Bedroom - humidity

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Hi there.

I know this topic has been covered a number of times, but...

I am getting a LOT of condensation on my bedroom window at the moment overnight where it's cold out. Some of the plaster around the window is also getting damp, and some mould has started to form. I leave the window open slightly (on the ventilation latch, whatever it's called) during the day.

The bedroom is approx 3.6m x 3.5m x 2.55m with a window area of 1.7m2. There is loft insulation above (maybe could do with some more) and there is a single radiator (600x900). However, it never gets really warm in the bedroom so I suspect this is the problem. The heating is on for an hour in the morning and about 2.5 hours in the evening, which keeps the lounge/kitchen warm, but upstairs doesn't get as warm.

I am going to take a look at the loft insulation, but also thinking of upgrading to a double radiator. Do you think this would help with the condensation? What about looking at insulating the jambs to help prevent damp plaster?

I would appreciate any opinions.

Regards,
Shaun
 
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Loft insulation is recommended to be 270mm deep in a loft nowadays.
I assume we are taking internal condensation?
Check the sealant around the outside of the window for any cracks.

Keeping the window open on the night vent will certainly help to remove the old stale moist air but do you keep the bedroom door open or closed? You will need circulation of air through the house so door open and another window on night latch somewhere else may be needed.

Do you dry clothes indoors?
Do you have a good extractor in bathrooms and kitchens? If not open a window for 20 mins or so after showers and cooking.
 
Thanks for the reply.

The condensation is on the inside of the window (inside the bedroom). Not beetween the glazing panes.

All windows aninsulation are closed at night. The bathroom has an extractor fan with humidity stat, though I've not managed to get this set to the perfect humidity level yet. Bathroom window is left open for 20-30 mins after showers, and the kitchen window is opened while cooking. I have an oven hood with good extractor rate but it only recirculates as the external wall is taken up with door, window and boiler and the oven is the over side of the room.

During the day, both upstairs windows are left on the latch, but bedroom doors have been closed. I will try leaving internal doors open during the day.

At night time, all windows are closed. It's cold!

Washing is unfortunately dried inside as I don't have other options but the kitchen window is opened if it steams up.

I will check the loft insulation this weekend.

Shaun
 
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Yes its in booklet form too as i have some, i hand them to policy holders too that get me out to check on leaking windows and mould growing in the bottom corners of reveals :mad:, you could ring the GGF and ask them to post you some out but the last time i spoke with the GGF they weren't willing to give me an answer as i wasn't a member but its worth a try

Failing that just print out the pdf and make your own booklet

Save the link to your favourites too so you can keep reposting it here, after all its that condensation time of the year

Section 7 - 'Some examples of where the water vapour comes from internally' is particularly handy in listing the causes, you can bet the person does one or two of these at least
 
Download this pdf and have a read to see what your doing wrong

http://www.ggf.org.uk/publication/condensation_some_causes_some_advice[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link - that is very useful.

I suspect the problems to be:

1. Temperature of the bedroom. I will check the loft insulation (I know there is a decent amount, but I suspect less than 270 mm, and get a quote to upgrade the radiator.

2. Moisture from washing etc downstairs. I don't think there is much I can do about this as open stairs lead from the kitchen to the upstairs hall. I will continue ventilating upstairs rooms during the day.
 
Download this pdf and have a read to see what your doing wrong

http://www.ggf.org.uk/publication/condensation_some_causes_some_advice[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link - that is very useful.

I suspect the problems to be:

1. Temperature of the bedroom. I will check the loft insulation (I know there is a decent amount, but I suspect less than 270 mm, and get a quote to upgrade the radiator.

2. Moisture from washing etc downstairs. I don't think there is much I can do about this as open stairs lead from the kitchen to the upstairs hall. I will continue ventilating upstairs rooms during the day.

2. Moisture from washing etc downstairs. I don't think there is much I can do about this as open stairs lead from the kitchen to the upstairs hall. I will continue ventilating upstairs rooms during the day.

Well how about not doing it at all :rolleyes: because that one thing there will be most of your trouble
 
You have said the heating is only on for a few hours.

What do you think upgrading the heater will do?

It is perfectly acceptable to dry cloths indoors, but you either have to have proper levels of insulation and decent glazing (to prevent excessivly cold surfaces), or you will have to ventillate excessivly.

And by decent glazing I mean new and modern, most of it is cheap cack.
 
You have said the heating is only on for a few hours.

What do you think upgrading the heater will do?

It is perfectly acceptable to dry cloths indoors, but you either have to have proper levels of insulation and decent glazing (to prevent excessivly cold surfaces), or you will have to ventillate excessivly.

And by decent glazing I mean new and modern, most of it is cheap cack.

I can try putting the heating on for longer. After a couple of hours of heating the downstairs is warm, but upstairs is still quite cool. I suspected this was because there are large double radiators downstairs and cheap single radiators upstairs. Am I wrong in thinking this?

My bedroom has double glazing, which was upgraded by the previous owner. Should I check who fitted the windows?
 
After a couple of hours of heating the downstairs is warm, but upstairs is still quite cool. My bedroom has double glazing, which was upgraded by the previous owner. Should I check who fitted the windows?

I have an open plan living room and staircase leading straight up to the landing, when i have my fire on the heat goes straight upstairs first before it starts to creep downstairs, upstairs is all warm and toasty well before downstairs so where the hell is your heat escaping if its only cool

The double glazed window i wouldn't of thought would be the cause, if its not an old window it'll be at worst C rated and will comply with current regs on heat loss.
 
I strongly suspect your heater is fine, but you need to....

Look closely at your insulation, 300mm is what you want.

You walls, cavity insulation or insulation backed plasterboard.

Look at draft proofing, celing lights, under cills sometimes, skirtings. You want ventillation, but ideally it should be controlled rather than provided more by accident than design.

Even with crap heating, it should be warm after half an hour or so.

Improving the insulation will increase the surface temperatures of inside surfaces, reducing the amount of ventillation you need to provide to avoid condensation.
 
Without going in to to much involved explanation, condensation is the result of warm air (which holds more water than cold) meeting a cold surface on which said moisture can condensate. Remedies can include remove much of the moisture from the air in the room affected (dehumidifier) keep the room at a lower temperature (closer temperature balance) warm the surface on which the condensation takes place...Hmm! or circulate the air more rapidly around the room.
I see Aldi have a high performance (3 year warrant) dehumidifier, in shop just now! You can try switching off the heating to this room and allow closer seasonal temperatures to exist between interior and exterior or simply collect the resultant condensate d moisture every day (desiccant pellet or beads - aluminium tape applied to window bottom runners to form drainage to a shallow tray) obviously there are a number of ways of achieving this particular option. Install a circulatory fan in the bedroom (the noise may drive you bonkers) Now any combination of the above would have greater chance of success than each on there own...pinenot :idea:
 

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