Alternatives to DPC

[Tina Ruffle]

No before i get shot down in flames i am not thinking about chemicals..!

I read an article last week in the paper about an alternative system - that does not use chemicals. It is a Dutch system - can't recall the name - that works by inserting ceramic tubes into the wall.

It works on the principle that it will be colder in the tube and the water will condense and drip out. Apparently it has been successfully used in Holland for years.

Does this sound as if it is a viable option - one that won't violate - so to speak - old buildings?

 

[Penners]

I know nothing about the system, except that I've seen it advertised and I've seen some fairly dismissive comments about it.

 

[Nemesis]

It was popular here a couple of decades' ago, I seem to recall the tubes were made by Royal Doulton or some such.

Think it isn't popular any longer and there may be a reason for that...

 

[NT]

The ceramic tubes' pores block up, rendering it no longer functional after a bit.

The alternative? Find out and fix the cause instead of trying to bodge up a faulty job. If you're really bent on bodging, a humidistatic dehumidifier will reduce RH and dry everything. But really you need to tackle the cause.


NT

 

[Tina Ruffle]

Just mentioning it!

We've actually dug french drains, started hacking off concrete render - inside and out - and been making sure the rooms are well ventilated and warm (well as warm as can be without central heating).

We are dealing with 50 plus years of trapped moisture and i think given how much dryer our walls feel that its working rather nicely.

 

[Nemesis]

They are still around, but frankly I think that doing as you are and allowing walls to dry, then ensuring you have breathing walls (lime...) will achieve what these are claimed to achieve.

They look ugly also.

 

[PC]

I am not able to go into the reasons why at this time.

But I would keep well clear of it.

PC