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Drips in the polytunnel

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  • #1

    Drips in the polytunnel

    No it's not a new variety of anything!

    During the colder weather the metal frame in the tunnel gets condensation on it which drips onto the over wintering crops. Where the drip lands it causes rot.

    How does anyone stop this other than drying the metal on a regular basis?

    Bright ideas please?
    Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet
    Tags: None
  • #2
    You could try covering the metal with foam pipe insulation which is cheap enough or even free from the right skip.
    photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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    • #3
      Thanks I Will give it à try.
      Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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      • #4
        Not trying to be flippant but just avoiding planting directly under the hoops makes a difference. You can also try taping on something to cause the drips to fall a a certain position on the hoop. Same principal as a drip strip at the foot of an outside door.

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        • #5
          Been trying to think why I don't have the same problem but just realised that I use black and white polythene (black side down for weed suppression, white side up to reflect light) which prevents evaporation from the soil and of course if there is little evaporation, there will be little condensation. I cut holes and plant through the polythene and then put down a handful of sharp sand to seal the hole

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          • #6
            Just found this about anti drip paint....

            http://www.pacchem.co.za/wp-content/...ripCoating.pdf

            Might work if you can get hold of some???

            How is your ventilation???
            Would keeping the temperature inside up at night help ( thinking of heat released from buckets/ bottles/ containers of water heated during the day inside the PT heated by the sun)
            "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

            Location....Normandy France

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            • #7
              My poly is very damp this time of year, but it doesnt drip too much, the condensation seems to run down the sides onto the floor. Maybe where the metal poles touch the plastic in your case it is capturing the wet on the poles and actualy stopping it running down the sides onto the floor. It occurs to me that some pipe insulation about an inch long then a 6 inch gap would creat spaces where the plastic is held away fron the poles and the water can just run down the sides? Some experimentation might be needed.

              Also how about a small fan hung in the roof to blow along the ridge which might stop some condensation but be a lot cheaper to run than heating.
              Last edited by Bill HH; 02-11-2015, 10:47 AM.
              photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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              • #8
                Ok sorry, I have to say but....every time I read the title I chuckle and it reminds me of Martin commenting on help with daft birds.

                I will get my coat

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                • #9
                  Hi all

                  Reopening an old thread, but just wondered if you'd found a solution Roitelet? Did pipe insulation work? I'm having the drip problem in my firewood drying polytunnel...

                  Thanks.

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                  • #10
                    Still dripping!!!!! I really must apply myself to the problem.
                    Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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