House damp, insulate or damp proof?

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priscilla

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Hi,

I have a detached house built in the mid 70's in Galway.
There is a lot of condensation on the windows in the mornings and signs of dampness on some of the internal walls.
I am planning to pump the walls and insulate the attic but I am just wondering if I would be better to wait and have the house assessed by a damp proof specialist first.
I had a look at other threads and Advanced Damp Proofing appear to come highly recommended but they seem to cover the Dublin area only.
Any advice or recommendations of a similar company in Galway area would be also appreciated.
I was also thinking of purchasing the EcoAir Classic MK5 dehumidifier to try and remove some of the excess water in the air.
The house is rented. I have given the normal advice on window opening and use of fans etc but I know myself I would be reluctant to leave windows open in cold weather.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Priscilla
 
Hi Prisculla. I'm certainly no expert but what you describe sounds like a ventilation issue rather than rising damp caused by a faulty DPC. When we move in a couple of years ago we had a free assessment carried out by which was excellent and picked up on one or two minor issues I might otherwise have overlooked.
 
Thanks The last beep.
I had a look at their website and they say they are countrywide.
Do you mind me asking if they were expensive?
I was glad to see they had dehumidifiers on their site, I think one of those would help anyways just to get rid of all the extra water in the house, I doubt they open the windows or use the fans much. There is always clothes hanging around the place on radiators and stove etc but sure what can I do only advise. I don't want my house getting damp either.
 
Hi Priscilla - dehumidifiers will help take the excess moisture from the air, but as LastBeep said, it seems to be a ventilation issue. If they are drying clothes inside, on radiators, then the dehumidifier will be running a lot :-( Have you trickle vents in the windows? Might be something to look into, these can be left open (unless those in the house close them) and will help (some bit) to vent the house.

It's just education on their part - with all that drying of clothes, not using extractor fans / opening windows etc, then you will be fighting a losing battle.

If you are getting the walls pumped, then you will have to get the house ventilated - but again, those vents could easily be blocked up again by those living in the household.
 
priscilla said:
There is always clothes hanging around the place on radiators and stove etc but sure what can I do only advise.
Click to expand...

I take it you are renting this house to others? Drying clothes in the house is likely the biggest source of the moisture that goes on to form condensation.

If they continue to do that despite the advice, and fail to heat/ ventilate adequately, will they use a dehumidifier that'll cost them money?
 
Thanks for your replies Jazz and Leo. There are vents in the bedrooms and I'm pretty sure they are open.
I don't think they will have a problem with the dehumidifier as they really don't like the mould on the walls and the electricity gets divided up between them so I don't think that will be too much an issue. I think at this stage, they prefer living in a comfortable home.
So if I go for the dehumidifier and get the walls pumped and attic insulated with the new roof ventillation vents, do you think this will be sufficient or should I get a damp proof expert?
 
The house is fairly warm a lot of the time, I keep the oil tank topped up which has made that a bit easier. I think a lot of condensation seems to be overnight when the heating is probably off.
 
It's most likely an insulation / ventilation expert you need. Firms dealing with damp usually focus on water ingress from outside the building envelope.
 
I'd be very slow to engage any damp proofing "specialists". The problem is almost certainly some combination of inadaquate ventillation and/or insulation.
 
Problem going to get continually worse as time goes on, insulating the walls will make it even more damp with all the condensation and drying the wet clothes on rads, etc. No doubt whatsoever you need to have a proper assessment done by a ventilation expert. Check with the sustainable energy Ireland guys in the Galway area for proper referenced people to do a detailed analysis on the house. Using de-humids only takes out water out of the air and are just a patchwork remedy as it'll be all put out there again by damp clothes being dried all the time. Another thing and very, very, important is the health problems all this is causing and will rear its ugly head before too long. For what it's worth, I would be thinking of getting vacant possession, getting a proper detailed study carried out and having the whole lot done. I'm guessing it may cost more than you think but by not doing it you'll be in serious trouble with time. Is it in the city? If so you'll have no trouble getting renters. Out the country I can understand your reluctance in keeping people in the place but remember, it's your house and if you don't do it properly it will deteriorate badly.
 
