Condensation and Mould on window and wall! HELP!

[johnnymac58]

Hello,

I am having a problem with condensation on my window and mould on the wall in my bedroom.

I live on a second floor flat.

It has UPVC windows.

The rest of the flat is fine with no problems.

The bedroom always seems colder than the other rooms in the flat (would the condensation be the cause of this?)

These problems only seem to happen in the winter.

The window is covered in condensation in the morning (I know, me breathing too much. I really should cut down).

Mould also appears on the skirting boards and wall beside the window and in the cupboard (i've stopped using this until I can remedy the problem) further along the wall.

How should I go about fixing this?

Trickle vents?

Add another ventilation panel? There is one above the door out into the hallway. I could install one further along the wall beside the window into the kitchen?

A dehumidifier? (If so, does anyone have an example of an effective one?)

All of the above?

Or does anyone have any other advice or tips?

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help.

John

 

[JohnD]

1) increase ventilation

2) increase ventilation

3) increase ventilation some more

4) look out for sources of damp, especially showers with no extractor, wet washing, damp towels, and correct them.

//www.diynot.com/wiki/building:condensation_in_houses

 

[johnnymac58]

Thanks for your reply.



The bathroom and kitchen already have extractor fans.

I get no condensation or mould in the bathroom or kitchen.

Ventilation it is then!

I guess i'll put in trickle vents into the window in the bedroom and add another ventilation panel out into the kitchen.

Would it be worthwhile getting a dehumidifier for the winter months too?

 

[JohnD]

you can use a dehumidifier if you have more money than you need.

Otherwise ventilation will do it

Also look for water/plumbing leaks or rain ingress

Be aware some people have a psychological aversion to ventilation and will not turn extractors on, and some people like to drape wet washing over radiators.

 

[johnnymac58]

Haha, i'll maybe pass on the dehumidifier then

I'll try the ventilation measures first!

And no, I don't tend to drape wet washing over the radiators!

Any tips on how to check for any water/plumbing leaks or rain ingress?

Bearing in mind i'm on the second floor and have no monster ladder at hand?

Sorry for all the qustions!

 

[JohnD]

feel and lift the carpets round rads, look and feel wall round window, look at ceiling. You can often smell damp if you sniff it (wet a bit of plaster and let it soak in, you'll see what I mean)

 

[johnnymac58]

Thanks for your help.

I'll check out the ceilings and round the windows tonight.

Flat has laminate flooring, so haven't noticed anything around the radiators!

Apparently these Drimaster products can do the trick too:

http://www.condensationproducts.co....asp?intCatID=30&content=nuaire_drimaster_2000

As i'm on the top floor, I could always get one installed in my hallway up into the loft.

I'll look into it a bit more......

 

[JohnD]

yes, they are supposeed to be good

if you are in a top-floor flat it is possible that your downstairs neighbour is boiling kettles, hanging washing over rads or something (water vapour rises, and will permeate through plaster, wood and concrete unless there is a DPM)

 

[johnnymac58]

Thanks for all your help John.

I'm going to get some more ventilation into the room in the first instance.

Then look at getting one of these Drimaster units installed in the loft.

Hopefully this will sort out the problems.

Thanks again for your help!