Mould problem -Help! 😟

Jellybeans9

Hi,

I'm currently living in student housing, in an old three storey house. My room has three external walls and so can get unbelievably cold, despite being a fairly small double room. Today I happened to move my bed and noticed a rather large patch of mould creeping up from the bottom corner of the room, but also a smaller patch on the corner of the ceiling, of the same two walls. These of which are on the other side of the room to the window.

I do notice some condensation on the double glazed window in a morning, but this can't be helped when the heater is below the window, and only comes on at night. It is a storage heater and so I can't change the time at which it comes on (possibly early hours?). Even when I switch it off in the morning and open the window, it still gives out heat for the majority of the day. However I can't not reduce it's use any less than every other day, as the room quickly gets too cold. I can't move my bed to a different position in the room, as it isn't big enough to do so.

Apart from cleaning the mould, I just don't know what else to do. I know in the summer the room will easily retain warmth to not need the heater. But still pretty much in winter, the house is just too cold.

Any suggestions on what might be the cause and how I might reduce the problem?

I'm thinking that part of the problem may be that those walls, particularly the back wall, are also very cold to the touch, almost damp feeling, compared to the third exterior wall (where the window and heater is). If this is the case, I'm not really sure what I can do to heat up that corner so the walls aren't as cold?

Gingernutty

It sounds like your problem is condensation.

A dehumidifier is an option but can be expensive.

penguine

Not all dehumidifiers are expensive and it's definitely worth looking into. Ours was over £100 but I know there are quite a few that don't cost that much. It should also help make the room feel a bit warmer.

If you can't afford a dehumidifier, opening the windows a bit when you're out may help, but not if it's raining outside and it will make the room colder.

Keep the door wide open during the day if you can.

good_advice

Are you opening the window every day to air the room?
Try bleach in some water to wash the walls and some star drops or washing up liquid.
Move things out from the walls to let the air move round more.

tea-bag

http://www.fixmyroof.co.uk/videos-and-guides/condensation-cure/piv-unit-system/

Ask your landlord to fit one he won't regret it!

changed_username

You can get compressor dehumidifiers for under £100 however they are not as efficient as desiccant dehumidifiers in UK temperatures. Desiccant dehumidifiers cost less to run at lower temperatures too and their extraction rate remains even. Also desiccant dehumidifiers are lighter and quieter. You can also buy dehumidifiers second hand however make sure that you check the filter etc.

Let me know if you're looking for any specific models and I'll be happy to help out.