What heating is recommeded to hep combat damp

[hooperg1]

Good Morning,

As a complete newbie to period propertys I have just purchased a 17th century listed stone/thatch property. I need to replace the entire central heating system as it basically does not have one. Warm air heaters in some room etc.

We have access to Oil for fuel, the house certainly has damp and thats another quesiton, but focussing on the heating is there any recommendation on heating systems that will help minimise damp, underfloor heating, standard central heating etc. Or is it just down to creating a constant heat in the property.

Many thanks,

Greg.

 

[biffvernon]

For the next six months it's more a matter of ventilation than heating. In winter, keep up the ventilation, and add whatever heating takes your fancy (except the portable gas or parafin stoves which send gallons of water vapour into the room).

From the point of view of not damaging historic fabric, woodstoves in the existing fireplaces might be best.

 

[NT]

Adding extra heat to control damp is not the best option, a humidistatic dehumidifier will do the same job at a fraction the run cost.

But as has been said, during warm weather times, ventilation is good.

For heating system info & choices, see
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Special:Allpages


NT

 

[Silinman]

Your decision to replace / install new heating is undoubtedly up to you, but this will in no way rid you of your damp problem. In fact quite the contrary, warm air will hold more moisture and only serve to increase the damp.

The only effective solution is to increase the ventilation in and around the house generally, especially in winter! This may not sound an attractive solution, but anyone who has lived in an old house will almost certainly agree. You could always move to a nice new modern build with DPC, uPVC etc etc ;>)

 

[Matt Green]

Your decision to replace / install new heating is undoubtedly up to you, but this will in no way rid you of your damp problem. In fact quite the contrary, warm air will hold more moisture and only serve to increase the damp.

It will increase damp air but it will allow water from the walls to evaporate into it (as it can hold more). It will also warm the walls and prevent condensation forming on them and the mould growth that usually follows. If your damp problem is that water is in your walls and you don't want it there, heating the room and promoting water movement from the wall surface to the atmosphere will certainly help.

If you know your walls are wet, know that they are not going to get wetter, and you want them to dry whilst living in a building, heating is good with adequate ventilation.

Most importantly heating dries any timber components out reducing the risk of insect attack (not eliminating, just reducing the risk).


Matt.

 

[NT]

Your decision to replace / install new heating is undoubtedly up to you, but this will in no way rid you of your damp problem. In fact quite the contrary, warm air will hold more moisture and only serve to increase the damp.

Warmer air can cold more water vapour without saturating, so that indoor/outdoor air exchange can dump water vapour outdoors faster. Heat does reduce dampness when there is indoor/outdoor air exchange, as occurs with all buildings.

The only effective solution is to increase the ventilation in and around the house generally, especially in winter!

Not even close.

This may not sound an attractive solution, but anyone who has lived in an old house will almost certainly agree.

No.


NT