Condensation/damp

leeroy2009

yep if people would stop trying to live in sealed boxes they wouldn't suffer from it, extractor fans are the way to go - aslong as they can suck on a fresh source of air,


and yes even in the cold one of my fans gets turned down to trickle mode.

jstallan

@richardc1983 - Have you noticed any condensation issues in the loft since fitting this unit ? Likewise were there any issues in the loft prior to fitting ?

richardc1983

jstallan wrote: »

@richardc1983 - Have you noticed any condensation issues in the loft since fitting this unit ? Likewise were there any issues in the loft prior to fitting ?

No there wouldn't be any as the unit doesn't extract air from the house it takes it from the loft which then means constant fresh air is pulled into the loft from the eaves and other air gaps. It's a win win situation. 😀

marmitemayhem

poppellerant wrote: »

A very good, realistic, opinion of the system here: http://www.doyourdream.co.uk/2013/01/installing-a-drimaster-heat-piv-system/

I'm certainly looking into these now.

Wohoo! I'm famous! That's my blog, wondered why there were a few hits from MSE! Logged on and searched, and here I am!


If anyone wants more info let me know, but yeah, it works. Before fitting we wiped windows down daily. Now we don't. The guest room still gets condensation when guest stays, but previously the walls were wet. so, happy to recommend.


BUT - it is a part of a solution - we vented chimneys which were boxed up; put a 150mm loft van in above the shower (550 L/h lol - makes your hair stand up and get sucked up. OK - that's a lie, but walls used to "run", now the mirror doesn't even steam.


As for cleaning up, once problem sorted, dry walls, and we used Zinsser B-I-N paint. Where our mould was, the previous owners did something and god knows what, but emulsion would not dry! Zinsser is expensive, and it says on the tin "paint over anything, glass, mess, rust, mould, whatever, then emulsion after 45 mins". Yeah right. But yeah - FANTASTIC. Covered a huge mess, once dried (45m) emulsioned over, and when dried you can't tell - looks perfect.


As the poster above said, more info on http://www.doyourdream.co.uk/2013/01/installing-a-drimaster-heat-piv-system/ - and I have no affiliation with them (though of course Amazon pay me £7 commission if you buy one via the amazon link, not essential, info is there free). I wrote it to help others, not to make money, as I was on last resort and pleasantly surprised.


The only downside is over winter it pulls in cold air, so with the heater it is better but we turned that down a bit, so landing still cool. 500W heater means max 12kwh/d so max it'd cost is maybe £40/month? Probably £25/month or so over cold winter months. We turn heater off for spring/summer etc so cost becomes <£1 /month. IMO well worth it - NO MOULD in almost 2 years....


Happy to answer questions if I can, from an owner perspective, not an expert perspective.


Cheers


EDIT: As there is interest in PIV systems, I've taken the information off my travel blog and put it on a dedicated site HERE which has more details and FAQs. Hope this is useful.

richardc1983

marmitemayhem wrote: »

Wohoo! I'm famous! That's my blog, wondered why there were a few hits from MSE! Logged on and searched, and here I am!


If anyone wants more info let me know, but yeah, it works. Before fitting we wiped windows down daily. Now we don't. The guest room still gets condensation when guest stays, but previously the walls were wet. so, happy to recommend.


BUT - it is a part of a solution - we vented chimneys which were boxed up; put a 150mm loft van in above the shower (550 L/h lol - makes your hair stand up and get sucked up. OK - that's a lie, but walls used to "run", now the mirror doesn't even steam.


As for cleaning up, once problem sorted, dry walls, and we used Zinsser B-I-N paint. Where our mould was, the previous owners did something and god knows what, but emulsion would not dry! Zinsser is expensive, and it says on the tin "paint over anything, glass, mess, rust, mould, whatever, then emulsion after 45 mins". Yeah right. But yeah - FANTASTIC. Covered a huge mess, once dried (45m) emulsioned over, and when dried you can't tell - looks perfect.


As the poster above said, more info on http://www.doyourdream.co.uk/2013/01/installing-a-drimaster-heat-piv-system/ - and I have no affiliation with them (though of course Amazon pay me £7 commission if you buy one via the amazon link, not essential, info is there free). I wrote it to help others, not to make money, as I was on last resort and pleasantly surprised.


