Damp / Mold under bedroom window.

KennyH1

For some strange reason the previous occupiers moved the radiator from underside of the bedroom window to the other side of the room. We are now getting damp and mold underneath the window.

Apart from relocating the radiator again (this will be done in due time) what can we do to reduce this / limit this?

cattie

Lots of people prefer radiators to be located in a different place to underneath windows, especially as you are then free to have full length curtains that you can fully close when the heating is on.

Having a radiator under a window doesn't necessary stop damp occurring. If it's a north facing wall for example, it will be prone to cold & damp conditions. A well ventilated & heated room shouldn't really suffer damp problems, but who can afford to keep windows open all the time as well as have the heating on?

Perhaps you'd be wise to invest in a dehumidifier as many people on mse say that they are excellent in removing excess moisture from the air & reducing condensation & damp issues.

Antispam

I agree with Cattie, the issue you have is not with where the radiator is situated and more to do with the way may of us live. You need adequate ventilation in houses as more of us have double glazing there is less air flow from draughty windows, plus with have hot showers and even you breathe put out water in the air which condenses on cold surfaces like windows and outside walls

NewtoDIY

KennyH1 wrote: »

For some strange reason the previous occupiers moved the radiator from underside of the bedroom window to the other side of the room. We are now getting damp and mold underneath the window.

Apart from relocating the radiator again (this will be done in due time) what can we do to reduce this / limit this?

Placing radiators underneath windows was the old-fashioned way of locating them. This was made obsolete with the introduction of double-glazing. It's a good thing that you don't have a window radiator and it would be a mistake to move it back unless you want to heat the street. Best place for radiators is generally on internal walls.


There are two things most likely causing the dampness and mould. Firstly, the obvious condensation issues. Are you in an old house? Solid Brick walls perhaps?


Also, have a look at the external brick work underneath and around the window sill. There could be defective flashing below or bad pointing/hairline cracks etc.


But also, you might not have a drip groove on your window sill. If you don't, then any rainwater falling on the sill will travel along the under side and saturate the wall directly below. The best way to solve this is to fix some kind of treated convex wooden strip along the length of the sill underside. That way, water will drip off it and not onto your wall.