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Am I going to have mould issues?

  • 08-02-2022 5:33am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭


    I moved into a new flat recently and have a humidity and temperature meter.

    Normal relative humidity levels in the flat seems to be above 70%. Dehumidifier works to get it down. But quickly increases again once it's turned off. I know anything above 70 and I can have issues with mould, so I would like to prevent it from happening in the first place.

    When I viewed the flat, it was just painted, so it kind of hints at painting dirty mouldy walls but not sure.

    I really don't want to move as it's so hard to find a place.



«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 705 ✭✭✭houseyhouse


    To keep the humidity down you need to ventilate the flat. The humidity in our bedroom is often close to 70 in the morning but after leaving the window open for a couple of hours it reduces.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    That is very weird, I like windows open, even when sleeping and humidity doesn't go down. Only a dehumidifier seems to help. It would be great if opening a window would help.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal





  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 415 ✭✭Emma2019


    I think anything over 60 is a risk for mould.

    But if your walls are always warm enough moisture won't condense. That's just unlikely unless you have the heating on all the time.

    How much are you opening the windows. A crack helps but having them wide open for a bit each day is more helpful I think.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 867 ✭✭✭SupaCat95


    I would advise you to move. My friend moved into a house with mould. It aggravated her Asthma, and she had to be hospitalised. I was in accommodation twice with mould. Now I wasnt sick because of the mould but I lost clothes and books. Both were miserable accommodations due to cold and damp. If you cant do that invest in a medium dehumidified, buy damp traps, ventilate every day. Use either Clove oil or tea tree oil on mould or potential mould sites.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Where can I move to considering there's not much out there? This shouldn't be the best that I could find.


    I use a dehumidifier but as soon as it switches off, it goes straight back up again. And I'm not doing anything crazy that produces more moisture. Not drying clothes inside, use extracter fans while cooking and in bathroom. Have a few of those chemical dehumidifiers around the place.

    Just trying to figure out what I can do with such high levels of humidity? Or is this even my issue to fix? I'm not that long in the place, so this was definitely something that happened before I moved in.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 705 ✭✭✭houseyhouse


    Are there vents in the bedrooms for ventilation?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    I know I'm going to end up with mould with readings like I'm getting.


    Really don't know what to do. Is this something I have to manage or is this the responsibility of a landlord? I know a landlord will probably pass it off as a tenant's issue like not ventilating the place, drying clothes indoors (which I don't do).

    Not sure what to do.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 705 ✭✭✭houseyhouse


    Rental properties are required to have vents in the bedrooms for this reason. You could ask about putting some in. Really depends on how decent your landlord is. Is it expensive/annoying to run the dehumidifier all the time?



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  • Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,160 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    There is something causing the high humidity.

    If you have adequate ventilation then the humidity levels should decrease. That you seem to have the dehumidifier on and the humidity levels rise as soon as the dehumidifier switches off suggests a lot of moisture coming from somewhere.

    If you aren't drying clothes, is there any other machines that use water?

    Is your bathroom drying out fully after you shower?

    Is there any damp in the property? Is it a basement, ground or above ground flat? Any weird smells?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    No it is so you don't suffocate in the event of gas leaks. All property requires it not just rentals. Many windows have in built vents that cover the requirement.


    Opening a window at this time of year will not reduce moisture in a property it will increase it. There is litterally no property in Ireland that doesn't suffer from our moist climate. The increase in building tightness makes the issue worse over the decades. Drying clothes inside is the biggest cause. You have to clean to stop mold and that is not going to change no matter the property.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    First floor flat. I can't think of anything else using water except the washing machine and kettle but the kitchen seems to have a better relative humidity than the bedroom!!


    I leave the extractor fan on in bathroom for a while after I shower and the misty mirrors clear up quickly enough.


    I don't have a clue where the moisture is coming from.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 636 ✭✭✭J_1980


    I had 70% in bedrooms and 60% elsewhere.

    now running a dehumidifier 8h a day and its mostly at around 40%. 45-50% in bedroom in mornings.

    the apartment is airtight like a newbuild (professionally tested) and I keep windows generally closed (to keep at 23.5 degree inside).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 636 ✭✭✭J_1980


    Another way to check: does humidity go up when you’re away for longer period?

    if yes, there is something wrong



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,082 ✭✭✭spaceHopper


    What is the humidity outside, if it's high then what good will ventilation do. Was it empty and cold for a long times? will it get better as it warms up. Are using a gas fire?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    It was empty for at 6 weeks because I got a letter from the ESB telling me that no one has electricity in thy flat for 6 weeks and electricity supply was going to be cut off.


