@elliotedge4307]

If you go benidorm camping almafera is 5 star about a mile outside benidorm iv been 3 times i no u will both love it there .

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Thanks Elliot 👍 we’ll look that up 👍😀😎

[@davidwilliams-du4ru]

Great to see you back in the van, I must say you both look more relaxed now. Door seals will always be a problem so please don’t get paranoid in that respect. Just a thought, would adding insulation to your garage floor improve the problem of condensation. Enjoy your van and have a wonderful trip down to Spain and Portugal, my wife and I will follow your trip with much interest. We shall be going in April.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hi David, thanks for your support. We’re looking at various condensation solutions but we’ll see how things go on our trip to Spain and Portugal. Might be it’s a problem that limited to the English Winter 👍

[@pathfinder303]

I would advise everyone to do their own damp test, buy a tester and DIY. I have heard of many hab checks being done by unscrupulous traders who then buy the caravan or motorhome at an horrendously low cost.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Yes dealers can be right crooks 👍

[@CharlesGuilcher]

When i had a hab check, it came back with no problems. This was a false reading. I had lots of problems. The older style motorhomes are made of sandwiched 4mm ply covered in sticky vynil. I can assume your motorhome is a lot more modern than mine. You might have plastic sheets glued to aluminum struts instead of wood. If this is the case, you have no worries about damp problems. Good luck with your travels.

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hi Charles, yes just William is a 2021 model (Dethleffs Just 90) so mostly composit sandwich. The garage floor is 18mm marine ply so may be the only thing that would suffer from damp.

[@terrydewdney207]

Well have to meet up one day I live in crawly wet sx

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hey Terry, yes would be great to meet up :)

[@TheHappyTravellers]

I copied your address but removed it from here.

[@colinwells4572]

Hi. Did you know that there is a little metal slide out panel at very top of oven that should be pulled out whe using oven or grill ??

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hi Colin, yes that was broken but has been fixed by the dealer :)

[@ipirrie6734]

Do you pull out the little heat guard above the oven door when using it?

[@alob7809]

Had our van with a Thetford oven for four years and didn’t realise that this part actually slides out, thank you😊

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Yes, that's one of the things the van had to go back to the dealers to fix. Since we have had the Dealer look at the problems it seems to have improved :)

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hahaha, some of them are "spring loaded" so come out automatically when you open the oven door. Ours needed fixing but is the pull out type rather than spring loaded :(

[@StephenHall-u4b]

Regarding your oven, where’s the grill, that would leave a good airflow above the oven , strange ! You’re going to be obsessed with the damp checks now. You’re as bad as me… great blog. Happy days for you and the Mrs…

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Hahaha, yes I'll be obsessed with it for a while then I'll get over it :) The grill is in the oven at the top and not in a separate compartment ...

[@elliotedge4307]

If the reading woz false. Y keep checking?

[@TheHappyTravellers]

Good question 👍 It’s a little thing called trust. I’m no expert so it’d be easy to lie to me about things and the only way to know is to check.