Where does it come from
All of us from the childhood is familiar with the effect that breathing on the cold window, and it begins to sweat. Why is this happening? Room air, when it arrived in the lungs, is heated and saturated with water vapor to a relative humidity of 100% (that is, absorbs the maximum amount of water that is able to bear at the current temperature). When you exhale, coming into contact with cold surface of the glass, the air cools, and its ability to hold water decreases sharply . Those particles of water that no longer can stay in the air, are deposited on the glass in the form of small droplets of condensate.
For this reason, a condensate is formed and in the tent. We breathe, warming-up and internal saturating the air with water vapor. If it's chilly outside, the air in contact with the inner surface of the tent is cooled and leaves a portion of excess moisture in the form of dew. For reference, the average person, per night "evaporate" (loses by respiration and through the skin), about 200-300 g of water. So, on cold nights the condensation inside is an unavoidable physical phenomenon.
How to deal with it
First I must say that condensation in double-layer tent is not such a serious cause of discomfort. Drops are formed on the outer tent and safely roll down on its surface on the ground , not affecting us and our things. The only hassle is to dry the tent in the morning, before you put it in your backpack. However, sometimes there are moments when gusts of wind begin to clap wet tent and shook drops of water inside the tent. But these splashes just unpleasant rather than pose a real threat of things getting wet. At the same time, for single-layer tents, the condensation is a real headache, since all that you "breathe" in the morning is on the floor and on the walls, next to your sleeping bag .
The only effective way we can combat condensation, the decrease of moisture inside the tent due to the ventilation drier outside air. For this purpose there isthe ventilation system:
It allows the tent to be blown in the wind . But, most importantly, working effectively and in its complete absence, due to the similar effect occurring in the chimney .
Depending on the specific model ventilation design may differ, but in General there are some General rules that ensure its effectiveness:
- Ventilation openings should be located as high as possible (to ensure the best vertical air movement).
- The outer edge of the awning is raised high above the ground. Winter tent make tent, reaching to ground level or provided with a storm skirt. In strong winds it is justified, but a quiet summer on the Parking lot in tents accumulate more condensation (partly exposed treated by skirts and a partial undoing of inputs ).
Ventilation Windows can be adjusted, reducing or increasing the airflow depending on the weather and personal preference. In windy weather close. In windless open. But, in any case, we must remember that needs airing when it's hot, but, paradoxically, and in cold nights to minimize condensation.
However, again, there are conditions where even with fully open ventilation to avoid condensation impossible. If the outside humidity is close to 100%, once diluted and dry internal atmosphere he is no longer able. So that drops formed on the inside of the tent when the fog or during the long rain - this is quite normal (it is often mistaken for a leaking tent, but it rarely is really so).