Condensation in house

whitelightrider

Hi Folks,

We seem to have a serious issue with condensation in our house and I was wondering if there's anything I should be looking at to improve the issue?
On windows downstairs the water can literally be dropping off the key's in the doors, and has seeped in behind the window boards in the rooms.
I find myself using kitchen roll to clear up any water from the windows almost every night.

This only seems to have during the colder months though.

mikeysmith

Open the vents

Keep the heat on constant

Don't dry clothes indoors

Make sure extraction is adequate for bathrooms and cooker

For a start anyhow

whitelightrider

Hi Mikeysmith,

One thing I noticed is that the plasterer has covered the vents in the rooms by plastering over them. 
I can get these opened, but what kind of vent should I be putting into the rooms to avoid draughts?

muffler

+1 on all of the above.

This is always a problem particularly at this time of year when the external temperature drops which results in moist warm air internally meeting cold surfaces and condensing into water droplets basically.

As stated above proper ventilation and heating are the key and not forgetting your levels of insulation.

mikeysmith

whitelightrider wrote: »

Hi Mikeysmith,

One thing I noticed is that the plasterer has covered the vents in the rooms by plastering over them. 
I can get these opened, but what kind of vent should I be putting into the rooms to avoid draughts?

You'd need to unblock the vents and fit grilles on them for a start anyhow

Is the house well insulated and double glazed

muffler

whitelightrider wrote: »

One thing I noticed is that the plasterer has covered the vents in the rooms by plastering over them.

Why would he do such a thing? The vents serve a very important purpose as do other fittings and features in the house. Blocking them is in breach of Building Regulations btw.

Is this a new house?

whitelightrider

Hi folks,

House was built about 10 years ago.  We're on the top of a hill and very open so Im assuming it was to stop any drafts coming into the house.
Im going to look at fitting some grills over the Christmas.  Are there any particular ones that people would recommend?  Last think I want is for a gale to be coming through the vents

9or10

All of your windows have vents on them? Are they open?

whitelightrider

No vents on the windows.

9or10

That's a pity. Assuming you have the bog standard white upvc double glazing they could be retro fitted.

https://www.windowanddoorparts.ie/shop/window-parts/window-trickle-vent/

If you started in the rooms where you have most problems.



ps: though read the warning on that page

EndaHonesty

A dehumidifier will solve the condensation issue overnight.

mikeysmith

EndaHonesty wrote: »

A dehumidifier will solve the condensation issue overnight.

Be cheaper to unblock the vents

whitelightrider

9or10 wrote: »

That's a pity.  Assuming you have the bog standard white upvc double glazing they could be retro fitted.

https://www.windowanddoorparts.ie/shop/window-parts/window-trickle-vent/

If you started in the rooms where you have most problems.



ps: though read the warning on that page

Are these hard to fit?  I can get in touch with Grady Joinery who fitted our double glazed windows to make sure they can be drilled into.

whitelightrider

mikeysmith wrote: »

EndaHonesty wrote: »

A dehumidifier will solve the condensation issue overnight.

Be cheaper to unblock the vents

Exactly.  And the problem is in most rooms to be honest.  Ive noticed mold in 1 of the rooms which has set off alarm bells as we have 2 young kids.

EndaHonesty

mikeysmith wrote: »

Be cheaper to unblock the vents

Would someone be able to cut into newly plastered walls, install and finish vents in the whole house for less than €200?

I don't think so.

A dehumidifier will cost less than €200, remove the condensation completely from the whole house, make the house more comfortable and keep expensive heating inside.

The dehumidifier will solve the mould issue too.

cruizer101

A dehumidifier might remove the moisture but you are still just re-circulating stale air and not getting any fresh air into the house. Have to add in running costs also. The proper solution is to put in the vents that are meant to be there.

Op I know in a friends house before they moved in they got a lot of insulation put in but still had the old windows and they used to get a lot of condensation even though it was ventilated correctly, once they got new decent windows in the problem was gone. So I'm no expert but I think it was in part caused by the difference big difference between very well insulated walls and crap windows.

whitelightrider

cruizer101 wrote: »

A dehumidifier might remove the moisture but you are still just re-circulating stale air and not getting any fresh air into the house. Have to add in running costs also. The proper solution is to put in the vents that are meant to be there.

Op I know in a friends house before they moved in they got a lot of insulation put in but still had the old windows and they used to get a lot of condensation even though it was ventilated correctly, once they got new decent windows in the problem was gone. So I'm no expert but I think it was in part caused by the difference big difference between very well insulated walls and crap windows.

We've spent a lot on insulation so the house is very well insulated.  But the windows are also high quality too.  My brother in law has the same ones and has no issue.  Then again, I do think he has vents, although has blocked a couple where the airflow was too great causing drafts in the room.

