How to Prevent and Manage Condensation in Your Shipping Container

Last Updated on March 4, 2025

One of the main problems when using shipping containers for storage is condensation. It is a very common concern, especially in certain climates, and needs to be addressed quite quickly to prevent any damage to the goods stored inside; soft furnishings in particular are susceptible to mould due to condensation.

What Causes Condensation in Shipping Containers?

Condensation occurs when warm air collides with cold surfaces, or when there’s too much humidity. When this moisture-packed warm air comes into contact with a chilly surface, it cools down quickly and releases water, which turns into liquid droplets on the cold surface. Temperature fluctuations, humidity, poor insulation and placement of goods stored can all cause condensation in a shipping container.

The Risks of Not Dealing with Condensation

Condensation must be dealt with effectively to protect the longevity of your container and also the goods stored inside. If condensation is allowed to go unchecked, it can affect the structure of the shipping container, causing paint deterioration, rust and corrosion. Increased rusting and corrosion in turn cause holes in the container, creating weak areas that will leak in time and cause further damage. Goods inside the container may also be damaged by mould or dampness. This in turn may result in increased maintenance or repair costs over time.

How to Prevent Condensation in Your Shipping Container

There are a few general tips that can help prevent condensation in shipping containers.

1. Containers need to be well-vented. More ventilation means less condensation. Most new/one-trip shipping containers come with a minimum of 10 vents, whereas second-hand ones may have only two or four vents.
2. We recommend not storing any goods right next to the walls or the ceiling of the container.
3. Open the container doors on a regular basis to encourage more air circulation.
4. Definitely do not put anything that is already wet inside the container, such as a washing machine or fridge.
5. Position the container to avoid direct sunlight or deep shaded areas.
6. If you require any sealed apertures to be drilled into the container, then we recommend you avoid any apertures in the roof, as these may leak.

There are also other ways to help prevent condensation at an additional cost.

1. Add additional vents to the shipping container. More air circulation means less condensation.
2. Have a spray foam insulation coating applied to the internal ceiling and part way down the walls.
3. Hang Absorpoles, metre-long cases with desiccants inside. They are hung from the lashing rings inside the container. The desiccants will collect any moisture in the container and replace the desiccants with an innocuous liquid. NB: These will need to be replaced approximately every 2-3 months to be effective.
4. Fully line and insulate the container. This will help to deflect any moisture by keeping the temperature from fluctuating too much.

How to Deal with Existing Condensation

If you have condensation inside your container, there are a few things you can do:

1. Remove items from your container and dry them out separately, if possible. Only put goods back inside when they are fully dry.
2. Use a dehumidifier or ventilation fans to dry out the container fully.
3. Clean and dry out the container, removing any mould. Leave the doors open to ventilate the container well, although not if it is wet outside, as this will cause more condensation.
4. Check for any rust areas or holes in the container and repair where necessary.
5. For the minimal amount of moisture, we recommend using Absorpoles, which you can buy from us.

How Can We Help?

We can supply you with a New/one-trip shipping container, which is well-vented, for either purchase or hire. We also supply second-hand containers, but they may need to have condensation protection, depending on what you might be storing. We can have the container treated with spray foam insulation, add additional vents, or line and insulate at an additional cost if required. We also supply Absorpoles that can be hung inside the container to trap moisture.

Our company has been trading for over 12 years, with our staff having 60 years of combined container experience and reliability in the shipping container industry.

We provide our customers with high-quality products suitable for long-term use and we are always here to help with any common issues such as condensation.

Conclusion

We recommend the use of a new/one-trip container for any perishable goods or household furnishings. Second-hand containers are fine for items that do not need protection against condensation. The correct container will provide protection for your stored items, prevent any problems arising from condensation and will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Get a quote or telephone us on 0800 121 7388. We look forward to hearing from you and will happily answer any questions you have about condensation or any other concerns you might have.

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