Condensation on Wall Vent Covers(internal)

c.p.w.g.w

Hopefully someone can help...

New build home, and we have these wall vents "Lunos Outer wall air vent ALD" and we are getting condensation on the internal cover, which is set to the open position...

Covers are just flat plastic that clock over the vent opening...

The house is well heat via A2W and has been holding 20°c internal temperature...

10-10-20

It's very cold outside, so this is probably expected.

You need to measure the Relative Humidity and use that to understand the dew-point.

See this post to understand why you'd see moisture on any cold surface:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986780#Comment_119986780

Keeping the RH to around 50% would reduce the occurrence of moisture on all except the coldest of surfaces.

Hopefully this helps.

GreeBo

Without MRHV system in place you are going to get cold air cooling the surface only to be hit by warm air which will condense. There isnt really anything you can do about it other than try to lower the overall humidity in the room/house.

Are you drying clothes, cooking without an extractor etc?

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986883#Comment_119986883

I've seen it on the dining room and living room...

Also getting a bit of condensation on the windows, despite the vents being open on the windows

10-10-20

Again, it's cold enough that the surfaces are condensing moisture where even if you had an RH of 40% at 20 degrees C (too dry), you'd have condensation on any surface below 6 degrees C.

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986926#Comment_119986926

Window vents on their own wont be enough when the temps outside are this low as the dew point (the point at which condensation forms) is lower, especially if you are cooking and drying clothes indoors.

Open windows if you are drying clothes or cooking.

But to be honest, condensation on vents & windows isn't really a problem, more of an annoyance at this time of year.

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986950#Comment_119986950

Thanks, we are only in the place 3 weeks and we are more concerned that If these areas of condensation are going to be on ongoing issue or just a once off when we are getting these mad cold spells... previous house had massive issues with damp(no wall vents, no window vents) it was actually making my OH sick

GreeBo

Ah, understand the concern. You should be fine once temps warm up a little or you add more ventilation when cooking/drying/showering etc.

Also, condensation on vents and windows is ok, if you start seeing it on walls, skirting etc then thats a different story!

MicktheMan

FYI

Your house is a new build so is likely still drying out from the build process. This "drying out" period can last up to 18 months depending. During this period expect 2 effects; 1. More energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature and 2. Higher moisture load meaning more moisture available to cause the type of issues you are seeing.

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987759#Comment_119987759

Thank you, someone in work just mentioned something similar...might just get a dehumidifier for the bedroom and the kitchen/diner space just to be safe

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987505#Comment_119987505

The bathrooms have mechanical vents that go into a boost mode at the sight of water, had the hot tap on for too long the otherday, it kicked it fairly sharpish

GreeBo

I got a Meaco dehumidifer last year from the lads in Cork and its excellent, does the whole house (200+sqm)

https://www.meaco-dehumidifiers.ie/meaco-dd8l-zambezi-dehumidifier/

€300 delivered in Ireland.

I've had it pull out 2L over night in very humid weather.