Flatmate wants to have heating on all the time to combat dampness. Alternatives to tackle dampness?
Question:Her shoes and clothes going mouldy but I'm baking b/c she wants the heating on all the time! Also it's terrible for the environment. Any suggestions to tackle the dampness? She's the flat owner but hasn't much money.
Answers:
If she is the flat owner, it's up to her to get it sorted. But opening a window will work aswell
try and find where the damps getting in,is you're first priority,and get it sorted? then get some windows open and have a bit of fresh air circulating round?also are her clothes stored in a sealed cupboard as in built in cupboards? try putting a air vent in the cupboard door to allow the cloths to breathe?
She needs to insulate the focus of the dampness. She might not have much money, but having the heating on all the time will cost her a fortune. She can spend that money in fixing the problem. Being a property owner she won't have much trouble getting a loan for it if needed..
Also, your health is put at risk when you live in a damp place. That's the highest price you will be paying.
You can get free standing dehumidifiers which aren't too expensive
Well you could open some windows, to get some fresh air in.
Or you could buy a dehumidifier this takes all the moisture from the air and can combat dampness
Below is a link to one that's at £35
Good luck
open the windows!
A dehumidifier would help, look in Argos, but the most sensible thing would be to look where it is coming in.
If you are a ground floor flat, then it will be rising damp. It could be as simple as earth outside against the wall is higher than the damp proof course. Dig it away, end of problem.
If it is a first floor flat, check guttering's, if they are blocked this can cause dampness. Solution, clear out all the old leaves in the gutter.
It may be that there is no damp proof course and that will be expensive as well as messy.
We had the same problem and just got a dehumidifer - you can rent them out rather than buying.
Hi, i you go to a DIY store you can buy granules that you put in a container that comes with it, or you can put it in a bucket, it will draw out the water from the room. I am sorry but i don't know the name, but it works very well.
find out where damp is comping from and fix it, in the meanwhile, open windows or get an extractor fan fitted.
OK, we have the same problem and we rent. Have lived here for 2 years and had the problem since we moved in, and its a brand new flat!!
anyway.
If the heating is turned up it just makes the mould breed faster, you need to air the room. Open up the windows, and use bleach with water to wipe down the mould. Here are a few helpful pointers.
After a bath or shower, the room should be ventilated to the outside, opening the window and close the bathroom door
Fit an extractor fan.
Dry clothes out of doors
While drying clothes indoors, ventilate the room. Dryers should have external air extraction.
Have more windows open to to get rid of the damp air and replace it with clean air, areas which produce a lot of moisture (kitchen, bathroom).
Extractor fans are available with an air-moisture switch so that they operate automatically while the moisture in the air is above a set amount. Other units (more expensive/complicated) are available which remove the moist air but reuse the thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Consider using a dehumidifier (We have one and the amount of water it takes out of the air is amazing) you can buy them from Argos, etc.
I hope this helped, but the worst thing to do is keep the windows closed and have the heating on full, it just spreads the mould faster.
get a dehumidifier...we have one in the basement, it works wonders love!
Turning the heating up won't help, as bacteria's growth rate increases inline with temperature rise.
Prevention is better than cure, but as she sounds tight then I'll skip that one.
Cheapeast method is to use dehumidifier pots. They're like little flower pots that collect condensation. Not as good as a proper electric dehumidifier but cheaper and cost nothing to run.
Or you can just open the bleedin windows. Does the divvy woman take showers without an extrator fan on? Cook without an extractor fan on? More often than not common sense prevails.
She needs to use a fan. It will circulate the air, not heat it. Sometimes the heat can cause dampness when moisture is involved. It creates humidity. A dehumidifier is a good option, it will remove dampness from the air. It may cost you extra on the electrical bill, but it probably cheaper than running the heat.
Here's the answer to your question -GET A DEHUMIDIFIER
william h has the answer
Keeping the heat on in a damp property is guaranteed to create mould - ideal conditions are being created.
First the ventilation of the property needs to be addressed. At the very least a window or two should be kept slightly ajar to create an air flow through the property. The kitchen and bathroom are big culprits in creating damp and mould through the creation of steam and heat. Make sure doors are kept closed to these rooms when being used and the windows to them opened whilst in use. A mechanical extractor fan could solve some of the problem.
If the walls of the building are concrete then a wall covering that creates a barrier will be required - I believe there are some special liners for problem areas of wall - visit your local DIY store and see what they stock.
Crumbling old window ledges often create damp problems below the window. It is a relatively cheap building job to have them recast - and the effect can be seen immediately!
BTW use a special mould killer not bleach when cleaning walls etc. Bleach doesn't kill the fungal spores so it will return very quickly even though you think you've cleaned everywhere.
Id have to move out its her problem and think of the spoors from the mould, can damage you health.
visit site www.dampness/info.co.uk
the heating wont make things any better a damp course would be cheaper in the long run!! the whole house should be aired this time of year, it needs to be sorted as you can get pleurisy from damp conditions
she could contact her local council as there are sometimes grants and loans for this type of thing
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