Condensation & Mould in Flat

[AronSearle]

The wall have already been insulated and the double glazing is quite new.

Yes, but are we talking of a piddling 50mm cavity insulation, and cheap poorly fitted double glazing (poorly fitted as not in line with the cavity insulation and with an uninsulated steel lintel)?

18c is a typical temperature for bedrooms, the humidity would have to reach 73% for it to condense on a 10c surface, but only about 55% for a 5c surface.

So it's either getting very humid in there or likely the windows are naff (or a bit of both).

 

[lordwoody]

To be honest the previous tenants who were in my flat for 2 years did not have any problems with condensation at all!

Now having x2 girl tenants who do a lot of cooking, showering, washing and having the heating on full has got to be contributing to the problem.

They are good tenants though and I dont want to lose them.

 

[AronSearle]

Your options as I can see them, and listed in order of preference vs cost are......


1. You can add extractor fans into the bathroom and kitchen with humidity sensors/timers (would probably work, but depends on whether the washing is dried in those rooms, and the fan is left going or as said has a sensor). However this may not solve the issue in the bedroom, though it seems somewhat likely.

2.You can chuck in some dehumidifiers (costs to run them), (though it sounds like the moisture is mostly in the bedroom, so they *could* work elsewhere in the flat, but they may need to be in the bedroom).

3.You can significantly improve the windows and insulation so that the building can cope with the temperatures and humidity without excess ventilation, it does sound like they are low quality windows if it is *only* condensing on the glass.

4.They can open bedroom windows at night.

 

[lordwoody]

I forgot to mention in the corner of the bedroom is mould!

 

[AronSearle]

you say it's not the top flat, are the floors concrete?

the concrete could be cold in the corners due to cold bridging, lowering the humidity will help, but you can also use insulated plasterboard in the corners.

 

[lordwoody]

It has concrete ceilings but brick walls.

Would you just fit insulated plasterboard over the top of the original plaster?

 

[AronSearle]

Yes.