Quit everything , and start again over 50?

lessonlearned

I am another open the windows every day kind of gal.....

Several reasons.

Apart from not liking stale air, opening windows ensures that a property is properly aired and kept free from mould. So yes windows open every day come rain" snow or shine, even if it's just for an hour.

The problem with our climate is that it is damp most of the time and at the coast the problem will be compounded by all that lovely moist sea air.

Add in our new fangled obsession with insulating houses to within an inch of their lives and you set up a perfect storm for condensation, damp and mould.

Houses have to breathe so yes those windows have to be opened regularly, unless you have a fully integrated all singing all dancing mechanical heat recovery system.

I'm guessing previous tenants have skimped on the heating, kept the windows shut and probably dried washing on indoor airers or radiators. I'm guessing your landlady has had issues with condensation and mould.

AC I suggest you will need to monitor things closely and make any necessary adjustments.

Some houses are just more damp prone than others and it is a question of keeping an eye on things and taking necessary measures.

The simplest is opening windows, wiping down window cills as required. Maybe purchasing disposable moisture traps, or even if the situation is really bad then investing in a dehumidifier.

I know opening windows sounds extravagant but here's the thing it is cheaper to heat cold dry air than it is to heat cold damp air.

So, given your land lady knows her property better than you do, then I think you would be wise to follow her advice and open tne windows every day. An hour or so should be ok.

MrsPorridge

When we moved from London to Cornwall I couldn't believe the damp - nor the fact that all the local big chain DIY shops stocked dehumidifiers - plus most people had at least one - we bought two and they are on all year round - that is the downside to living by the sea

Smodlet

A fully integrated all singing all dancing mechanical heat recovery system. LL, please, what is one of these? This is a serious question.

Does it play swing music? This is not.

enthusiasticsaver

We are also people who open the windows every day to air the rooms, in particular the bedrooms and bathrooms and rooms if washing is hung up indoors. The south west can be a damp climate. Windows get opened first thing in morning and then gradually get closed during day as heating comes on. I see no point in turning heating on when windows open.

Good luck on healthy eating AC (not a diet). Porridge is great in the morning. I alternate porridge with Weetabix and muesli and then boiled/poached egg on toast over the weekend. Fruit for snacks and healthy sandwich, soup or salad for lunch plus main meal in the evening. 1 treat a day which for the next 24 will be my advent calendar chocolate Vegetarian twice a week, fish once or twice a week and chicken or red meat rest of the time. I tried out some waitrose calorie control vegetarian meals yesterday and Monday as easy to have after work and they were really nice. Not overly expensive either.

lessonlearned

Re damp etc

Just remebered some advice my friend who is a surveyor once gave me.

If you are out at work all day and absolutely cannot open windows and you don't have trickle vents then the best solution is this.

Once a week Open every single window and door - both front and rear and allow a through draft, propping open internal doors . Try and do this for Around 1hr.

It will create movement of air and discourage the growth of mould spores.

gallygirl

As a landlady we had a house that was prone to damp on the north facing wall. Not helped by the fact the house was of an unusual kind of concrete tank construction (LL did you ever come across these?) and there was an undiscovered leak which got into the walls.

I always told tenants to air the main bedroom and bathroom. One didn't, every time we went round there all the windows were shut, the heating was on high and humidity was like a rain forest. When they left we had a lot of mould to treat. Next tenant aired the place, no problem. Last tenant was like the former and put furniture right up against walls as well, despite bring told not to. Place was a right mess with mound when she left. We did it up quickly and sold it .

Porridge + pinch of salt + water, then add milk to serve. None of this poncy jam or honey for me .

Good luck with settling in AC and use the cooker!!!!!

lessonlearned

Smodlet wrote: »

A fully integrated all singing all dancing mechanical heat recovery system. LL, please, what is one of these? This is a serious question.

Does it play swing music? This is not.

I would need to get my tech guy on to it.....I'm sure he could rig up a state of the art heating system which looks beautiful, which costs nowt to run and which could play music and probably screen movies too. :rotfl:

Ah but could it make the coffee and do the ironing.....

Smodlet

I'd settle for it reducing costs, the way energy prices are going...

lessonlearned

Gallygirl.....i once had an old cottage with an internal wall which was prone to damp, you couldn't place furniture next to it but it was ok if you allowed a good air flow.

We also had a house with fitted wardrobes on an outside wall which were a problem, I had to leave the doors open and refrain from using one section and make sure that clothing wasn't too tightly packed.

TBH I don't think there are many houses in the U.K. Which don't need plenty of tlc to keep damp at bay. It's just our climate.

I've noticed DS2 house seems to be more prone to Condensation this year, it was fine last winter apart from the odd window on The north facing walls. It has been quite a problem since it has started getting colder.

We haven't made any changes, no extra Insulation, still a good airflow. I never have damp washing hanging around, take care when cooking and bathing etc to get rid of steam straight away, so I don't know what's happening.

I have dotted a .load of moisture traps around on all the windowsills and it is helpng but they fill up,really quickly. I think I might have to,start using the dehumidifier.

The downstairs is worse that the upstairs. I've checked the cellar, all the brick mortar, windows, guttering etc and can't spot anything obvious.

I have a feeling it might be the fitted carpets which DS2 wanted. I think these old Victorian houses do best with exposed floor boards and rugs. Although having said that the carpets were down last winter so I don't really know.

All I can do is keep on top of it and not let mould develop.

another_casualty

Ok ..good day for a lonely person ..until now !
No broadband . May buy a dongle which may mean I retrieve my Mac mini from big yellow storage in Poole .
I'm writing this with difficulty on 4g -going to 3 g at times .

Spoke live chat with virgin . Virgin broadband not in the area .
My friend has it .
Bt website insist on Acct address . May try app tomorrow .
Looks like it's Vodafone ,but they set up an email address for me and spelled my name wrong . I spoke to them . Person was from Egypt

Need to get bedside radio ASAP . The other one died anyway and was eventually binned.
So I'm bored witless for now .