    Not using gas fire.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    A tip I read online, on some website was to switch on the heating and open windows at the back and front of the house for 10 minutes. So I done that and got humidity down to 55% which stayed like that for a bit without jumping. So I'll see what's it like when I get home from work later on. I just don't want moisture and mould to ruin my stuff. I'm almost considering putting my valuables into storage.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,013 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Hold off on that generalisation!

    Warm air has a higher vapour capacity than cold air, so even 'damp' cold air at 69% RH @ 8 degrees C (such as today) will have a ratio of 4.587g per kg of vapour by weight. That same air containing 4.587g of vapour now warmed to 20 degrees C will have a RH of 31.62.

    So even on a freezing (0 degrees C) day where the RH is at 100%, the vapour load will be a tiny 3.77g/kg. This would indicate that it's generally better to open a window to allow some diffusion of the internal air, even in winter.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Maybe in a lab but a room in a house is different. Are they going to close the window the minute all is balanced for example? What about when it is raining? Is the rest of the air in the building going to stay out of the room?

    Technically you are correct in science but ignored many real world elements.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    From what I understand and all the googling I've been doing lately, warm air holds more water, when it's cold moisture ends up as condensation on walls and ceilings, so you need to heat up the place. But at the same time, you need to let this moisture laded air out. So a tip I read online, heat up the place once a day and open windows as well. I'm not sure if this alone worked as I left for work and switched off the heating but left windows open and cross ventilated by leaving doors open and it really helped and relative humidity stayed under 60% and it didn't jump to over 70%.


    I really hope it's this easy to manage and this is all I have to do.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Or I hope that cross ventilating helps. It's also been quite cold and apparently colder weather will have less humidity. But if that's the case, under 60% relative humidity is normal so if this is what I'm getting when it's cold, it seems high to me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Great, I definitely have a mould problem. Found some at the end of long curtains. I only picked up the keys three weeks ago and properly moved in last week. I'm not sure if I checked the end of the curtains when I moved in, so not sure if I had mould on moving in or not.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,082 ✭✭✭spaceHopper


    Any post for the last tennant, can you contact then in any way? Stalk them on social media.... ask them if they had issues



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭Yellow_Fern


    Is the fan working? Hold a piece of toilet paper under it to see.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    I don't understand, I'm doing everything right. Not drying clothes inside, opening windows, etc. I did have a few days with high humidity, so I was kind of expecting it. Even used the dehumidifier the night before last and humidity was still over 60 in the morning which is crazy after a full night of use. But for the past two days, I was able to get that humidity percentage down to under 60, which is alot better than over 70.

    I don't know what I did to help it go down, was it heating and cross ventilation or is it the cold weather that's meant to be drier and less humid. If it's the weather, well that can change. If it's a case of heating and ventilation, that's great because I can continue to do that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    I don't know what I did to help it go down, was it heating and cross ventilation or is it the cold weather that's meant to be drier and less humid. If it's the weather, well that can change. If it's a case of heating and ventilation, that's great because I can continue to do that.

    It's both.

    The internal RH% will track the external temperature very accurately i.e. when it's very cold outside (low single digits) the internal rh% will drop. This, however, is not in your control.

    What is in your control is what happens inside:

    1. Keep the moisture load as low as possible (e.g. not drying clothes indoors) and try exhaust the water vapour at point and time of production etc.
    2. Keep the place warm. Warm air can hold a lot more moisture than cooler air and therefore allows a better and more efficient exchange of wet internal air with dry external air through your ventilation system or strategy. Dryer internal air will result in a dryer structure which will also mean dryer insulation. Dryer insulation will mean it's easier to keep warm etc
    3. You need a ventilation system or strategy and it looks like your routine is a decent strategy.

