Humidity

[pinheadplanet]

Not quite sure which category this might fit into so I'm putting it here.

We're suffering with some crazy humidity in our house and want to know how/where it is coming from and how I might tackle it.

I have a couple of these cheap hygrometer and they're both giving similar readings. The other day we had 90% humidity in the bedroom! As I understand from various sites humidity levels should be between 1-50% for relative comfort. At present (11.30am) it's 75%.

We live in Southampton, so fairly near the coast.

Under the house we have a high water table and I have seen the foundations of the house flooded after really heavy rain.

We have a polycarbonate roof on the conservatory and there are no exterior doors or windows separating the conservatory from the kitchen (these were removed before we moved in) so it's more like an open plan kitchen.

At night I put a dehumidifier on in the bedroom for a few hours before we go to bed and this manages to pull the level down to about 55% which makes it more comfortable but come the morning it's just back right up.

Not really putting the heating on yet but that does help with the relative comfort feeling if the house is warmer.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[EFLImpudence]

It's 98% OUTSIDE in Southampton according to the BBC at the moment.

Why are you worrying about it?

 

[pinheadplanet]

It's 98% OUTSIDE in Southampton according to the BBC at the moment.

Why are you worrying about it?

I get night sweats so I'm physically suffering. I stay in many other places and only suffer at home. Also I don't feel it when I go other peoples houses in Southampton.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I'm sorry for your suffering but know nothing about the medical condition.

I wouldn't think it was because of the house conditions even if drier results in you feeling better.

 

[Bosswhite]

Its quite humid on the other side of the Solent as well at the moment, maybe its something to do with the weather. .

 

[pinheadplanet]

Its quite humid on the other side of the Solent as well at the moment, maybe its something to do with the weather. .

lol thanks for that

Anyone have have any real ideas on how to reduce humidity or what may be the cause?

 

[AronSearle]

Its quite humid on the other side of the Solent as well at the moment, maybe its something to do with the weather. .

lol thanks for that

Anyone have have any real ideas on how to reduce humidity or what may be the cause?

The cause, it's more humid outside than in, what do you think?

You can get a dehumidifiyer, in your case I would recomend against a desecant dehumidier, as they create heat as well as dry the air.

You want a refridgerated coil dehumidifiyer.

I personally think your humidity is not the problem, temperature is, but that's up to you.

 

[jeds]

If you have an appropriate loft space I would consider a PIV system. (positive input ventilation system) Look up Drimaster or similar.
Dehumidifiers are not necessarily a good idea. As said above they can cause as many problems as they solve.

As an alternative, a few years ago I put in a ceiling fan in my bedroom. I can honestly say it's the best bit of kit I've bought in a long time. If you're anything like me I can't stand it being too hot at night. I sleep with the window open all year round and the Summers used to be unbearable. The ceiling fan is absolutely brilliant and I get a good nights sleep no matter how hot.

 

[foxhole]

Ventilation is only affordable option, dehumidifier cost a lost to run and unless you are sealed in will just be trying to dry outside.

 

[doggyvonne]

Not quite sure which category this might fit into so I'm putting it here.

We're suffering with some crazy humidity in our house and want to know how/where it is coming from and how I might tackle it.

I have a couple of these cheap hygrometer and they're both giving similar readings. The other day we had 90% humidity in the bedroom! As I understand from various sites humidity levels should be between 1-50% for relative comfort. At present (11.30am) it's 75%.

We live in Southampton, so fairly near the coast.

Under the house we have a high water table and I have seen the foundations of the house flooded after really heavy rain.

We have a polycarbonate roof on the conservatory and there are no exterior doors or windows separating the conservatory from the kitchen (these were removed before we moved in) so it's more like an open plan kitchen.

At night I put a dehumidifier on in the bedroom for a few hours before we go to bed and this manages to pull the level down to about 55% which makes it more comfortable but come the morning it's just back right up.

Not really putting the heating on yet but that does help with the relative comfort feeling if the house is warmer.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[doggyvonne]

Just thought i would ask the original poster if the problem was solved as it might help me? I moved about 1.5 miles from West coast of UK this year to a 60s bungalow semi. The climate is mild and we have had a good summer of sun followed by weeks of autumn rain . The home is becoming damp despite opening windows most of the day, the windows have narrow vents on the frames and we put heating on 2 hours daily even if not cold. Clothes in drawers and wardrobes become damp and a fine dusting of mould has begun to collect on bathroom ceiling even though tiles and walls are newly decorated and kept very clean. There is a fan for after showers etc. The mystery of it is that our attached neighbours whose bungalow is smaller have not got the humidity and damp problems? There are two adults and a dog here and 2 adults only next door. we open our windows and doors a good bit more too? My house is kept very clean and we have all new carpets and newly decorated. My perception is that the dampness comes from under the floor which is floorboards with deep space under about 2 feet to the ground beneath. I have begun to feel it coldly rising under my feet through the carpet. The worst affected palces are the storage drawers under the bed and wardrobes which are not on an outside wall. The worst affected parts of house face North and South but we are halfway down a steep hill and lots of shrubs and trees around to soak up water. There are two tiny garden ponds one facing east and one a good way from wall facing West. Can anyone suggest what could be causing the problem given these details. What kind of a specialist would i ask to investigate?

 

[Dave54]

If you live on or near the West coast it tends to be more humid. Everyone I know down here in Cornwall has problems with it to a greater or lesser degree,
93% showing outside here at the moment. 86% indoors. Open the windows and doors, or switch on an extractor fan (and so pull in air from outside) and you let more moisture laden air in.
Insulation to stop condensation on cold areas, and possibly a PIV system as suggested above may help.

 

[AronSearle]

Jebus, please don't just mangle your post into one wall of text, so hard to read.

Be specific when you talk about dampness, dampness in air, condensation on surfaces or both.

Sounds like you have an uninsulated floor, why would you expect it to feel anything other than cold, if it is uninsulated.

Opening windows in the day will do the square root of nothing a lot of the time. Condensation is warm moisture laden air hitting cold surfaces, if you are breathing/washing etc and have the windows closed, you are still producing moisture and your walls are still cold, (A bad analogy would be lighting a fire in a room with a closed window, does not matter if the window was open an hour ago, it isnt open now).

More constant ventillation is the quick fix (old houses had open fires and silly amounts of ventillation

/ More insulation to reduce cold-briding and cold surfaces is the better long term fix, and I mean more than a little loft insulation.

 

[doggyvonne]

Thank you to Dave and Aron for replies..the dehumidifier we got yesterday is helping but can you tell me what is involved in insulating a floor boarded floor- we just had new underlay and carpets everywhere and caber board under vinyl in kitchen and utility?
The loft all ready has maximum insulation and the walls have cavity insulation..i open windows for fresh air and health its what we came to the coast for, but not open at night except in summer? I realise that being near sea means more dampness but we cant live with mould growth as i am asthmatic.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Does your neighbour have cavity insulation?