Condensation question

hyposmurf

kiki* wrote: »

I have and use extractors in kitchen and bathroom but it even builds in spare bedroom! Admittedly we aren't opening windows much at the minute though

I use the kitchen extract hood manily to reduce the smells and keep the paintwork from looking tired quicker than if I didnt.I dont bother with the bathroom extract fan, as theyre usually not that great.(if you do keep the bathroom door closed).What I do is open the bathroom window after a shower,even on cold days so the steam escapes.In the kitchen I do the same when it gets steamy and also to change the air.You can also open windows at opposing sides of your property and this will help shift fresh air through the house.On occasions I will dry up and surface condensation on windows.To be honest we have very little problem with condensation as I ventilate the place when it needs it.

kiki*_2

We only moved in 2 months ago, we own the house we aren't tenants but either way we obviously want to avoid mould.

We only have our heating on for an hour each day, could that be the problem? We only set clothes in one room on a clothes horse.

We open window when showering and extractor fan comes on automatically anyway. We use extractor fan on hob all the time, kitchen window isn't a problem. It's the bedroom, 2 spare beds and bathroom.
Have had to remove wooden baskets from windowsill in bathroom as they were growing mould!!

hyposmurf

Maybe those rooms are cooler and the warm moist is travelling from the kitchen and bathroom and condesning in these rooms.Try airing the rooms,wiping down the moisture on the windows. and try to keep these doors to these effected rooms closed as much as you can.Then you'll know if its moisture from the bathroom and kitchen travelling to these rooms.It could also be poor double glazing or lack of it in these rooms that is causing the problem.You can get older type double glazing with aluminium frames which my parents had and it's a sucker for condsenation, think its partly due to the aluminium acting as a thermal bridge.

kiki*_2

The bathroom and one spare room are fairly old double glazing so could be that but the front windows are only a year old and they do it too. Will just have to keep wiping and keep my eye on it I guess.

propertyman

G_M wrote: »

Wjilst agreeing with the explanation I too wonder why some properties suffer from this worse than others.

I never get internal condenation on the windows....

It is the thermal performance of the building, the U value, combined with lifestyle.

A building meeting the appropriate regs after 1976 should perform with normal living conditions and adequate heating and ventilation.

propertyman

kiki* wrote: »

We only have our heating on for an hour each day, could that be the problem?

That is it yes. The warm moist air moves to the coldest spots, which you make worse at night, breathing in the room, and the cold surfaces allow it to condense.

Over a period of days this will never dry out with one hour's heating.

You do need to keep the heating on even if it's only at 45/50 F to get some heat into the fabric of the building and your damp bits.

Yorkie1

Warmer air will cause less condensation so your lack of heating may well be a contributory factor. Put the heating on some more.

In addition (and contradictarily!) could you also use trickle vents on windows all the time? Do you keep the door shut to the room where you dry clothers & its windows open?

Perhaps a dehumidifier would help too (one with a decent capacity).

pothole50

After reading quiet a few threads on here regarding condensation I have decided to go and get myself a dehumidifier. But its a minefield out there knowing which one to buy, I dont want to pay too little and it not do the job but on the other hand I dont want to spend too much on just the name. Could anyone recommend a good one for a 3 bedroom house, and not too noisy as I read some can be.

thanks

kiki*_2

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Warmer air will cause less condensation so your lack of heating may well be a contributory factor. Put the heating on some more.

In addition (and contradictarily!) could you also use trickle vents on windows all the time? Do you keep the door shut to the room where you dry clothers & its windows open?

Perhaps a dehumidifier would help too (one with a decent capacity).

Thank for your advice, we've not got those vent things in this house but last house did have. That's also possibly another reason why it's not happened to us before. Our lifestyle of drying clothes etc is exactly the same as last house so must be the house itself.

Will whack the heating up!

poppysarah

kiki* wrote: »

Thank for your advice, we've not got those vent things in this house but last house did have. That's also possibly another reason why it's not happened to us before. Our lifestyle of drying clothes etc is exactly the same as last house so must be the house itself.

Will whack the heating up!

Get one of those spinner things to get more water out of your clothes. They'll cause less condensation then