EndaHonesty

cruizer101 wrote: »

A dehumidifier might remove the moisture but you are still just re-circulating stale air and not getting any fresh air into the house. Have to add in running costs also. The proper solution is to put in the vents that are meant to be there.

Op I know in a friends house before they moved in they got a lot of insulation put in but still had the old windows and they used to get a lot of condensation even though it was ventilated correctly, once they got new decent windows in the problem was gone. So I'm no expert but I think it was in part caused by the difference big difference between very well insulated walls and crap windows.

You are overstating the issue of stale air. Once a window is opened for a few hours each day there will be no stale air in the house.

Modern dehumidifiers have air filters with silver particles in them to clean air too.

It's silly IMO to allow your heating out passive vents when there is a technological solution that is guaranteed to work.

whitelightrider

EndaHonesty wrote: »

cruizer101 wrote: »

A dehumidifier might remove the moisture but you are still just re-circulating stale air and not getting any fresh air into the house. Have to add in running costs also. The proper solution is to put in the vents that are meant to be there.

Op I know in a friends house before they moved in they got a lot of insulation put in but still had the old windows and they used to get a lot of condensation even though it was ventilated correctly, once they got new decent windows in the problem was gone. So I'm no expert but I think it was in part caused by the difference big difference between very well insulated walls and crap windows.

You are overstating the issue of stale air. Once a window is opened for a few hours each day there will be no stale air in the house.

Modern dehumidifiers have air filters with silver particles in them to clean air too.

It's silly IMO to allow your heating out vents when there is a technological solution that is guaranteed to work.

Hi Enda,

The only issue I see here is that you could potentially leave the house with air thats too dry, which can lead to issue with young children.  With 2 young girls, that would be my main concern with using the dehumidifier

EndaHonesty

whitelightrider wrote: »

Hi Enda,

The only issue I see here is that you could potentially leave the house with air thats too dry, which can lead to issue with young children.  With 2 young girls, that would be my main concern with using the dehumidifier

Modern household dehumidifiers only dry the air to "normal" levels, they don't just keep drying the air, they switch off once the excess moisture has been removed.

I have a Delonghi DES12 compressor type dehumidifier that has been working away for 4 years in an apartment I previously lived in but is now vacant.

I had a Meaco desiccant model before that which worked fine but died after 2 years.
When I was looking for a replacement I discovered that desiccant dehumidifiers are not as reliable as compressor dehumidifiers, so I chose the compressor type.

I leave the dehumidifier running pretty much all the time, it switches off when the tank is full.

They are brilliant little machines that make your place easier to heat in cold weather, cooler in warm weather and dries clothes inside quickly without any worries.

Some people mention the noise and cost of running as downsides but I've found that the noise is slight and actually is a dull background ambient noise that drowns
out external noises so it's IMO an upside.

The running costs are small and are more than made up for by the easier heating, easier clothes drying and overall improved atmosphere.

listermint

Will you stop Hocking dehumidifiers . It's getting ridiculous at this point.


It sounds like you sell them or something.

Dehumidifiers will not solve a condensation problem in a house. At best it's good for a small apartment.

Your house needs to be properly ventilated. that's why there was vents in it. Dehumidifiers are not for that purpose. Now if you came in talking about installing a hrv system then fair enough. But your not you keep coming on telling people to by free standing cheap dehumidifiers.

It's not a permanent solution it's a quick fix for small areas.

Enough with the half arsed solutions.

When you sell your house and take your little machine with you it will still be the same crap damp house.

fred funk }{

listermint wrote: »

Will you stop Hocking dehumidifiers . It's getting ridiculous at this point.


It sounds like you sell them or something.

Dehumidifiers will not solve a condensation problem in a house. At best it's good for a small apartment.

Your house needs to be properly ventilated. that's why there was vents in it. Dehumidifiers are not for that purpose. Now if you came in talking about installing a hrv system then fair enough. But your not you keep coming on telling people to by free standing cheap dehumidifiers.

It's not a permanent solution it's a quick fix for small areas.

Enough with the half arsed solutions.

When you sell your house and take your little machine with you it will still be the same crap damp house.

Thank you - thought I was the only one.

EndaHonesty

listermint wrote: »

Will you stop Hocking dehumidifiers . It's getting ridiculous at this point.


It sounds like you sell them or something.

Dehumidifiers will not solve a condensation problem in a house. At best it's good for a small apartment.

Your house needs to be properly ventilated. that's why there was vents in it. Dehumidifiers are not for that purpose. Now if you came in talking about installing a hrv system then fair enough. But your not you keep coming on telling people to by free standing cheap dehumidifiers.

It's not a permanent solution it's a quick fix for small areas.

Enough with the half arsed solutions.

