Leaving flat empty during winter months

somethingbleh

I live in an urban area that has constant chimneys pumping out "smokeless" fires all evening.

Essentially , the neighbourhood smells like a chimney this time of year after nightfall.

I have trickle vents on all the window but the smell from outside air pollution seeps into the flat if I leave them open.

Worried about coming home to all the curtains and furniture stinking.

Is there any other potential risks to having the windows closed up for up those 2 months (Nov/Dec)?

Dampness is the other obvious worry. I have purchased about a dozen of those damp trap boxes in the hope to offset it somewhat.

I feel like its a toss up between a damp/mouldy flat or one that has lingering chimney smoke saturated into the furniture/curtains.

Thanks in advance lads.

Ish66

I would be more interested to know why you hit return 3 times after every sentence.

PS Leave the window open a smidgen....( and I thought I had problems)

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269231/leaving-flat-empty-during-winter-months

Thank you for a well-spaced and easy to read post.

Would a dehumidifier work on a timer?

Gregor Samsa

As Graces7 suggested, a dehumidifier would sort out any damp issues. You can get ones that are also air purifiers, so they'll take out any smoke particles that do get in.

Padre_Pio

Damp trap boxes are no good IMO. You can pick up a dehumidifier second hand for not much money and they're great.

Leave the windows cracked during the morning only when no one has a fire lit, just to air out the house.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269231/leaving-flat-empty-during-winter-months

If you have gas you can't block the vents.

I'm fully electric with an exposed southern aspect, I roll up a newspaper into the trickle vents to stop the wind moving the curtains. Just make sure that you ventilate everyday and you will be fine.

B.A._Baracus

Only my view but I would just close the windows and when you come back air the place out.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119799366#Comment_119799366

When I first had a dehumidiier I was shocked at the amount of water...

somethingbleh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119799392#Comment_119799392

Ehm, I obviously didnt make this obvious enough.

I WONT be in the apartment so cant open/close anything!

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119800179#Comment_119800179

Get a dehumidifer you can put on the worktop in the kitchen. Plumb the water trap down the sink.

Plug it into a timer to run for some time in the morning and again in the evening.

Open all the doors in the apartment. Should be nice and dry when you come back in a few months.

Yellow_Fern

If you have vents and you rent a dehumidifier you will be pulling water from outside and the toilets. At least close the toilet seats.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119800179#Comment_119800179

I was wondering what the thread title had to do with your post alright.

Move in some Ukrainians.