DaveG
Member
- Messages
- 123
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Wanted to give an update here as humidity levels have dropped significantly throughout the winter. I’m aware that this could just be drier outside conditions so the real test of what impacts (if any) I’ve made so far will come in September of this year where I can do a closer comparison. Much will of course also depend on the amount of rainfall we have over summer. As said, last year was particularly muggy and wet.
Still, as it stands, my house has become a MUCH drier one with humidity levels typically at around 40% RH at 18 to 19c.
They’ve even dropped as low as 35% at times.
I think and hope that the single biggest impact has been running central heating to maintain a consistent 18 to 18.5c. This has been expensive over winter but I hope that with a drier home to start with next winter that it’ll be a little less costly. Prior to us moving in, the previous occupant kept most rooms unheated and my theory is this allowed a dew point in and on many of the walls. Hopefully I’ve now built up a bit of a thermal store in them but time will tell.
Other things I’ve done:
1. Two bathrooms STILL with no extraction but their doors kept closed religiously and windows open almost 100% of the time. This was unpleasant at times in winter however it has ensured for now that most of the moisture generated in the bathroom cannot migrate to other parts of the house.
2. Extractor installed in the kitchen up high and runs constant at a very low, almost silent level.
3.Ground levels taken down on one corner of the building with the most moisture present.
Cement slurry and gypsum plaster all removed from the inside of the same (stone) wall and has just been left to air over winter. Concrete slab floor also pulled up in that room.
4. Blocked vent (above floor level) at the front of building opened back up (this was added for the gas fire I think) but it blows a very cold draft in now even having installed a hit and miss grille that’s fully closed. Have added a bunch of baffles on the outside vent to try and regulate the airflow a bit more but it’s a work in progress.
Stacks of wallpaper removed (2 bedrooms and the hall landing and stairs) and breathable clay paints being applied to thankfully quite intact lime plaster walls as we speak to hopefully allow the walls to manage moisture effectively as opposed to being suffocated by wallpaper and paste.
Will update again when we get to September but eager to find out if this drastic dip in humidity is due to what I’ve done or if actually it’s more likely just the change in season and drier weather.
How are levels for everyone else that were reporting 70 - 80% RH levels back last September?
Still, as it stands, my house has become a MUCH drier one with humidity levels typically at around 40% RH at 18 to 19c.
They’ve even dropped as low as 35% at times.
I think and hope that the single biggest impact has been running central heating to maintain a consistent 18 to 18.5c. This has been expensive over winter but I hope that with a drier home to start with next winter that it’ll be a little less costly. Prior to us moving in, the previous occupant kept most rooms unheated and my theory is this allowed a dew point in and on many of the walls. Hopefully I’ve now built up a bit of a thermal store in them but time will tell.
Other things I’ve done:
1. Two bathrooms STILL with no extraction but their doors kept closed religiously and windows open almost 100% of the time. This was unpleasant at times in winter however it has ensured for now that most of the moisture generated in the bathroom cannot migrate to other parts of the house.
2. Extractor installed in the kitchen up high and runs constant at a very low, almost silent level.
3.Ground levels taken down on one corner of the building with the most moisture present.
Cement slurry and gypsum plaster all removed from the inside of the same (stone) wall and has just been left to air over winter. Concrete slab floor also pulled up in that room.
4. Blocked vent (above floor level) at the front of building opened back up (this was added for the gas fire I think) but it blows a very cold draft in now even having installed a hit and miss grille that’s fully closed. Have added a bunch of baffles on the outside vent to try and regulate the airflow a bit more but it’s a work in progress.
Stacks of wallpaper removed (2 bedrooms and the hall landing and stairs) and breathable clay paints being applied to thankfully quite intact lime plaster walls as we speak to hopefully allow the walls to manage moisture effectively as opposed to being suffocated by wallpaper and paste.
Will update again when we get to September but eager to find out if this drastic dip in humidity is due to what I’ve done or if actually it’s more likely just the change in season and drier weather.
How are levels for everyone else that were reporting 70 - 80% RH levels back last September?