When you sell your house and take your little machine with you it will still be the same crap damp house.

Have you used a dehumidifier in a house/apartment?

My guess is no.

And you're acting all butt hurt for why?

Passive vents are from the dark ages, we've moved on grandad.

muffler

EndaHonesty wrote: »

we've moved on grandad.

Very helpful and mature.


No doubt about it, dehumidifiers are a great piece of kit and serve a good purpose but only on a temporary basis. Its a bit like collecting water in a bucket thats stemming from a leak in the attic. The water will continue to flow until the root cause has been identified and repaired and when that's done the bucket can be dispensed with.

In the OP's case proper ventilation, heating and insulation will provide a permanent cure to a troublesome problem.

EndaHonesty

muffler wrote: »

Very helpful and mature.


No doubt about it, dehumidifiers are a great piece of kit and serve a good purpose but only on a temporary basis. Its a bit like collecting water in a bucket thats stemming from a leak in the attic. The water will continue to flow until the root cause has been identified and repaired and when that's done the bucket can be dispensed with.

In the OP's case proper ventilation, heating and insulation will provide a permanent cure to a troublesome problem.

Oh so accusing me of "hocking" dehumidifiers because I must be seĺling them is mature debate?!

Dehumidifiers are nothing like using a bucket to fix a leak, most moisture issues in modern homes are caused by human activity.

Cooking, heating, washing, moving and even breathing all introduce extra moisture into the household environment.

Dehumidifiers are a mechanical answer to a mechanical problem.

Advocating passive ventilation as the solution is ridiculous in this day and age.

Putting extra holes in walls and windows, hoping they take the moisture out without causing draughts, while venting your expensive heating at the same time is not the answer.

Are there other solutions? Certainly, but no other solution will work immediately and be as cheap or easy to implement as simply installing a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers are a guaranteed solution.

Seth Brundle

EndaHonesty wrote: »

Dehumidifiers are a guaranteed solution.

Guaranteed? By whom?

EndaHonesty

kbannon wrote: »

Guaranteed? By whom?

By the manufacturer.

They are designed to remove excess moisture, if they don't work you can return them.

They will work.

Seth Brundle

Do they pay you on commission or a salary?
:rolleyes:

denismc

While I find dehumidifiers fine for individual rooms, I'm not sure they are suitable for a whole house, as well as moving them from room to room they need to be emptied regularly.

A guy at work got one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nuaire-Drimaster-Heat-Condensation-Ventilation/dp/B0074KMAM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513338731&sr=8-1&keywords=nuaire+drimaster.
They draw air from the attic through a filter and push it into the house adding a little heat. My friend is very pleased with his and it seems to get good reviews.

muffler

EndaHonesty wrote: »

Oh so accusing me of "hocking" dehumidifiers because I must be seĺling them is mature debate?!

You can hardly blame people for thinking that as I've heard less drum beating in East Belfast on the 12th July

Dehumidifiers are nothing like using a bucket to fix a leak, most moisture issues in modern homes are caused by human activity.

That was an analogy used to demonstrate that the original problem still exists.

Cooking, heating, washing, moving and even breathing all introduce extra moisture into the household environment.

Couldnt agree more.

Dehumidifiers are a mechanical answer to a mechanical problem.

They merely help in the short term but as I have already said the root problem is still there and that needs to be addressed. Despite your persistent promoting of dehumidifiers there are other options available.

Advocating passive ventilation as the solution is ridiculous in this day and age.

Not every house or all activities in every house is the same. There are a lot of factors at play so it is possible for passive ventilation to work in certain occasions. I wouldnt be so dismissive of the idea given the fact that the lack of passive vents has most likely caused the OP's problems.

Putting extra holes in walls and windows, hoping they take the moisture out without causing draughts, while venting your expensive heating at the same time is not the answer.

As above. Its a very cheap and simple option to explore.

Are there other solutions? Certainly, but no other solution will work immediately and be as cheap or easy to implement as simply installing a dehumidifier.

As you said there are other options but here we go again - you had to start banging the drum again about the dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers are a guaranteed solution.

No they're not. I dont know how many times I and others have to say that the root cause of the problem must be addressed. Mopping up or sticking a plaster on it doesnt solve the problem.

EndaHonesty

muffler wrote: »

blah

All that and you haven't offered one solid solution to the OP's problem and topic of the thread.

The problem is most likely human activity, you've admitted that yourself, it's unlikely to be an inherent fault with the house.

The solution is a dehumidifier, it's as simple as that.

I speak as someone who has had similar issues and used a dehumidifier to solve them.
I have nothing to gain from sharing my experience and giving this advice based on that experience. I know they work.

Do you have any helpful advice for the OP beyond "dehumidifiers won't work" and "add more vents"?