Check for Condensation before renting

freeisgood

Seriously, I would like some advice, how do you ventilate a property in the winter without freezing, and spending a fortune on heating bills, also, when it is raining for days on end, surely letting damp air in is also bad? We always have mould issues, extractor fan in bathroom works, tumble dryer vent out though hole in the wall, all internal doors are left open, otherwise it is terrible, especially if we have been way from home, still we have black/green spot mould on ceilings and all external walls, wherever we have rented, always mould! Don't know what to do. Advice appreciated.
Currently in a very mouldy bedroom now, having to wipe ceiling and walls down with a mild bleach solution every two or three days, sick of it! I do open the window for around 15 mins a day just to change the air, because it is quite mild out at the mo.

Innys1

freeisgood wrote: »

Seriously, I would like some advice, how do you ventilate a property in the winter without freezing, and spending a fortune on heating bills, also, when it is raining for days on end, surely letting damp air in is also bad? We always have mould issues, extractor fan in bathroom works, tumble dryer vent out though hole in the wall, all internal doors are left open, otherwise it is terrible, especially if we have been way from home, still we have black/green spot mould on ceilings and all external walls, wherever we have rented, always mould! Don't know what to do. Advice appreciated.
Currently in a very mouldy bedroom now, having to wipe ceiling and walls down with a mild bleach solution every two or three days, sick of it! I do open the window for around 15 mins a day just to change the air, because it is quite mild out at the mo.

Looks like you're doing the best you can. Here's a couple more tips:

When you finish in the bathroom, shut the door and open the window until the condensation clears;

Buy and run a good dehumidifier, ideally one with a larger capacity than you need;

A smaller dehumidifier in the bathroom when showering is also a good idea - if you're careful with the electrics!;

Turn the room thermostat up to no less than 18 degrees;

Wipe off the condensed water on the bedroom windows in the morning;

Open all trickle vents on your windows; and

If you can, move furniture away 10cm from the walls, especially avoid having any in corners of external walls.

kinger101

freeisgood wrote: »

Seriously, I would like some advice, how do you ventilate a property in the winter without freezing, and spending a fortune on heating bills, also, when it is raining for days on end, surely letting damp air in is also bad? We always have mould issues, extractor fan in bathroom works, tumble dryer vent out though hole in the wall, all internal doors are left open, otherwise it is terrible, especially if we have been way from home, still we have black/green spot mould on ceilings and all external walls, wherever we have rented, always mould! Don't know what to do. Advice appreciated.
Currently in a very mouldy bedroom now, having to wipe ceiling and walls down with a mild bleach solution every two or three days, sick of it! I do open the window for around 15 mins a day just to change the air, because it is quite mild out at the mo.

It sounds like you need to get a dehumidifier or two. I wouldn't use one in the bathroom while showering though, even if it's on an RCD protected circuit.

Old_Git

The last house I lived in for 16 years before renting it out .
The tenant had a 6 year old that wet the bed .She refused to open the window as the child might fall out .
The bedroom ceiling turned black with mold .

New tenants move in no more mold .

freeisgood

Thanks so much for the advice.

Yes, we have literally pulled every bit of furniture about 5 inches away from the walls or they get mould on them too.

Old_Git

freeisgood wrote: »

Seriously, I would like some advice, how do you ventilate a property in the winter without freezing, and spending a fortune on heating bills, also, when it is raining for days on end, surely letting damp air in is also bad? We always have mould issues, extractor fan in bathroom works, tumble dryer vent out though hole in the wall, all internal doors are left open, otherwise it is terrible, especially if we have been way from home, still we have black/green spot mould on ceilings and all external walls, wherever we have rented, always mould! Don't know what to do. Advice appreciated.
Currently in a very mouldy bedroom now, having to wipe ceiling and walls down with a mild bleach solution every two or three days, sick of it! I do open the window for around 15 mins a day just to change the air, because it is quite mild out at the mo.

From you post I think this is a lifestyle issue .You have had mold in every place you have rented .
Open the windows for at least an hour everyday .
Open the bathroom window after you have had a bath or shower .
If you have vents on the windows leave them open .

[Deleted User]

There is an issue in older houses people are not mentioning. Chimneys provided ventilation as well as heat (from the fire). Remove the chimney, you remove the ventilation. It was an important part of the house design. We do have air bricks here though.

I have never had mould in any council house I lived in (about 20 years all told). For the last four years I've been living in a 1920's terraced house. I have a condenser dryer with heat pump. I also run a dehumidifier. I also leave the bathroom window open with door closed after bathing. I leave windows open as often as I can to allow air exchange (all double glazing has blown).

We still have mould in numerous places. Its not just the tenant.

m0bov

I put mould additive into the paint and that stopped it. Mix it with distilled water and spray it into the back of furniture to stop it goong milldew.

GwylimT

freeisgood wrote: »

Seriously, I would like some advice, how do you ventilate a property in the winter without freezing, and spending a fortune on heating bills, also, when it is raining for days on end, surely letting damp air in is also bad? We always have mould issues, extractor fan in bathroom works, tumble dryer vent out though hole in the wall, all internal doors are left open, otherwise it is terrible, especially if we have been way from home, still we have black/green spot mould on ceilings and all external walls, wherever we have rented, always mould! Don't know what to do. Advice appreciated.
Currently in a very mouldy bedroom now, having to wipe ceiling and walls down with a mild bleach solution every two or three days, sick of it! I do open the window for around 15 mins a day just to change the air, because it is quite mild out at the mo.

All of our windows are open 24/7, our home isn't cold or suffering condensation. I should think most bathrooms would be mouldy if the window was only open for fifteen minutes a day.

Doozergirl

Condensation is absolutely a build problem.

It is not a lifestyle issue when most people can go about their daily business without problems, yet some people are as careful as they can be and suffer terribly.

Condensation is caused by a lack of insulation, ventilation or a mix of the two and is completely solvable with the right building solution. We are absolutely capable of building houses without problems and equally capable of fixing the problems in existing houses. It just happens to cost money.

It will never be 'solved' by trying not to generate humidity in the house. It might alleviate symptoms, but the cause is a building problem.