Cure for Damp/Condensation in built-in wardrobe.

[stoker]

Hi

Some time ago I constructed a built in wardrobe in my son's house which has solid external walls. The wardrobe is in the northeast corner of the house in an alcove over the hall, where there is a radiator, and the stairs. Since it was built there has been a problem with what appears to be condensation running down the walls. He has extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen and his tumble drier is vented outside. I have put ventilators into the floor/hall ceiling and high up in the wall between the wardrobe and the stairwell to allow some circulation of air but all to little or no effect. The house also has had double glazing fitted.

Can anyone suggest other steps that I could take to try to cure this problem?

Thanks

[Andy Hall]

The problem is that the wardrobe is becoming cooler than the rest of the house because of the outside walls and not having a radiator in there. Water vapour in the air will condense on the coolest surface. You would probably find that if you put a thermometer in the wardrobe that it will be a couple of degrees cooler than the surroundings.

Three possible options:

- Improve ventilation into the wardrobe to the extent that it isn't cooler than the rest of the house. Probably not realistic

- Put some form of heating in the wardrobe. A tiny radiator or a small electric tubular heater with thermostat on low setting?

- Insulate the outside walls of the wardrobe. Thin polystyrene sheet between battens fixed at the back and then board of some sort over all of it. Make sure to seal any air gaps around the edges to avoid air from inside the house reaching the cold walls. This is probably the most practical suggestion.

[stoker]

Thanks Andy

I'll maybe try the small heater next as it is the easiest.

[Peter Parry]

Had the same problem in a number of houses - easy and effective cure is just to stick polystyrene ceiling tiles on the walls inside the wardrobe.

[Steve Walker]

electric tubular greenhouse heater would be ideal

[Ian_m]

A friend staying at an hotel in the Amazon found a wire mesh covered 25W (or

15W) light bulb always on in cupboard to keep things dry. Condensation wasn't the issue just 100% humidity meant anything not ventilated went mouldy.