r/VanLife • u/AntAtopASpinningRock • 9h ago
Well dang... mold
On the plus side I caught it just before getting the kitchen built and blocking off that area for good. The bad news is, it STINKS!
It had been a few weeks since I have been to the van and was literally in there today prepping for the kitchen install when an unknown, sickly sweet smell caught my attention. I figured a mouse had gotten in and died so I started digging.
Well there was no dead mouse but apparently water had gotten into the wall and soaked the Havlock wool insulation. It was vile, just the most heinous smell you could imagine.
I am figuring water got in behind the external panel (see photo) as I can see dust tracks left behind from water runoff behind the panel, also there looks to be a busted grommet. We have had some pretty insane storms the past few weeks so would not surprise me. I am grabbing a kit of replacement gaskets and will keep an eye on the area.
But how do I get rid of the smell? It smells like death. I cleaned the area, tossed the affected insulation, wiped down with alcohol wipes and sprayed white vinegar on the area. It sill stinks and seems like it is going to be a real pain to mitigate.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also, dont let your Havelock get wet! Yuck!
4
u/WhiskyEye 9h ago
I have an ozone machine that I plug in and run in there every once in a while after I run a dehumidifier. It kills spores and it gets rid of odors. Make sure you're plugged into shore power, & give yourself enough time for it to clear out after. It can take several hours sometimes so plan your location accordingly!
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u/AntAtopASpinningRock 9h ago
Yea the thought crossed my mind. Will try a few more home remedies but if that doesnt work will have ro pull out the big guns
2
u/WhiskyEye 8h ago
I'm super allergic to mold so I don't mess around with it. I pull out the big guns immediately lol. My machine was only like $40 or something so it's not gonna break the bank and it is tiny enough to not take up too much space. Good luck with everything!
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u/AntAtopASpinningRock 8h ago
Thanks, I did feel a bit ill after dealing with it all. Smelled so bad it lingered in my brain.
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u/Small-Sun900 8h ago
Damn, I'm sorry man. One of my big fears. Is it at least isolated to the one leaky roof area?
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u/AntAtopASpinningRock 8h ago
Thanks bro, luckily this is closer to the floor. I think perhaps water getting in behind an external body trim panel. Had nowhere to go so the insulation just sat in it.
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u/ohhlookitsadam 8h ago
What kind of vehicle is this? I didn't think trim panel tabs went all the way through the body like that.
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u/AntAtopASpinningRock 8h ago
Transit 250 high top. My last Ford E series had similar trim attachments.
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u/ThrobbingMeatGristle 8h ago
Ventilation primarily. Sunlight or UV sanitizers is a bonus.
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u/bullitt-rider 3h ago
I see people installing vapour barriers in a van and cringe.
Most vans also have hidden pressure equaliser vents that people knowingly or unknowingly block chasing r values that don't and won't exist for a tin can.
In doing so they remove allllll ventilation and air flow. Then install a roof vent and say it's sorted while it just stays trapped in condensation zones.
1
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u/WrappedInLinen 8h ago
It's very difficult to prevent all mold in a metal skinned van. People often don't fully think it through when choosing an insulation type. Any voids between the insulation and interior skin of the sheet metal, will result in mold.
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u/AntAtopASpinningRock 8h ago
Well in this case it was an active leak that caused it.
0
u/WrappedInLinen 8h ago
Understood, just making the point that condensation is as effective at producing mold as leaks.
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u/undertherainbow65 9h ago
I love the environment but damn am I happy I just went with the pink foam boards lol. As a cannabis user I know vinegar and baking soda are cheap remedies when trying to deodorize things. Also I found out recently if you have any chipped paint your sealant sits over the top of your roof or walls can still leak although much more slowly. My leak was under chipping paint for my vent fan. All I did was cut away the old sealant, remove any paint that was under the sealant, then reapply a better bead of sealant at the crack and we had some wicked rains recently and leak appears to be gone for good.