Is keeping heating off a false economy?

Minty6

Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting in the right place to ask this question and that it doesn't sound too obvious, but I really don't know the answer!

After a really high electricity bill last winter (I don't have gas), I'm having to be really careful with how much heating I use. Layers and hot water bottles help, but I'm wondering that if I restrict the heating too much I'll get problems with damp and mould in my flat. It isn't well insulated apart from the roof space but I can't do anything about that. I tend to get problems with condensation whether or not I use the heating, and I know it's supposed to be a good idea to open the windows for a short time every day. I just wondered if having to sort out any problems which arise from an unheated place would cost more than the savings I'm trying to make.

Any opinions from the knowledgeable people on here appreciated, thanks.

Cardew

Hi Minty,

Damp and mould are not cured by heating, but by ventilation.

Warmer air just masks the problem as it holds more moisture - take a beer bottle out of fridge into a warm and you will see what I mean.

In fact damp and mould are far more of a problem in hot climates like, say, Florida.

Obviously you should try and find the reason for dampness as a first step. However that isn't easy and your best plan is to buy a decent humidifier. They 'suck' the moisture from the air and drain that as water into a tank, or via a hose to a bath or sink.

They have the added advantage that they produce heat as well so you will need less heating.

They will take quite a long time to bring down humidity levels as initially all the walls, furniture etc are 'damp' but gradually the humidity levels will fall and you can then set the humidifier to the level you require.

grahamc2003

Minty6 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting in the right place to ask this question and that it doesn't sound too obvious, but I really don't know the answer!

After a really high electricity bill last winter (I don't have gas), I'm having to be really careful with how much heating I use. Layers and hot water bottles help, but I'm wondering that if I restrict the heating too much I'll get problems with damp and mould in my flat. It isn't well insulated apart from the roof space but I can't do anything about that. I tend to get problems with condensation whether or not I use the heating, and I know it's supposed to be a good idea to open the windows for a short time every day. I just wondered if having to sort out any problems which arise from an unheated place would cost more than the savings I'm trying to make.

Any opinions from the knowledgeable people on here appreciated, thanks.

Your question is (obviously) impossible to answer!

If you have condensation, then it will be worse if the temperature is lower. You could try a dehumidifier to get rid of the moisture in the air. Dessicant dehumidifiers will both heat and dry the air - so they can be used as lowish powered heaters (mine is 800w on the highest setting), and it works down to 0C (other compressor dehumidifiers give up the ghost below about 10-12C).

Minty6

Thanks for your quick replies and explanations, these are very helpful.

Can you recommend a dehumidifier which doesn't cost a fortune? One which works at low temperatures would obviously be an advantage. Can they stay in one place, or is it better to move them about? Sorry to sound ignorant, but it would help to know!

grahamc2003

Minty6 wrote: »

Thanks for your quick replies and explanations, these are very helpful.

Can you recommend a dehumidifier which doesn't cost a fortune? One which works at low temperatures would obviously be an advantage. Can they stay in one place, or is it better to move them about? Sorry to sound ignorant, but it would help to know!

This is the one I just bought. It seems to be rebadged to several brands - meaco, eco air and others, I bought the ecoair one, and paid £155 including next day delivery from dry-it-out ltd on Amazon.

The same thing without the digital display and gizmos is quite a bit cheaper, and called 'simple'. Well made and collects a litre of water in 6 hours in my place.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DD122FW-ECO122Mk4-Dehumidifier-DD122FW-Mk4/dp/B004T1CCN4/ref=sr_1_2/280-1375395-2007167?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1319756825&sr=1-2

lemontart

a few cheap tips to help with condensation

A bowl of salt in rooms changed regularly draws some moisture out, you can get moisture traps in most diy stores again the crystals will need replacing at intervals.

If you are able to decorate use some of t he polystyrene 2mm thick rolls on the walls then paper over, makes room a little warmer and is supposed to reduce condensation .

Cardew

grahamc2003 wrote: »

This is the one I just bought.

Well made and collects a litre of water in 6 hours in my place.

Let us know how much the quantity of water drops off over the next couple of months please.

I had one abroad and at first it collected huge amounts of water, but then gradually reduced.

spinningsheep

I have recently purchased a dehumidifier and I am amazed at the quantity of moisture it extracts in a short space of time. It starts off very slowly and seems to get faster the longer you leave the appliance turned on. In 24 hours it extracted 4.5 litres out of my supposedly dry dining room, and it feels alot warmer in there, same goes for my bathroom too. I will rotate it round the house over the winter from room to room. I bought the Argos Value range at £89.99, very impressed by it, but TBH it's noise level is a wee bit higher than that of a fridge compressor, so not ideal to have on in the room whilst watching tv or sleeping, but thats no issue for me. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a dehumidifier. You can watch a video of it on the Argos website too. The water tank can be a bit of a fiddle to get back in sometimes as it says full even when empty but another attempt usually sorts it (people have slated this in some reviews on the Argos website, it takes 10 seconds to take it out and pop back in, get a grip!):rotfl:

moonrakerz

lemontart wrote: »

A bowl of salt in rooms changed regularly draws some moisture out, you can get moisture traps in most diy stores again the crystals will need replacing at intervals.

This is a waste of time/money..................because........

spinningsheep wrote: »

I have recently purchased a dehumidifier and I am amazed at the quantity of moisture it extracts in a short space of time.

Cardew

A bowl of salt in rooms changed regularly draws some moisture out,

moonrakerz wrote: »

This is a waste of time/money..................because........

This will work!

vuvuzela

Can't quite see that 1600*1200 image, could you make it bigger ?