Please please help me!! Re damp, mould and condensation....

Ystrad_Lad

What is the capacity of the tank that collects the water? Try filling it from a jug to find out.

How long does it take to fill the tank from empty if you leave it on constantly?

OR

What is the make and model number and I'll check it out on the web.

WestonDave

Sounds like the best option might be a new dehumidifier - anyone generous you can give a hint for Christmas pressies to?

The aim has to be to find ways to get as much water or water generating activity out of the flat as its ventilation is clearly not up to the job.

What about taking washing to the launderette to dry or at least partially dry in the big tumble driers?

You need to keep the bathroom door shut and the extractor on for long enough after baths to enable most of the moisture to escape that way rather than into the flat - maybe consider some kind of draft excluder along the bottom of the door to stop it escaping into the main room.

If you are going to squeegee the window, you need to find some way to collect the water to chuck it down the sink rather than mop it up. Can you drag it off the window bottom into a bowl to get rid of most of it?

Going back to the window vent suggestion - from the sounds of it, you can get a small gap but the length of the window means that still allows a lot of draught in - could you get some dense foam (the stuff that doesn't compress much) and make some strips that you can wedge in the small gap to block some of the length?

Not using the heating is only making this worse because the air in the room is cooler than it might be, therefore unable to hold as much moisture so its dumping it on windows and ceilings. Can you get hold of a better heater that has a thermostat and maybe a timer so that you can try to maintain a decent temperature in the flat - its better to have a steady just warm, than hots and colds as the cold troughs will prompt water deposit which won't necessarily evaporate when the temp goes up if more moisture has been generated in the meantime.

Sounds like you are in a bit of a spot - obviously with a rented flat its not worth doing anything (even if you were allowed) to seriously improve the situation, but in the meantime you need to be able to live comfortably.

**purpleprincess**

Ystrad_Lad wrote:

What is the capacity of the tank that collects the water? Try filling it from a jug to find out.

How long does it take to fill the tank from empty if you leave it on constantly?

OR

What is the make and model number and I'll check it out on the web.

This is the one I have got.

mustafa_say_ving

**purpleprincess** wrote:

Oooh maybe. Where would I get one of those from? And how much......

Just seen your other post!! Thanks for that.

Will PM you later

I think they're pretty cheap about £ 10- 15 in wilkinsons .Not seen them there myself but DH says that's where they are . He does say though that one of those ' humidistat extractor fans ' will be the best solution ...........I'll look out for your PM tonight .:)

Right , must get some work done now

TTFN

**purpleprincess**

WestonDave wrote:

Sounds like the best option might be a new dehumidifier - anyone generous you can give a hint for Christmas pressies to?

:think: could try....

WestonDave wrote:

The aim has to be to find ways to get as much water or water generating activity out of the flat as its ventilation is clearly not up to the job.

What about taking washing to the launderette to dry or at least partially dry in the big tumble driers?

I work most days (7days) and the laundrette isn't open when I do my washing!!! Wonder how I could get round this though :think:

WestonDave wrote:

You need to keep the bathroom door shut and the extractor on for long enough after baths to enable most of the moisture to escape that way rather than into the flat - maybe consider some kind of draft excluder along the bottom of the door to stop it escaping into the main room.

That's a good idea, so....keep the door closed to the bathroom and leave the extractor on as well as putting some kind of draught excluder on the door so the evil moisture doesn't escape.

WestonDave wrote:

If you are going to squeegee the window, you need to find some way to collect the water to chuck it down the sink rather than mop it up. Can you drag it off the window bottom into a bowl to get rid of most of it?

I bought a bucket today!!!!!:D so am going to get all the condensation off the window into the bucket and pour it away!

WestonDave wrote:

Going back to the window vent suggestion - from the sounds of it, you can get a small gap but the length of the window means that still allows a lot of draught in - could you get some dense foam (the stuff that doesn't compress much) and make some strips that you can wedge in the small gap to block some of the length?

:think:

WestonDave wrote:

Not using the heating is only making this worse because the air in the room is cooler than it might be, therefore unable to hold as much moisture so its dumping it on windows and ceilings. Can you get hold of a better heater that has a thermostat and maybe a timer so that you can try to maintain a decent temperature in the flat - its better to have a steady just warm, than hots and colds as the cold troughs will prompt water deposit which won't necessarily evaporate when the temp goes up if more moisture has been generated in the meantime.

I've got a timer plug so I could set it to come on for a little while every so often while I'm out to keep the temperature regular? Would that work?

WestonDave wrote:

Sounds like you are in a bit of a spot - obviously with a rented flat its not worth doing anything (even if you were allowed) to seriously improve the situation, but in the meantime you need to be able to live comfortably.

:rolleyes: Tell me about it!!!! unless of course flock wallpaper is coming back in and then I could grow my own!!!!!!!!! :eek: Joke!!!

Ystrad_Lad

OK I can say categorically that it is tooooooooooooo small. Without being rude about it, that dehumidifier is really a toy.

It only extracts 350ml per day! You need one that will take out about 12 litres per day. They cost about £150 (google for lots of makes and models, you can even get them from TESCO online). Go for one that advertises itself as silent or quiet running and has a humidistat so you can leave it on.

I'm sure this will solve your moisture problems and it will even help your washing to dry faster. It will produce warm dry air and can even substitute for your storage heater.

You will be amazed at how much water will be drawn out of the air!!!

Ystrad_Lad

Try this one £103 with free delivery.

http://www.4air.co.uk/qt120-12-l-day-dehumidifier-3-3-l-tank-up-to-140-sq-meters-p-996067890.html

**purpleprincess**

Ystrad_Lad wrote:

OK I can say categorically that it is tooooooooooooo small. Without being rude about it, that dehumidifier is really a toy.

I didn't realise!! It was advertised as being good for caravans and as my flat is about a similar size I thought it would be ok!!:o Shows what I know!!:rolleyes:

Ystrad_Lad wrote:

It only extracts 350ml per day! You need one that will take out about 12 litres per day. They cost about £150 (google for lots of makes and models, you can even get them from TESCO online). Go for one that advertises itself as silent or quiet running and has a humidistat so you can leave it on.

*gulp*

Ystrad_Lad wrote:

I'm sure this will solve your moisture problems and it will even help your washing to dry faster. It will produce warm dry air and can even substitute for your storage heater.

You will be amazed at how much water will be drawn out of the air!!!

:think:

Just seen your post about the one for £103, thank you for looking for me

I knew I was doing the right thing posting here on MSE!!

**purpleprincess**

Ystrad_Lad wrote:

Try this one £103 with free delivery.

http://www.4air.co.uk/qt120-12-l-day-dehumidifier-3-3-l-tank-up-to-140-sq-meters-p-996067890.html

Is it a quiet one??

Ystrad_Lad

That I don't know. I've got one that is similar and it sounds like a quiet fan heater.

You could call in to somewhere like Currys and ask them to demonstrate a couple.

I guess it depends how much a background noise is likely to irritate you. The quietest ones will generally be more expensive because they use higher quality components.

TIP: Don't sacrifice quietness for capacity. Small ones can be quieter but you need one that can take 10 - 12 litres a day out of the air.

I've got to go to work now but I'll look in on this thread later.

Good luck.

PS: I don't work for any dehumidifier companies!!!