damp problem - what's the cause?

[benpost]

where can i get a hygometer from? thanks

[Stuart Noble]

Put the "r" in and you'll find them easily enough :-) Hygrometer

[benpost]

oh..lol. well i have done some research and found out that the 2 vent things already installed in the flat are heat recovery ventilators. both are on the outside wall in the living room and bedroom. they are supposed to send out the moist air (when it gets over a set humidity level) and bring in fresh air from outside and also warm it.

i found the spongey filters were clogged up so cleaned them and refitted them. the units have a standard and a boost mode. the boost mode should come on if humidity goes over a level you set. it has a dial ranging from about 10 to 90 and recommends you set it to 60. you can also manually put it in boost mode with the pull cord.

all makes sense however one of the fans seems to stay in boost mode even when i change the dial to 90, i cant see the air is that humid. maybe the humid sensor is damaged or blocked somehow, i will check that out.

there is also a fan in the bathroom that comes on when the light is switched on, i need to check that out and make sure its all clean, i'm guessing it has some sort of filter to soak up the moisture like an extractor. i'm guessing it will need replacing and probably isn't doing a lot at the moment.

anyway one thing at a time, i'm sure i'll get it sorted thanks to everyones help.

[Appin]

The message from benpost contains these words:

Sane store as you'll be able to buy a thermometer. Often incorporated into the same instrument. Costs only a few pounds. Lidl often have clocks with both thermometer and hygrometer incorporated for less than £3.. Otherwise try an ironmonger, though it may be tricky to find an assitant who knows what one is, in spite of the fact they sell them. You may have to ask for a "humidity meter" if the staff are particularly thick.

[Appin]

The message

from benpost contains these words:

There'll probably be no filter of any sort in that -- just a simple extractor fan on a timer is normal.

[Mike Lane]

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 16:03:37 +0000, benpost wrote (in article ):

Maplins

[benpost]

thanks will go buy a hygrometer!

checked out the bathroom extractor fan and found that you're right its just a fan sending air out of the flat. along the wall/ceiling it is boxed off where the fans path must be. there must be a vent on the back wall which i didn't notice, will check that out. the extractor doesnt seem to do a lot though as the bathroom still gets very misty, mirror steams up etc.

one other things the heat recovery ventilators seem to work, but one of them seems stuck in boost mode. this should only come on when the humidity goes over the level i've set, with a thumbwheel. however, even setting it to 90 (which i can't believe its anywhere near) doesn't stop the boost mode.

i've also decided to get a vented tumble dryer for the kitchen and vent it out of the front wall, near where the combi boiler vent is.

as for heating, can anyone advise what temperature to set the boiler to for hot water and for central heating? also, what is the best way to heat the place to prevent damp? constant and low? or intermittent and hot? whats the best way to get a hot shower without losing pressure which the cold water has but not hot?

thanks

[Appin]

The message

from benpost contains these words:

Get one for each room. They're cheap. Take a look in LIdl first -- they have cheap clocks with built-in hygrometers every few weeks. I don't think there are any in their current specials, but in some stores they'll be around for a few weeks after they've been a special.

If it's ducted along a wall it won't be doing much.

It may well be faulty, but remember that for condensation to occur your relative humidty must be 100% at that location even if it's not that in the warmer parts of the room.

You'll get plenty of answers for that. Current fashion is to keep both relatively low. Whatever one says one will be shot down, but I'd go for hot water at 65C and central heating at 85C, but it will be pointed out to you that 45C is the "safe" temperature to avoid scalding by domestic hot water and central heating systems can work reasonably at 75C flow temperature with 65C on the return.

There are many variables involved and one thing to bear in mind that it's unsafe to store hot water at less than 60C absolute minimum. Otherwise you're liable to get bacterial growth and all sorts of nasties. And radiators function better at a higher temperature (more difference between them and the surrounding air. Of course, I'm very politically-incorrect.

Constant heat is always better in practice.

A gravity shower should have its cold feed from the header tank for the hot water system. Otherwise go for an electric shower. Of course people have been known to break code and use pressure control valves in combination with thermostatic shower mixers, but I'm not suggesting you do that :-).

[Roger]

The message from Appin contains these words:

There is another way and that is a venturi shower. The cheap ones are allegedly crap but the Trevi Boost has a good reputation.