This is a guest post about how to take care of your caravan and make sure it is weatherproof. As someone who has stayed in multiple caravans making sure that you follow the steps for how to weatherproof is caravan is an important post – especially if you’re considering buying a caravan or a touring van.

How to weatherproof your caravan

Keeping your caravan weatherproof is incredibly important, especially as the years go by and your many adventures begin to take their toll.

Among the biggest threats to your caravan is water getting in where it shouldn’t, known as ‘water ingress’. When sealant gets damaged or begins to show the signs of age, it can lead to leaks. And if this is not dealt with, and the rain starts getting inside your caravan, you could wrack up a hefty repair bill. Plus staying in damp and mildewed conditions is miserable – not to mention bad for your health.

So, in this article, we explore how to check your caravan for leaks, how to prolong its water-tight status, and how to combat damp before it dampens your spirits. Let’s get started.

What is water ingress?

Water ingress is when water gets into the body of your caravan and begins to rot the wooden frame. The danger is that this can happen without you really noticing; the damage can oftenbe invisible for quite a long time before you spot it and then realise its true extent.

The best course of action is to check your caravan often, so that you catch and repair any leaks before they become a more serious problem.

How to find a leak in your caravan

It’s wise to be proactive about leaks, even if you don’t think you have any. But whether you’re on the hunt for suspected water ingress, or are just giving your caravan a preventative once-over, it’s a good idea to start on the outside.

Checking the exterior

1. Using a ladder, inspect the sealant on the roof, paying particular attention to hatches, antenna and skylights. Top tip – take care you don’t create more problems by puttingyour weight on the roof where it’s not supported.

2. Check around windows, doors, and vents to see if any sealant has degraded.

3. Look over any additional fixings that may have required drilling into the body of your caravan, such as a bike rack or ladder.

4. If you’ve been in any accidents, keep an eye on any dents, cracks or deformations too. 

Checking the interior

1. Look for visible signs of water – stains, but also any drips, pools or patches. If you do find any, locate their source.

2. Test your caravan’s watertightness – you can simulate rain with a hose and have someone inside to look for any water that’s getting in.

3. Check your plumbing – make sure your pipe fittings and connections are tight and that everything’s working as it should.

4. Keep on top of mould and mildew – the usual suspects are your bathroom, kitchen and cupboards, but also look under cushions or bedding, especially if it’s a long time since they’ve been aired.

5. Conduct a thorough check of sealant in your bathroom as, although it’s less common, the leak could be coming from inside.

Top tip: make sure you trace any leakage to its actual source. This can sometimes be a good distance away from where the water first became apparent, particularly if the leak’s in your caravan roof.

How to seal a leak

You’ll want to make sure you pick the right type of sealant for any leaks you find. Silicon sealants are the most common and they provide a good quality long-term fix. Some are better suited to the interior and others are better suited to the exterior, so be sure to check their packaging or consult an expert if unsure.

When it comes to fixing the leak itself, here are a few things to remember:

• Completely remove the old sealant with a plastic scraper.

• Clean the affected area and get rid of any debris or dust. If it’s damp, let it dry out.

• Once you’ve applied the sealant, let it dry completely before you paint over it.

• Check the leak is sealed by running water over it and seeing if any gets through

Tips for keeping your caravan weatherproof over time

While the weatherproof status of any caravan will degrade over time, there are certain measures you can take to delay the process and keep your pride and joy in tip top condition.

• Invest in inspections – experts will be able to spot the things that you can’t, so it never hurts to have a specialist look over your caravan every once in a while.

• Improve your insulation – this will reduce draughts and help prevent damp, as well asmaking your caravan more energy efficient.

• Store your caravan inside – if possible, store your caravan in a garage or dedicated storage facility, away from the elements. As an added bonus, this can also make your caravan more secure and less likely to be damaged or stolen.

• Invest in a cover – if you need to store your caravan outside, invest in a cover to keep out the worst of the weather. Remember to remove it from time to time to check over your caravan.

• Take special care of the roof – keep it clean and clear off debris, such as any leaves and fallen branches that may accumulate there.

​How to fight damp

When it comes to damp, prevention is better than a cure and you have several measures in your arsenal. Here are our top tips for keeping damp at bay:

• Don’t block your vents – you want as much airflow around your caravan as possible.

• Dry any wet clothes, towels, and even pets outside if you can.

• Clean your caravan regularly – you might well spot signs of bigger problems early, as well as maintaining good living conditions.

• Keep your space well-ventilated by opening windows at night or when cooking. Boiling on the hob produces moisture, which you certainly don’t want to hang around.

• Use a dehumidifier between trips and while your caravan is in storage to help prevent damp.

There for the things you miss

Of course, you could do all the checks in the world and still have damp sneak up on you – and unlike fence posts and low walls, you can’t even see it in your mirrors.

While it’s not a legal requirement, having a caravan insurance policy in place is a sensible way to protect your vehicle and your pocket should the unpredictable happen.

With InsureMy, you can compare quotes from our panel of trusted insurers in minutes and find the cover that suits you best. And better still, everything comes with our water-tight lowest price guarantee.

So, if you want to be sure of the very best deal, don’t take a rain check. Check out InsureMy instead.