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Topic: Tips for dealing with the damp?  (Read 5583 times)

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Tips for dealing with the damp?
« on: December 06, 2011, 12:08:58 PM »
We live in Cornwall where it is so, so damp and it really drives me crazy with how easily our house gets so dingy and mouldy. I feel like we live in a swamp sometimes.  :-\\\\

Anyone have any tips? We leave the windows in the kitchen and bathroom open 24/7, and used to leave all the other windows open until it got cold. With a baby in the house leaving every single window open in the dead of winter just isn't an option. That being said my mother in law leaves every single window in her house open 24/7 and she still gets mouldy walls. Is there any hope???


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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 12:37:00 PM »
Good question! I'd be interested to know this too. Our bathroom gets mouldy and we have no option of opening the window, since there is no window.

Does anyone know if keeping the place really warm keeps the mould away?


Also does mould cause sickness? I've gotten ill four times since we moved in here and we only moved here 3 months ago!
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2011, 12:38:00 PM »
A good quality dehumidifier should sort you out.  We use ours strategically (only when necessary and in conjunction with the heating), and keep moisture traps in the windows.  Windows we keep open only a crack, but all the time and in every room. 
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2011, 01:38:54 PM »
A good quality dehumidifier should sort you out. 
Seconding this. We spent £100 on a big, heavy duty one with a massive reservoir, and it was some of the best money ever spent. It does such a good job that we're often moving it around to target different areas. Its "home" is a small room which we hang out the laundry on airers and hangers, seal it up, and turn the dehumidifier on. It dried the clothes within hours, and keeps that extra moisture out of the rest of the living space.

Good extractor fans also work wonders in bathrooms and kitchen.
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 01:59:37 PM »
We also use the moisture traps with crystals that you place in the room (usually around the windows). They are relatively inexpensive and do the trick for us. You can find them on Amazon or even at Range, I believe.

Though I do like the sound of shutting the laundry in a room with a dehumidifier to save the whole flat turning into a sauna! :)
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 03:58:19 PM »
We haven't made the leap to a dehumidifier yet, but we do keep the heat on, and leave the kitchen window cracked. Oddly enough, the bathroom doesn't have the problem the kitchen, living room and bedroom have, despite being the one with the worst steam. Problem areas get a quick spritz with bleach from time to time.

The heat has helped us more than anything, although I am sure the dehumidifier would be better. We have to have the heat because if it is too cool, hubby's lungs hurt, so we figure we're already spending so much in gas that adding to the electric bill too is a bit much for now.

The doc can't figure out the lung thing, because he doesn't have asthma or COPD, no chronic bronchitis or anything can be found. He never had the problem in other places over here, and no problems the whole time he lived in the States. It has only developed since moving into this place, with the damp and mould problem. His doctor swears there is no connection, but it only developed last winter, which was our first winter here.
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 05:03:16 PM »
Quote
so we figure we're already spending so much in gas that adding to the electric bill too is a bit much for now.
It is much easier to heat a home that doesn't have a lot of moisture, so using a dehumidifier will actually cut down on the heating bill. 
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 05:40:02 PM »
It is much easier to heat a home that doesn't have a lot of moisture, so using a dehumidifier will actually cut down on the heating bill. 

Plus, since warm air holds more moisture, the dehumidifier is more effective when the heating is on.  Once your air is more dry, you'll be more comfortable when the temperature is lower. We haven't had our heat on much this year, but at least once a week I turn it up and put the dehumidifier on, and that's kept the damp in check pretty well. 
On s'envolera du même quai
Les yeux dans les mêmes reflets,
Pour cette vie et celle d'après
Tu seras mon unique projet.

Je t'aimais, je t'aime, et je t'aimerai.

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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2012, 09:40:03 PM »
We also use the moisture traps with crystals that you place in the room (usually around the windows). They are relatively inexpensive and do the trick for us. You can find them on Amazon or even at Range, I believe.


I usually buy mine on Ebay, but have sometimes seen them in the pound shop!


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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2012, 03:16:01 PM »
Glad to see this thread. We live fit next to the Thames and the upper bedroom windows that face the river are always dripping water. I'm going to look out for those Moisture trap crystals. Where's the best place to buy?
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2012, 03:21:50 PM »
Glad to see this thread. We live fit next to the Thames and the upper bedroom windows that face the river are always dripping water. I'm going to look out for those Moisture trap crystals. Where's the best place to buy?
I believe poundland and pound stretcher shops tend to carry them


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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2012, 08:00:20 PM »
Glad to see this thread. We live fit next to the Thames and the upper bedroom windows that face the river are always dripping water. I'm going to look out for those Moisture trap crystals. Where's the best place to buy?

Yup, we used to buy them from Amazon but this year we have found that QD and the Poundland are carrying them for just a pound! (they run out quickly though so you might want to stock up if you find them! we just bought 6 last week from Poundland and keep them away just in case we want them and can't find them in the future!)
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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2012, 05:29:50 PM »
Back in December I asked if anyone had used the dehumidifier called Ruby Dry. It is suppose to work well in cool temperatures. I'm asking again.


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Re: Tips for dealing with the damp?
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2012, 06:52:12 PM »
Great to know. Thanks guys!
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