Thanks Leo and Newtothis.
Will apply for the Seai grant towards cavity pumping and attic insulation. I had a look online for insulation and ventilation specialists in Galway but it seems to be mostly insulation companies coming up. I thought Ecowise seemed good enough. Anyone any recommendations or suggestions?
Do you think the roof ventillation they install will be sufficient to clear the mould?
Would it be an idea to get the dehumidifier as well?
Thanks
 
The cheapest ans easiest way to start with is with a dehumidifier but get a good one - about 250 to 300 euros worth. If there are lots of people having showers washing clothes etc then you will always get this without proper ventilation.
 
priscilla said:
Thanks Leo and Newtothis.
Will apply for the Seai grant towards cavity pumping and attic insulation. I had a look online for insulation and ventilation specialists in Galway but it seems to be mostly insulation companies coming up. I thought Ecowise seemed good enough. Anyone any recommendations or suggestions?
Do you think the roof ventillation they install will be sufficient to clear the mould?
Would it be an idea to get the dehumidifier as well?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I have used Ecowise in the past for extra attic insulation and would highly recommend them. Not sure if they offer advice on ventilation
 
Thanks Elcato and Aidamcg.
Elcato, I was thinking of the EcoAir Classic MK5 dehumidifier, it seems to be highly recommended on here, are you familiar with with this one or have you any recommendations yourself?
 
I bought one but I only have a one bed apt. Does the job for me and doesn't cost the earth to run. I would probably think it's not big enough for your place. Think I didn't see that recommendation on AAM till afterwards so can't add.
 
You could supply a tumble drier that vents to outside for clothes drying. If there is visible mould, it will have to be addressed, not easy to eradicate once established and definite health implications. Better to have a steady level of heat on than large variations. Damp air will always give a colder feel and migrates to coldest spaces/outside walls.. Exterior insulation will only trap the dampness within the house. Encourage shower use with window open so damp air keeps moving, use a squeegy to clear water of tiles. Cover cooking pots with lids, use extractor vented to outside. Simmer things gently rather that overboil. Double glazing would deal with damp windows but moisture will find somewhere else to go!
 
Hey had the same issues in my house which has open vents in each room. But had dry a lot of clothes as two young kids under 4 in the house. We had two dehumidifiers going almost 24 by 7. Empty them 2 times a day.

Over the summer I bought a very efficient heat pump dryer (€700)It uses with energy meter 1.5 to 2 units of esb per load.
The dehumidifiers are still plugged in but are never on anymore. Just need to empty once every 2 weeks or more.

My esb bill has reduced by over €40 over the lasy period last year and esb rates have gone up since then and we washing more offen.

If you own the home I recommend a dryer but read up on the models you for power usage but also humility leaking!
 
irbx said:
Hey had the same issues in my house which has open vents in each room. But had dry a lot of clothes as two young kids under 4 in the house. We had two dehumidifiers going almost 24 by 7. Empty them 2 times a day.

Over the summer I bought a very efficient heat pump dryer (€700)It uses with energy meter 1.5 to 2 units of esb per load.
The dehumidifiers are still plugged in but are never on anymore. Just need to empty once every 2 weeks or more.

My esb bill has reduced by over €40 over the lasy period last year and esb rates have gone up since then and we washing more offen.

If you own the home I recommend a dryer but read up on the models you for power usage but also humility leaking!
Click to expand...

They're a good product but won't solve the problem that Priscilla has in the house. Papering over the problems is all that humidifiers and insulation will do. She/he needs the right people to advise about that house as already said, otherwise the problems will eventually surface in a big way and will not be nice. Penny wise but pound foolish is what they call it.
 
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