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New Tent Issues

NEW TENT ISSUES

If you have an issue with your new tent before returning it we ask you to consider the following points as highlighted on our tent Information Sheet supplied with the tent.

  1. All Tents need to go through a cycle of getting wet and dry before they will become fully weather-proof. This is to allow all the tent fibres and fabrics to settle. The fabrics will not have been stretched into their correct tensions until you erect the tent It is not unusual to experience fine water spray inside the tent during the 1st couple of uses of a new tent.
  2. Any leaking will tend to be from the seams, the polyester materials used is 100% waterproof, so the only points where new tents will leak is on the seams. All seams on a polyester tent need to be sealed. This is because polyester is a manmade fabric and unlike Cotton the Fibres do not expand when wet. Therefore most seams will have been sealed by the manufacturer with a heat sealed plastic strip applied over the seams. It is often not possible for the manufacturers to seal all seams and you should apply a proprietary seam sealant over any problematic seams not sealed (We recommend Stormsure or Stormgrip). It is also possible for the manufacturer’s heat sealed tape to come away from the seams and again these should be repaired by applying seam sealant.
  3. As previously mentioned Polyester is 100% Waterproof so it is inevitable in a Polyester tent you will experience condensation. The vast majority of reports of leaking in Polyester tents are usually found to be caused by condensation. There are 3 main causes of Condensation:-
  • Overnight the average human body produces between 1 & 2 Pints of liquid from   breath & Skin which evaporates then condensates on the tents flysheet.
  • The difference in temp, between the colder outside air and the warmer air temp inside the tent. High humidity, low temperatures, rainy conditions combined with minimal winds will lead to maximum condensation.
  • Moisture from wet gear in the tent will evaporate & Condense on the flysheet.
  • Cooking or naked flames are never recommended in a polyester tent due to the risk of fire. However in a Polyester tent any steam produced as a result of cooking will condensate on the flysheet.

To reduce condensation manufacturers build vents into the tent. Ensure that all the vents are pegged or supported open to allow maximum air flow and air your tent every morning.

 We are confident that the points highlighted will be the cause of any problems you may experience with your new tent. , If you are still unhappy you are welcome to contact us to discuss these matters and we will take your issues up with the manufacturer if necessary. Please remember that the manufacturer will only warranty the tent against manufacturing defects and all manufacturers have different exclusions to this warranty.