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Tips to Avoid Condensation and Mould

Tips to Avoid Condensation and Mould

These are courtesy of Julian but paraphrased for publication.

  1. There are a number of effective anti mould paints. Brewers sell a chemical additive to convert any paint into a mould proof paint. It is highly poisonous but should be OK as it is used in very small quantities.
  2. Use dehumidifiers. Some tenants complain about the cost of running them. You thus need to teach them the significance of the heat contained within the water vapour that you get for free if you run a dehumidifier. The latent heat of water is about 510 cal per gram and this approximates to 0.7kWh per litre. the upshot of that the dehumidifier would use 12p worth of electricity to run for 5 hours during which time it might gather 2 litres of water. In gathering that water 1.5kWh of heat would be released. A profit no less. 50% extra or 150% viewed in terms of input. A good machine can be had for less than £200 and the water accumulating in the dehumidifier is useful if you have lime hating water plants such as Venus' fly trap or mosses, or orchids and can be used in irons or any other place you use deionised water.
  3. Be conscious of Relative Humidity (RH) - it costs a lot more to heat damp air than dry air, so set humidity sensing extractors to 65-70% . Also, and probably more important, a few degrees warmer and the air in the house will hold considerably more vapour without an increase in humidity (see chart) - so condensation, which causes mould, is a lot less likely if the house is not allowed to get cold.
  4. The perception of cold depends on RH ...something to do with conductivity of heat in wet air, so a good selling point is that at 12 degrees you will feel cold at RH 80% but quite warm at RH 60%. So dry air makes you feel warmer.
  5. Insulated retrofitted plasterboard deals with most problems. It then means you only have whatever is going on inside the wall to worry about.
  6. I have been fitting the extractor fans you get from TLC with an iris diaphragm on the inside.. They seem to last quite long, squirrel cage motor etc and let no draughts in through the duct when they are off. They are only a little more expensive and I get annoyed when I see people fitting the usual draughty sort with howling gales of the sort that no landlord would put up with at home. There is also a useful PCC leaflet that you can give to your tenants available here.
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