How do I stop condensation?

dandy-candy

I live in a 30's deco house with Crittal (metal) windows. In winter when I dry the washing indoors I get water running down the glass and making puddles on the windowsill even with the window slightly open. I t ends up making black mould form and setting off my asthma :mad:

I don't want to have the windows wide open for security and because its freezing, and I don't want to run a dehumidifier with the rising electricity costs. Is there anything handy ms tips I can do other that keep laying towels down?

j.e.j.

We used to get this a lot in our old flat, before the landlord had double-glazing put in. I wonder if you can still get those plastic brick-type things (sorry I can't remember what they are called) which absorb moisture? You can stand them on the wndowsill or in wardrobes or any places where you get damp. They don't cost much and might help the problem a bit.

whiteguineapig

i go to the launderette , its a bit of a pain but i got so fed up with all the condensation , i spend about £1.80- £2 to dry 2 full loads

gratefulforhelp_2

You need to reduce the amount of water produced,or increase your heating.

A dehumidifier may allow you to reduce heating costs as dry air will feel warmer IYSWIM?

Do you keep pan lids on et.c?

Usagi_2

We had this same problem for several years... decided to pay around £130 for a dehumidifier.
When we do a load of washing, we put it in the bathroom with the door shut and the dehumidifer on. It is dry in a few hours instead of being wet for days and all the moisture gets trapped away from the rest of the house.
It is portable, so we can also put it on the in the other rooms for a little while to get rid of other general condensation.

I don't know what on earth we were doing before we bought it, it is brilliant. To be honest £130 over years of use, vs having to pay to get wet plaster around the windows from water literally running down them everyday and trying to erradicate the mould does work out pretty MSE. We also need a lot less heating on to make the house feel comfortable in the winter as it isn't damp.

Tried some of those little boxes with the absorbing powder in them and they really didn't make an impact.

quintwins

we have really bad condensation in our house but it's an issue with the house (the landlord has admitted this and says he's sorting it we even have mould now it's summer) we were told about a filter system that they install in your attic which puts vents in each room it's suppose to work really well but it's £600+ so not very mse

Errata

What's wrong with a washing line in the garden?

Seakay

I had the same problem and resorted to a dehumidifier. Make sure that you get a dessicant one - they will run in lower temperatures and don't waste energy creating heat. They cost a few pence per hour to run and I can get a whole drier load of heavy washing bone dry in a few hours. Although electricity costs are rising this is still the cheapest way of drying in the home that I have come across, and you can also use it if any room gets damp for another reason.
It's great to use a line when you are at home but impossible to do if you are out at work and don't want endless "extra rinses"!

[Deleted User]

Usagi wrote: »

We had this same problem for several years... decided to pay around £130 for a dehumidifier.....
I don't know what on earth we were doing before we bought it, it is brilliant. ..

Same for us. We struggled for years to sort out damp problems and having bought a dehumidifier it is the best thing we ever did. Only usually have to run it during the colder months though.

Rainy-Days

Errata wrote: »

What's wrong with a washing line in the garden?

It's during the winter that's the problem (normally most people have it outside but not these last winters we have had) and I can concur with how this lady is feeling. We get it even though we have uPVC windows and doors and the house is insulated to within an inch of it's life!

The problem is that drying washing on clothes airers causes the moisture to go into the air in the house and because it has no escape it hits the windows as being the coldest point. Last year I had to bite the bullet on the tumble dryer use on two big things, the towels and the sheets which hold the biggest amount of water. Once I had got that dealt with I just had basic condensation which I mopped up using a couple of old hand towels.

Last two winters and especially last winter itself was a shocker and even I wouldn't open my windows so what with the moisture we were both breathing out and the dogs, with the washing as well we ust put up with it. This year I am going into Poundland and buying those crystals which you sit in a dish on the windows cill and absorbs the moisture before it hits the windows and see if that does the job.