The only downside is over winter it pulls in cold air, so with the heater it is better but we turned that down a bit, so landing still cool. 500W heater means max 12kwh/d so max it'd cost is maybe £40/month? Probably £25/month or so over cold winter months. We turn heater off for spring/summer etc so cost becomes <£1 /month. IMO well worth it - NO MOULD in almost 2 years....


Happy to answer questions if I can, from an owner perspective, not an expert perspective.


Cheers

I've also got this system installed love it. Set to 13c is the Heater but we have it in timer from 6-10am and then 5-10 at night netween that the heater is off but the fan still runs continuously.

marmitemayhem

richardc1983 wrote: »

I've also got this system installed love it. Set to 13c is the Heater but we have it in timer from 6-10am and then 5-10 at night netween that the heater is off but the fan still runs continuously.

I was going to do that, but couldn't find a "cheap" spur-timer. I know I could've put in a 13A socket and a standard timer...


But ultimately I thought "sod it" and just keep it on as the house is cool anyway and landing/stairs is largeish area, and never botherd changing it..... Fan on 24x7x365 but heater spur switchable manually.


I've also reprogrammed ours to a different option, so goes into "heat recovery" mode earlier than default - can't recall what - but speeds up earlier and shuts down later - its in the manual. Shame "display" and dials aren't remote but then I like fiddling


EDIT: As there is interest in PIV systems, I've taken the information off my travel blog and put it on a dedicated site HERE which has more details and FAQs. Hope this is useful.

richardc1983

marmitemayhem wrote: »

Check your boiler manual Richard, that temp is a bit low for modern boilers to run efficiently - esp condensing boilers.... I was researching balancing ours, and the temps were quoted for in/out temp (12' difference) - and IIRC the water should've been 55' or so to condensate? That's all I know, no expert, just read it and ignored it as ours is up that high anyway.

Thanks for the concern but honestly it is fine. The 55c is the maximum it can manage to run in condensation mode, anything lower than that is even better. So the lower u can set your boiler without your house becoming cold is better. Think of underfloor heating, combi conDensing boilers will run at minimum temps to suit individual applications, if your lucky enough to have large oversized rads and well insulated house you will benefit from having the boiler as low as u can I work in facilities and hvac so this is a professional view but without the tech jargon.

marmitemayhem

richardc1983 wrote: »

Thanks for the concern but honestly it is fine. The 55c is the maximum it can manage to run in condensation mode, anything lower than that is even better. So the lower u can set your boiler without your house becoming cold is better. Think of underfloor heating, combi conDensing boilers will run at minimum temps to suit individual applications, if your lucky enough to have large oversized rads and well insulated house you will benefit from having the boiler as low as u can I work in facilities and hvac so this is a professional view but without the tech jargon.

...deleted post as it appears I was wrong and didn't want anyone else to read and action what I said.

richardc1983

marmitemayhem wrote: »

I've also reprogrammed ours to a different option, so goes into "heat recovery" mode earlier than default - can't recall what - but speeds up earlier and shuts down later - its in the manual. Shame "display" and dials aren't remote but then I like fiddling

Yes I think that's option 4 mine is on the same. I love how fresh the air is in the house. I have installed a http://www.nuaire.co.uk/products/catalogue/residential/extract-fans/cyfan/ it can do upto 60 l/s but it's set at 20l/s though as too loud on boost otherwise.

What temp do you have the heater at?

marmitemayhem

I looked at that fan, but put in something similar to http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SALE-SMF150T-Timer-Fan-in-line-Mixed-Flow-6-150mm-dia-Bathroom-Extractor-Fan-/281300814337?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item417ed5ca01 - not 550L/h as I said, more like 550m3/h Its switchable and only above the shower, so just comes on with the dedicated shower light (built into extractor fitting). We have high ceilings, and it does get rid of all shower mist - massive difference. I did have a 4" version, but the 6" (with same 4" shower fitting) was even better
We don't have a constant fan an its not connected to normal bathroom light


I *think* the heater is 14'C.... Not a lot, just enough to stop it being flippin' cold. I have an infra-red thermometer and the ceiling vent is 16'C but that is clearly mixing loft and house air.


EDIT: As there is interest in PIV systems, I've taken the information off my travel blog and put it on a dedicated site HERE which has more details and FAQs. Hope this is useful.