When you touch the tent from the inside, you can let the moisture and rain outside seep into the fabric. So, can you touch the inside of a tent?
You should not touch the tent from the inside. In particular, you need to minimize this action when setting up camp in a humid, rainy environment.
If you want to find a more detailed answer about the phenomenon of tent leaking when touched, do not ignore the shares in this article.
What Can Happen When You Touch The Tent?
When you touch it from the inside, you inadvertently increase the risk of the leakage because the surface tension is not as balanced as before.
When the surface tension is broken, the outside water on the tent that is no longer bound will quickly wet the material that makes up one, resulting in leaks.
When you stop touching it, the phenomenon of water not being linked to surface tension will stop. However, the remaining water on the tent’s surface will continue to accumulate and wet your shelter if the rain has not stopped or the humidity around the area remains high.
Reasons Why Tents Leak When Touched From The Inside
Surface tension seems to be the leading cause of leaks when you touch the inside. However, the phenomenon of leakage is also caused by many factors, of which the following three factors have the most substantial impact:
Hydrostatic head
The hydrostatic head is one of the critical parameters you need to keep in mind when choosing one, especially for products with polyester material.
The hydrostatic head is a parameter used to measure the material’s water resistance that makes the tent.
This parameter is in millimeters. If a product has a 3000mm hydrostatic head, the tent can withstand a water column of 3,00mm. If exceeding this amount of water, the version will show signs of leaking.
In theory, the more hydrostatic the tent, the better the waterproofing ability.
On the market, tents are considered waterproof only when they have a minimum hydrostatic level of 1,000mm – a moderate level to withstand light showers.
Meanwhile, if you want a better waterproof product that can be used well in harsh windy weather, the norm of 2,000 – 3,000 mm will partly meet your needs.
So what does the top hydrostatic rating have to do with water penetration when you accidentally touch the inside of the tent?
If yours has poor hydrostatic capacity, the surface tension on the tent will easily break, making it easier for water to seep through the material.
Capillary phenomenon
When applied to tents, the capillary is the phenomenon where liquids can penetrate the fabric without the help of pressure or gravity.
This capillary phenomenon is directly related to the surface tension mentioned in the previous section. Specifically, capillary phenomena occur when the wetting force of water is greater than the surface tension.
The wetting force causes the solution, specifically rainwater, to be retained on the surface.
Surface tension
From all the above conclusions, disturbance in surface tension is the source of leakage when you touch the tent.
The balance of surface tension is the key to a waterproof margin. Conversely, any change in the texture of the surface tension results in water seeping into the tent.
Because a specific force binds together all water molecules, the molecules will interact, forming a block, and this bond will not leak your product until the interaction stops.
And the destruction of surface tension is how this tight interaction breaks apart. The water molecules will no longer be bound together.
Instead, on the surface of the tent, water droplets will form. The capillary phenomenon will absorb the above water droplets into the material of your tent.
How To Avoid Leakage When Touching The Hut?
To solve the situation of leaking huts in general, you have two main things to do: First, seal all the hut openings. Next, you need to add a waterproof barrier, which helps increase the surface tension of the hut.
Seal the seams
Before increasing the waterproofing capacity of your hut with any chemicals, you need to make sure the hut does not have any open seams or holes that allow water to leak.
If the time of use, as well as harsh conditions, have caused your hut to wear out and holes appear, do not rush to choose to buy new products. You can still seal the seams so you can continue using your favorite hut pattern.
All you need to prepare is fabric (you should use polyurethane coated fabric or something similar to your hut), rubbing alcohol, and seam sealant.
The way to seal the seams is also quite simple, specifically:
- Double-check all the seams of the hut by turning the cover upside down. You will pack the seams on the inside of the hut body and the seams on the underside of the cover, so you should check these locations first. If you see peeling seams, don’t forget to remove those loose seams.
- After a preliminary inspection of the seam, you need to clean the seam gently for the adhesive to work better. The rag and alcohol sanitizer will be your effective assistants in this step.
- After cleaning the seams, it’s time to use glue to seal the hut’s seams once again. After that, you should wait for the glue to dry completely before starting to use the hut.
Restore waterproof surface
If the fabric of the hut cover is peeling off, it’s a sign that it’s time to put a fresh coat of urethane on the hut.
To perform the actions to renew the waterproof layer and the hut sealant, you need to prepare an additional sponge, antiseptic alcohol.
The steps to seal the hut will take place in the following order:
- Spread the outer cover of the hut on a flat surface. At this point, use a sponge and alcohol sanitizer to gently clean the existing flaking layer of the hut.
- Next, follow the instructions on the body of the sealant: apply a thin layer of freshwater repellent to the old mulch or hut floor, then wait at least 24 hours for the coating to dry before resuming use.
Use DWR waterproof coating.
In addition to sealing your hut with a waterproof sealant, you can also use a waterproof spray to quickly and easily renew the DWR layer.
Currently, on the market, there is no shortage of spray-on waterproof products. You need to choose one of them and prepare an extra clean, damp cloth to start repairing your leaky hut.
The steps to apply waterproof coating on the hut, like the solutions above, are pretty simple.
- First, for the best results, you should clean the outside coating of the hut.
- After cleaning, you don’t need to wait for the hut to dry before using the spray. You can spray the waterproofing agent directly onto the cover. After that, you need to wait 3-4 minutes before using a damp cloth to wipe away any residue on the hut’s surface.
- Similar to when using waterproof glue, you need to let the hut dry before using it.
For more tips to follow, you can check out this video below!
FAQs
Can I touch the edges of the lodge?
It would help if you did not touch the edges of the lodge because as has been repeatedly confirmed, touching the lodge can inadvertently cause a leak.
Especially with the lodges made from polycotton, the phenomenon of water seeping through when touching the lodge wall is extremely serious.
Is the lodge leaking?
As mentioned, lodges need to have a minimum hydrostatic level of 1000mm to be considered waterproof.
However, even products with standard hydrostatic properties are likely to leak. Poor quality seams, improper installation, or design flaws can all cause leaks when using a lodge.
Can I sleep in a lodge when it rains?
You can’t camp in the rain unless you’re well prepared.
To not get wet in the above weather conditions, preparing a high-quality waterproof lodge is not enough. You also need to calculate the lodge’s location.
How often should I renew my tenant’s waterproofing?
There isn’t an exact number for the ideal time for you to renew your lodge’s waterproofing. It would help if you relied on the peeling condition of the lodge’s outer layer and the current water resistance to have a timely replacement.
Do all lodges leak?
Nearly every lodge model, no matter what material it’s made of, has a leak risk.
However, some specific materials have a much lower leakage rate than conventional products.
Nylon and poly are two of those best water repellents. Yet, these two materials have a disadvantage: not breathable, making the air in the lodge stuffy and hot.
Related: Why is your tent get sticky?
Conclusion
Above are all the shares to answer the question: “Can you touch the inside of a lodge?”. We hope the above information is helpful to you. Thank you for reading!
Leave a Reply