How do you cure condensation?

[domhart10]

After a broken seal to the windscreen and a never ending rainy days the inside of the car had gotted a bit wet to say the least.

After changing the windscreen and then leaving all the towels on the carpet for some time to soak up the water .... I then took a hover to the affected footwell which seemed to hover up more water which was good.

I still seem to have condensation inside the car now which makes mornings quite frustrating waiting for the windscreen to clear.

So I wanted to ask how you guys might of dealt with these problems?

[NigelDay]

A long drive with the air conditioning on, the temperature turned up and a rear window dropped an inch ?
On a sunny day, leave the windows down a little when parked up.

[Peter86]

You could try a unibond aero 360 moisture absorber that you use in houses and leave it in over night. Doesn't need plugging in just remember to take it out when your driving.

[luggsey]

+1 leave the air con on will help.
Park facing the sun if he's out with all windows cracked open.
If the sound proofing under the carpet is saturated then it really needs carpets peeled back to get air in.

[DaveNP]

As Luggsey says if it's got into the soundproofing it will take a lot to dry it out (like when the heater matrix leaks). For the moment I'd be inclined to go with some of those moisture absorbing crystal/gel type things to keep the windows clear, and then strip it out when the weather improves. You could put an electric dehumidifier in there overnight, but you'd have to have one (not cheap) and get power to it, even then it would take quite a few days and nights to get all of the moisture out.

[domhart10]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

A long drive with the air conditioning on, the temperature turned up and a rear window dropped an inch ?
On a sunny day, leave the windows down a little when parked up.

Hey NigelDay, Yeh I have tried that and always have the air condition on and doesnt seem to of changed much really.

[domhart10]

thanks for the comments guys, right going to do a combination. Keep on the aircon and heating with the windows open a bit when driving but thanks to Peter86 I have now ordered 5 of those unibond aero 360 moisture absorber, never new of these things and going to stick them around the house as well

[ITSv40]

There is only one way: remove the carpets and dry them in the house or somewhere warm. the thickness of the sound deadening foam is about 75mm, it will be full of water and the only way to properly dry it is to get warmth and air to it. Simple job to remove the carpets and dry, will take about a week in a dry atmosphere. While the carpets are out the floor pan will dry with the air con on and usual usage.

My sons sunroof leaked on his V50 and there was 50mm of water in the footwells before he realised he had a problem - the carpets felt dry to the touch even though they were standing in sloshing water. used the method above and all was well within a couple of weeks. Also a good chance to give the carpets a deep clean while they are out.

[wimorrison]

Might sound bizarre but cat litter is really good for this - very absorb any (has to be given what is it used for ) and it will also soak up some of the smells that water creates in the car.

Sprinkle it liberally over the whole floor and collect after a few days then hoover the carpet, repeat as required.

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

There is only one way: remove the carpets and dry them in the house or somewhere warm. the thickness of the sound deadening foam is about 75mm, it will be full of water and the only way to properly dry it is to get warmth and air to it. Simple job to remove the carpets and dry, will take about a week in a dry atmosphere. While the carpets are out the floor pan will dry with the air con on and usual usage.

So true
Been there, done that after a leak on an older car.

You really need to lift the carpets - in my older car I could get away with just lifitng them and holding them up from the insulation whilst everything dried.

Use towels and clothes to soak up as much as you can

Leave car standing in the sun with all doors and windows open to get fresh air through it to dry everything as much as possibler - ok not so easy at this time of year but even in a garage overnight it will help

Expect it to take a few weeks to thouroughly dry out

But the longer it stays damp, the more the mould grows - which is why you need to dry it properly ASAP