Conservatory condensation

Dogsandcats

Hi all

I know it isn't completely on a Money Saving theme but I wanted some advice on the best way to stop my unheated conservatory getting condensation. The cushions on the sofa are damp and Im getting mould on the window frames. The tiles on the floor also get damp in the far corners. Ive tried leaving a couple of the windows on half lock but that doesn't seem to work. Ive also thought about putting a radiator from my house system out there but have read that this isn't practical. Am I better with a separate oil filled radiator or please can anyone recommend anything else? Thanks for any advice.

Rodney_Trotter

A harsh answer would be knock out down.

Un heated and un insulated is the problem and will always be so that's why many people don't like them.

27col

I'll give you a clue. Unless you are prepared to heat the space properly there will always be condensation. Opening windows only lets in more cold air. As it is an uninsulated structure, heating it would be very expensive. Almost as bad as putting a heater out in the garden.
It is not built to be a habitable room, just a space that can be used when the ambient temperature is suitable.

20vt-rs

You're not alone, I have a similar issue with my conservatory - mine is actually heated but the windows still suffer from condensation in the winter and I am constantly clearing them with a squeegee and leather! Most of the time it builds up from when we've been cooking and leaving the windows open helps, but then the place gets cold! In fact my house seems to suffer on windows slightly not just the conservatory.


My conservatory was on the house when be bought it, if I were doing it I'd build a proper extension, in 2-minds whether to do that one day anyway but that's not being an MSE is it!!


Get yourself a chamois leather, squeegee and spend a bit of time out there every so often first thing.

savemoney

As mentioned only way to resolve this is either heat the conservatory or get a dehumidifier which may help reduce condensation. My MIL has a small conservatory and its heated with a storage heater as it has a smell of damp although she doesn't get much condensation I assume its doesn't to storage heater leaking heat

Dogsandcats

RT - Knock it down? Why would I knock it down when I recently had it put up? For 75% of the year its the nicest room in the house.

Thanks for your answers.

pstuart

We suffered the same until we put a large Xpelair in, always on whilst cooking (its adjoined).
No more condensation, just noise from the fan.

Rodney_Trotter

Dogsandcats wrote: »

RT - Knock it down? Why would I knock it down when I recently had it put up? For 75% of the year its the nicest room in the house.

Thanks for your answers.

How recently?

Did the floor and any plastered walls have time to fully dry before you added any furniture and decorated?

cyclonebri1

pstuart wrote: »

We suffered the same until we put a large Xpelair in, always on whilst cooking (its adjoined).
No more condensation, just noise from the fan.

That's the clue or the answer to be honest.

1) if you don't live in there you will get little condensation. What you do get is down to warm evening air condensing on the windows overnight. Easily removed, furnishings should not get damp.

2) heating?, again not needed unless it is for you to sit in, or use the room.

3) ventilation??, :T:T:T Yes, it has to be, get the moisture laden air out, the only water vapour produced will be that drawn from the furnishings in future.
If however you are using this room over winter, then there is no escape from the fact that you need to add heat.
As you say , many extend the homes heating system into the add on. Usually OK, most systems have a decent safety factor.
But from thereon in ventilation again becomes the critical issue, you can't breath in a cold conservatory without steaming up the windows. ;)