    If you moved into a "wet" structure due to the actions of the previous occupier or being vacant for a period what you are seeing may well be the structure actually drying out and by continuing to do what you are doing will keep the drying out process going.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,013 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Actually OP, what floor are you on in the complex and what's below you, and what's to your left and right? These spaces can have a significant bearing.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Thanks for this. I'm so worried about mildew and mould wrecking my stuff.


    Also another question. How often should I be using electric heating? I've never used electric heating and I'm worried having it on when I'm not there in case it causes fire or something.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    It depends really on how the heating is controlled. Is there any thermostatic control? Electric heating takes the form of direct heating, fan heating, storage heating and heat pumps so it depends on what you have really. Do you know anybody who might be able to advise?

    Perhaps a combination of dehumidifier when out and heating / ventilation when home might be a good combination during the heating season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Not sure what else my options are really. Heating ventilating when home and dehumidifier when out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    So I can get the relative humidity down under 60% if I have heating on. It goes up to 65% during the night. So a tiny improvement than when I moved in. I'm guessing the real issue is the place is hard to heat all the time to have relative humidity under 60.


    I bought plastic boxes to store my things and bought a few moisture traps to have around the place. That and heating/ventilating/dehumidifier might help me control this, I hope.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 705 ✭✭✭houseyhouse


    Mine often goes up to 65 at night in the bedroom and we don’t have a problem with mould except on the bottom of the window frame. Clothes, books etc. all totally fine. It wipes off the windows no bother.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    I thought I was getting this under control. Had a few days where the relative humidity stayed under 60%. Then all of a sudden it went up over 70% yesterday. And that's with heating, ventilation and dehumidifier use.


    What is going on?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    The weather ... it's gotten warmer. That increase in RH% you are seeing is replicated in every house in the country



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    I never had over 70% humidity in my last place. It stayed under 60 all the time.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Guess I'll try manage this as best as I can. Store valuables in plastic boxes, use moisture traps and heating/ventilation/dehumidifier. I don't think I have any other option at the moment. I can't exactly move because there's a serious shortage of places to rent.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,794 ✭✭✭C3PO


    Just keep a careful eye on your energy usage - it could be very expensive.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,367 ✭✭✭JimmyVik



    Ive seen lots of places where people kept the heating off in some rooms all the time or kept them much cooler than other rooms. What happens is you open the door, the warm miost air goes in and condenses in the cold room.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    So I should have heating on in both rooms at the same time? Kitchen/living room and bedroom?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,367 ✭✭✭JimmyVik


    Keep the whole house at a reasonable temperature. Having one cold room is a recipe for mould in that room if you open door regularly. Also heating the whole house heats the internal walls up to temp too, so you dont have cold walls. You can also check the attic to make sure the insulation hasnt been pulled back over spots where you see mould.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    It's so hard to heat the place to a reasonable temperature and keep the place warm though. I'm guessing that's the same problem in alot of places though.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Well RH is back up to over 70%. I'm guessing it's because the weather is warming up and when I open windows, I'm just letting humid air in.


    70% humidity without even boiling a kettle or taking a shower. So I'm very worried about it causing mould issues but don't know what to do at this stage. I know I live in Ireland and it's expected but going by my last place I didn't get this high 70% RH. Like very worried, so I ordered another dehumidifier, a low energy one and have one in kitchen and one in bedroom along with passive dehumidifiers all over the flat.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 Kartoshka


    I have a similar issue where I live now (poorly insulated rental) and the only other advice I'd offer to keep your belongings in good order is to avoid having anything sitting on the floor or pushed against a wall. The air needs to circulate around/under things to try and keep them mildew and mould free. I have a dehumidifier running all day most days and it never gets below 60% in my case but that's due in part to an en suite with no ventilation.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,367 ✭✭✭JimmyVik


    Check your monitor. Ive seen 3 different makes beside each other that read 48%, 70% and 80% at the same time.

    Leaving the windows open and having 70% humidity is not accurate at all unless its warm and raining heavily outside.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,510 ✭✭✭fun loving criminal


    Monitor is accurate enough, I think. I have the dehumidifier on auto and it kicks in once RH is over 60%. So it can't be dehumidifier and monitor wrong as well.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,367 ✭✭✭JimmyVik


    Leave the montitor outside in the daytime and see what it says.



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