Condensation Info and Tips.

What causes condensation in tents / awnings?
Air temperature in all tents / awnings can become warm and humid from people, heaters, and a lack of ventilation. When the warm air inside the tents / awnings hits the relatively cool fabric of the tents / awnings, the moisture then condenses into liquid form.

Condensation in tents / awnings can affect campers at all experience levels. Many people have noticed moisture on the inside of their flysheet or water collecting in their tents / awnings overnight. Condensation will initially bead up and collect on the inside of the flysheet. As the build-up increases, the condensation will then drip from the seams or hanging points inside the tent / awning. This is because the seams or hanging points break the surface tension of the condensation droplets causing them to fall and thus appear like leakage. Condensation can at times be very severe and requires proper ventilation to manage and reduce build up.

This article will discuss why condensation occurs in tents / awnings and outline steps to minimize its formation.

Is it a leak or condensation?
Finding water inside tents / awnings does not usually mean that they have leaked. All Khyam tents / awnings are constructed with water resistant fabrics of 5000 mm HH or more, which is far higher than the average for the trade, with durable stitching techniques, and sealed seams to prevent external moisture from entering. 

All polyester and nylon fabrics although having a water resistant coating (the higher the HH the better) but are not waterproof. 

Should water pool on the roof section of your tent/awning, either as a result of it not being properly guyed and tensioned or in extremely adverse weather conditions, then eventually the water will leak through. Again, this is not a fault of the product.   
It is highly unlikely, indeed its unheard of at Khyam, for a tent to leak all over. On occasions and very infrequently a particular panel in a tent/awning may have been unevenly coated that could allow an ingress of external water. If you experience what appears leakage all over your tent or awning, it is more than likely this is condensation, which is not a fault of the product.  

How much condensation forms in a tents / awning?
An individual can generate up to one pint of condensation per night while sleeping in a tent / awning. In a group of five people, up to five pints of water could accumulate inside the tents / awnings overnight. Additional sources of moisture include wet shoes, clothing, pets, cooking activities, and even the air itself. Warmer air holds more moisture; as temperatures drop at night, excess moisture is released. It is particularly prevalent in the UK climate of warm days and cold nights.  

Can condensation form in an unoccupied tent / awning?
Yes, the air in an unoccupied large tent / awning can contain a considerable amount of water vapour.

Moisture in the ground can also evaporate into the air inside the tent / awning adding to the build up of condensation.

If your tents / awnings have an optional ‘Clip In’ or ‘Removable’ groundsheet, it is always better to ensure the groundsheet is in place as this will prevent moisture from the ground evaporating into the air inside the tents / awnings. 

How can condensation build be reduced?
Ventilation is key and proper ventilation is crucial. Open tent vents, doors, and windows to allow moist air to escape and cooler, drier air to enter. Without good airflow, warm air will settle on cold surfaces for long enough to cool down below the dew point and condense to a liquid. It’s therefore important that air can move freely and constantly around the tent.

What should I do if I really think my tent / awning is leaking?
If you have the space, it is always a good idea to test your tent / awning before the start of each camping season. This not only ensures you have all the relevant parts and that the structural integrity is good but also you can test if the tent requires reproofing.

On a warm dry day, pitch you tent / awning normally and check that the flysheet is dry both inside and outside of the tent. Using a hosepipe spray water up into the air so it falls like rain onto the flysheet for about 10 minutes. Do not spray water directly from the hosepipe onto the flysheet. This is because the mains water pressure is far higher than that of rain fall and it may damage the water repellent coating on the outside of the flysheet.
If the flysheet of your tent / awning needs reproofing, you will find that the water falling on the flysheet will penetrate the flysheet and bead up on the inside and eventually fall off onto the ground / groundsheet below.

If your tent does require reproofing, there are many kinds of proofing agents on the market. Always test any proofing agent in a small inconspicuous area around the base of the flysheet first before committing to reproofing the full tent / awning
After testing or reproofing, please ensure your tent / awning is completely dry before packing away.