How can I prevent damp in unused rooms if I close them off during winter?

[Deleted User]

Coffeekup said:

jj_43 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Buy some of the cheap single use dehumidifiers (Something like the below), if no one is going into the room generating moisture then there should be very little, when they are used up then replace them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ANSIO-Dehumidifier-Condensation-Moisture-Dehumidifiers/dp/B015AOGP1S/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dehumidifiers+disposable&qid=1661518580&sprefix=dehumi,aps,127&sr=8-3

save you money, these are not effective. ventilation will work.

I agree single use dehumidifiers, are a wasteful product. Use an old jam jar/s (more than one might be needed for one location) fill it 1/3 and leave near the area's you get condensation, it's worked for me the last 2 years. No plastic waste, no chemical waste and saved money.

Full it with what? Water?

doesntnotcompute

[Deleted User] said:

Full it with what? Water?

I'm gonna guess.... salt, given they were talking about chemical waste etc.

TheGardener

TBH, the bedrooms in the house I grew up in didn't have any heating anyway - it's humans breathing that cause most of the condensation. Unless a house has structural problems (old stonework, poor glazing, leaky roofs or broken guttering) as long as you keep outside walls free of furniture or stuff to allow better air movement then it should be fine. I actually think curtains are half the problem with mildew round windows, maybe thermal roller blinds or a fleece (doesn't hold much moisture) blanket pinned up would be a better option? 
I also think regular airing and dusting help prevent mildew

aoleks

elsien said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Ventilation.  Close the doors but keep window trickle vents open, or lock the windows ajar if you can.

That's no good if it's damp outside, surely?  

Yes it is. Why doesn’t the outside of your house develop mould, despite being wet and damp in the winter? Or your fence? Or your car?

ventilation.

[Deleted User]

Of course salt would work (and is cheap).  Perhaps another possibility might be dry rice (also pretty cheap) as the homemade dessicant to use in the jar.

QrizB

aoleks said:

elsien said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Ventilation.  Close the doors but keep window trickle vents open, or lock the windows ajar if you can.

That's no good if it's damp outside, surely?  

Yes it is. Why doesn’t the outside of your house develop mould, despite being wet and damp in the winter?

It can and does. I'm surprised you've never seen it.

https://www.basildonstone.co.uk/how-to-stop-mould-from-growing-on-brick/

Or your fence? Or your car?

See also:

https://www.fencesrichmond.com/blog/remove-mold-wood-fence/

https://everydayshowcar.com/remove-mold-from-car-exterior/

Coffeekup

[Deleted User] said:

Full it with what? Water?

Oooops... Table salt, rock salt or any salt.

doesntnotcompute said:

I'm gonna guess.... salt, given they were talking about chemical waste etc.

Yes I was thx.

mumf

Airflow. Open the windows. We don’t have central heating,and we like fresh air too. We have zero mould, and our house is 120 years old. 

Ally_E.

If you're worried about damp get  dessicant dehumidifier and run it in the closed off rooms once a week for a few hours. I found dedumidifier a necessity in a modern UK home, but now that we've moved to a period property with breathable construction we no longer use it.