Stop the rain in my shipping container... :)

TWD · Feb 8, 2016

Has anyone been able to prevent the condensation in a shipping container simply by using solar ventilation ?

How many CFM is needed?

2 weeks ago we had snow, now it's 70* -- one of my containers in the shade is practically raining inside, all metal is wet not just the walls/roof... a roll of paper towels I had in there is extremely damp all the way through.

I don't want to run a dehumidifier in there, or pay $500+ for insulation... hopefully a couple vents in the roof with solar fans is enough, it's not humid outside (CA).

What have you done

newbury · Feb 8, 2016

Not for a shipping container, but for my 60x40 shop I had 1" of sheet insulation applied. If you've got a 40x8.5 container I'd think you could do it yourself for about 50 cents/sq ft. w/ 1 inch.
All you have to do is keep it from condensing.

Maybe could spray it on.

k0ua · Feb 8, 2016

I was able to stop the rain in my "Kioti house" by adding large passive vents in each end. it was enough to stop the condensation.

Kenneth in Texas · Feb 8, 2016

TWD said:
Has anyone been able to prevent the condensation in a shipping container simply by using solar ventilation ?

How many CFM is needed?

2 weeks ago we had snow, now it's 70* -- one of my containers in the shade is practically raining inside, all metal is wet not just the walls/roof... a roll of paper towels I had in there is extremely damp all the way through.

I don't want to run a dehumidifier in there, or pay $500+ for insulation... hopefully a couple vents in the roof with solar fans is enough, it's not humid outside (CA).

What have you done

good question, wonder how they handle that when its on a ship crossing the oceans?

Also, i was thinking of burying one of these for an underground shelter, anyone had any experience with that?

Luke'sScreenName · Feb 8, 2016

Like a coffin? Pretty sure it'll rain in my coffin too.

mark02tj · Feb 9, 2016

Kenneth in Texas said:
Also, i was thinking of burying one of these for an underground shelter, anyone had any experience with that?

I'm not an expert on this, but have read on several websites that these containers are not structurally set up to be buried. I don't remember the particulars, but it might have had something to do with the "roof" material not being structurally sound enough to carry the weight of the soil piled on it.

Think about how these things are shipped and stacked. The structural strength is on the corners.

You can probably find a lot more info on this on some "survivalist" sites.

travlitt · Feb 9, 2016

Kenneth in Texas said:
good question, wonder how they handle that when its on a ship crossing the oceans?

Also, i was thinking of burying one of these for an underground shelter, anyone had any experience with that?

Mr Kenneth...before you bury one you might want to review a problem I had to deal with.

Problem with concrete floor in a quonset shop building 24/30

EddieWalker · Feb 9, 2016

I put a large vent near the floor at one end of my container, and then a large spinning roof vent into the roof of it at the other end. Airflow through the container, especially along the ceiling, dries out the condensation formed on the roof of the container. It's not 100 percent, but it has cut it down to not being noticeable anymore.

Air comes in through the lowest point at it's lowest temperature, then rises inside the container as it warms up and travels out the vent. This airflow, while slow, is steady.