How do I stop condensation?

pollys

rosie383 wrote: »

Anyone help with what you use to wipe the inside of the windows?

I use a sponge/demister the sort used in the car.

Pollys

Bennifred

lala1974 wrote: »

I bought a dehumidifier on Monday evening after my DH came downstairs and was mortified by the amount of condensation we had in the bedrooms and bathroom - he'd literally wiped it off the walls (not just the windows) and the towels he was holding were dripping wet :eek:. We were really upset - mostly because it is clearly not healthy for our children.

I don't think that drying washing in the house is the sole cause of this but accept that it may have added to it.

Anyhoo, I plugged the dehumidfier in my daughters room (the worst) that evening and moved it onto the landing at bedtime and have done this for the last couple of days (alternating between sons and daughters rooms)!


WOW!!!! What a difference it has made. We have collected 20+ litres of water so far (and thats without me putting any washing around - thought I'd avoid it for a while so the dehumidifier can work some magic without me adding to its workload). Last night it managed to run all night with out cutting off because it was full.
We used to notice that within an hour of the heating being turned off we could feel the cold when we walked up the stairs. In the space of 3 days we have seen such a huge difference. The windows and walls have remained dry. My DH is a postie so gets up very early - he is amazed that he's been able to check out the weather through the bedroom window in the morning without having to wipe it first :rotfl: and my son threw his blankets off last night because he was too warm, we haven't had the heating on since it arrived. :T

Last night it ran all night without cutting off because it was full to capacity. In a few days I will turn it down so that it only clicks on when the humidy rises to a certain point - not sure what that is - I'll use trial and error.

Basically we are thrilled. £150 well spent.

May I ask which make/model you bought, lala? I'm baffled by the options......:o

adelight

bennifred if it helps i bought this one recently http://www.amazon.co.uk/SPECIAL-CLEARANCE-EXTRACTION-ELECTRONIC-DEHUMIDIFIER/dp/B002TQJ32Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1322076072&sr=8-12
it's very good and very simple to use. It's the size of a slim PC tower and about as noisy, you can sleep with it on but I prefer to turn it on in the morning and leave it running while I'm out. Once it fills up it turns itself off which is very useful!

Bennifred

adelight wrote: »

bennifred if it helps i bought this one recently http://www.amazon.co.uk/SPECIAL-CLEARANCE-EXTRACTION-ELECTRONIC-DEHUMIDIFIER/dp/B002TQJ32Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1322076072&sr=8-12
it's very good and very simple to use. It's the size of a slim PC tower and about as noisy, you can sleep with it on but I prefer to turn it on in the morning and leave it running while I'm out. Once it fills up it turns itself off which is very useful!

Thanks adelight - that's very helpful!:beer:

Willem-de-Blois

The general idea is to deal with the condensation issue at source. This can be done with extractor/ ventilation systems or by simply changing simple habits such as cooking with covers on pans and with kitchen windows open. Run a bath by putting cold water in first is a good one too.

Here are some moisture levels produced in a typical three-bedroomed house per day (kg or l):

A family asleep: 1.5 - 2.0
A family during the day: 2.5 - 3.5
Cooking 2.0 - 3.0
Washing and bathing: 1.0 - 1.5
Washing clothes: 0.4 - 0.6
Drying clothes indoors: 3.0 - 5.0

This explains the surprise that people have when they empty a dehumidifier for the first time.

There are some elements that can compound the problem: cold, north facing walls, gas and paraffin heaters and steel-framed, single glazed windows.

After the 1973 fuel crisis, the building regulations changed to ensure that construction was air tight in order to reduce heat loss. Fire-places were boarded up and ventilation bricks blocked. Think of going running in a windproof and waterproof coat against your body - you'd be soaked from the inside.

floss2

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

The general idea is to deal with the condensation issue at source. This can be done with extractor/ ventilation systems or by simply changing simple habits such as cooking with covers on pans and with kitchen windows open. Run a bath by putting cold water in first is a good one too.

Here are some moisture levels produced in a typical three-bedroomed house per day (kg or l):

A family asleep: 1.5 - 2.0
A family during the day: 2.5 - 3.5
Cooking 2.0 - 3.0
Washing and bathing: 1.0 - 1.5
Washing clothes: 0.4 - 0.6
Drying clothes indoors: 3.0 - 5.0

This explains the surprise that people have when they empty a dehumidifier for the first time.

There are some elements that can compound the problem: cold, north facing walls, gas and paraffin heaters and steel-framed, single glazed windows.

After the 1973 fuel crisis, the building regulations changed to ensure that construction was air tight in order to reduce heat loss. Fire-places were boarded up and ventilation bricks blocked. Think of going running in a windproof and waterproof coat against your body - you'd be soaked from the inside.

What do you class as "a family"? And what would explain the sudden appearance of mould spots in the main bedroom of a house where the only change in 4 years has been a better ventilated bathroom and the 11 month part-time stay of 1 adult who left 2 months ago?

JSelby

Hi everyone,

I see a lot of you are suffering from the same god awfulness we suffered for years, puddles on the window ledges every morning, black mould ruining our walls, curtains etc, foul damp musty horrible smell in the house. Its proper big pants to say the least!

Well we finally found out about PIV Systems, a unit that supplies our home with fresh clean air together with vents that adjust according to the temperature and humidity in the air, are two years later keeping our home fresh and vibrant, no more bad coughs from the mould spores and NO MORE WET WINDOWS Oh we used Able Air here is their web address ableair.co.uk (copy and paste MSE wont allow me to post a link) highly recommend tip top service.