Why Does My RV Have Condensation On The Ceiling?

 If you have been unforchunate to discover condensation on your RV’s ceiling, you are likely wondering why this has happened. The simple answer would be that some kind of moisture and change of temperature has caused condensation to form on areas of your ceiling. But it is very important to find where this moisture is coming from, as continual exposure to moisture may cause water damage or mold to your RV’s interior. One of the most common sources for condensation in your RV would be from the air conditioner.


While condensation will usually come from your AC, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your air conditioning unit. Actually, having condensation is pretty normal, but you still need to know how to properly deal with the moisture. Most RV’s will have a duct from your AC unit that exits through your ceiling. While this is completely necessary, this vent may malfunction during points of high humidity. The humidity will cause extreme moisture and condensation that will reveal itself on your ceiling. In order to fix this, some RV owners recommend removing the vent grill altogether so air can blow straight through.

Most air conditioners have a pan underneath the evaporator coils that collects water and condensation. If you are certain your condensation problem is coming from your AC unit, you should check their coils for blockages or something that is preventing the water from draining in the condensation pan. If you have never cleaned your coils or air filters they could be filled with dirt, mold, pet hair, etc; which will lead to poor draining. In order for your air conditioner to properly filter moisture, you need to make sure everything is clean and functioning properly.

While air conditioners, humidity, and lack of proper air flow are the biggest and most common reasons for finding condensation on your RV’s ceiling, another probable reason is that something may be wrong with your roof. You will want to make sure that rain and water is draining off of your roof properly. If there is damage in your roof, water could be leaking and start seeping through the drywall on your ceiling. If this is the case, you should see more of a wet spot on your ceiling, but if you catch it at an early point it will look like condensation. While this isn’t usually the case, it is something you should keep an eye on and consider.

Unfortunately, you cannot control the weather or humidity of the area you are camping in. However there are a few things you can do to limit the moisture and condensation inside your camper. Many times, air conditioners will build up moisture on the front, underneath, or just above the unit. If you see this condensation begin to build up, quickly wipe it off. Yes, this doesn’t really solve the problem, but it will prevent it from dripping and causing water damage.

Since humidity is one of the biggest reasons your air conditioner will even begin causing condensation, using a dehumidifier could help prevent it in the first place. This isn’t guaranteed to fix the problem, but it is still great to use while you are finding a solution to your problem. Water damage can be pretty pricey to fix, and can cause extreme problems to your furniture and interior. Dehumidifiers will help pull out all the moisture in the air and keep your RV from growing mold.

While air conditioners contribute to condensation and moisture, sometimes it may simply be from a lack of air circulation in your RV. If you are camping in a super hot or humid area, making sure you have proper air flow throughout the camper is vital. Keep in mind that cooking, running appliances, or taking a shower can increase the humidity in your RV. So whenever you are doing one of these things, try and open a few windows or turn on a dehumidifier.

Utilizing fans in your RV is another important tool that can make such a huge difference in your camper. You should keep at least one small fan in rooms like your bathroom and kitchen so you can minimize the amount of humidity in the room after cooking or taking a shower. There are many inexpensive fan options that don’t take up much space and are perfect for RV living.

At the end of the day, there may not be much you can do to prevent condensation from forming altogether unless you have the ability to travel to a place with a less humid climate. Running fansdehumidifiers, and opening windows could help provide some air flow that should help with forming condensation. Make sure you are wiping up any condensation you find on your ceiling, walls, or floor to prevent water damage and mold.

Continue reading to learn more about how you can get rid of humidity in your RV:

How Do I Get Rid Of Humidity In My RV?

There are quite a few ways you can attempt to remove humidity from your RV. This is very important to do, as humidity could lead to condensation which could lead to mold and water damage to the interior of your camper. So in this section of our article, we will look at some easy and inexpensive ways you can get rid of the humidity inside your RV:

  • Fans. There are so many different fans that can be used inside your RV to keep your camper cool and rid of humidity. Placing one or two small fans inside a room can make a significant difference in the temperature and humidity level of your camper. You don’t need to purchase an expensive or fancy fan, just a small circulating fan could make a huge difference in your bathroom or kitchen.

  • Dehumidifier. While fans work as a dehumidifier, getting a heavy duty one can be a life saver in case of an emergency when condensation has begun damaging your interior. Dehumidifiers draw the moisture out of the air, your home, your furniture, etc. You will be amazed at the difference a dehumidifier can make inside your RV, you may even want one for every room of your camper.

  • Air flow. Perhaps one of the most simple things you can do to decrease the amount of moisture in your camper is to get proper air flow throughout the RV. If you have noticed quite a bit of moisture and condensation in your RV, you may be able to resolve it by simply opening a window in a really humid room. Even if you can’t open a window, any kind of air flow (such as one from a fan) could be just enough to prevent condensation or mold growth in your camper.

Check out some of these great products that will help you rid your RV of moisture and condensation:

Dometic Air Conditioner

Dometic is one of the most well known RV appliance brands, so check out this awesome air conditioner option! If you have found your air conditioner needs replaced or is causing a problems that has led to increased condensation build-up, you may want to consider buying a replacement. Check out this awesome Dometic air conditioner option.

Rechargeable Clip On Circulating Fan

This clip on fan is small but powerful option that could help provide you with the necessary air flow in your RV. This fan can be clipped to countertops or other flat surfaces, and moved from room to room as needed. This is a great fan option to keep your RV free of humidity and moisture.

Woozoo Oscillating Circulator Fan

This is another great fan option that is small, compact, and portable for easy use. This fan has many custom settings and speeds, and can be set on a shelf or somewhere out of the way while still being powerful and useful. Check out this awesome oscillating circulator fan.


Portable Compact Ultra Quiet Dehumidifier

This is an awesome dehumidifier that has many great features! This portable and compact dehumidifier is super quiet, and will keep moisture below 35% in a 480 square feet area. This is a also easy to move around so you can take to all areas of your RV or home. Check it out here!

We hope this article helped you determine why there is condensation on your RV’s ceiling! Sharing problems and solutions can make RV living so much easier. So if we didn’t include something that you have experienced, please leave a comment below to share with others. Until then, enjoy, be safe and have fun RVing!

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