Hello again,As most of you know I have had an ongoing issue with damp(condensation) for sometime. Its in most of the N/NE rooms in winter especially the kitchen. I have a de humidifier and a fan heater in the kitchen now to no avail. I still have mould returning.I saw this TV programme where someone had been " bubble wrapped" in insulation and was suffering damp as a result I have tried looking up how you know whether your problem is too much or too little insulation ( and air movement). How do you tell?I had begun to think our condensation was a result of too little air movement and too much double glazing etc. but I had the dining room and sitting rooms re glazed before Christmas ( necessity - the patio windows and French windows were broken) and now all the condensation in those rooms has just gone!I am not wondering if I should try the same in the kitchen. The kitchen is always sopping wet on the door and walls around the door and on the window. They are wooden frames on the double glazed windows and door is wooden. The door is full of mould and is rotten and needs replacing. I am thinking to do it in plastic ( and do the window just to match) Now am I asking for more trouble or less if I do this? What do you think?By the way, I barely cook , I don't run many things - washing once a week and dishwasher three times a week and not a lot else most of the time - so where does the water vapour come from?

Like I have already said:How about heat recovery ventilators, something along the lines of would get fresh air in, moist air out, without losing allthe heat, and takes much less power to run than a dehumidifier.Chris

Insulation - too much or not enough?

Jan 20, 2012 30 Replies

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stuart noble 14 years ago

One wonders what sort of temperature is maintained in this bungalow, and whether it was designed as a year round residence.

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Chris J Dixon 14 years ago

Chris

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grimly4 14 years ago

I think I would, too.

If you fart, your bubble wrap expands.

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grimly4 14 years ago

I'm also wondering what happened to the patio doors and windows - did the OP finally chuck her OH through them?

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NT 14 years ago

Somewhere online I've seen diagrams that show all the usual sources of dampness, but I cant remember where. Might be useful for you.

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sweetheart 14 years ago

No, its a brick and clock built 1950's ( 1958 I think) bungalow with cavity walls. Traditional build for the time. It was coal fired. No gas to the village. I currently use electric ( fitted with storage heaters by a predecessor in the 1970's/80 ish) because its easier and frankly isnt really dearer give the cost of coal ( and I dont have a source of logs - many in the village chop down a tree when they run short - I am not kidding) .

The rooms are not constant in heat. The sitting and dining rooms are about

21 degrees. I have to have this to keep my chest from flaring up. I had pneumonia three years back and I have a weakness on the chest now. The kitchen I only heat when I go in there. Hence the fan heater. The bedroom has a storage heater on and is about 18 degrees constant.

Hall, no heat. Bathroom no heat, can be heated when in use ( generally do not bother.)

The bungalow was double glazed ( wooden frames , now getting rotten) about

1980. Condensation is a feature when heating isn't on 21 degrees. Although NOW I have cut the heating to the sitting room by one heater and it doesn't have condensation anymore since I got new patio doors and French windows fitted ( new double glazing and plastic frames) and I changed the window in the dining room from single glazed to double glazed. The new units do seem thicker glass than the old ones.

Is that any use?

( just to make this clear - No, this isn't a park home, it is a country bungalow on a smallholding)

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sweetheart 14 years ago

No I didn't chuck him through them. I just ordered up new ones and told him to shut up. he hasn't stopped moaning about it since but that's another story I am sure you do not want to hear.

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sweetheart 14 years ago

Sorry that should read brick and block. Of course someone will have a field day with that and references to the " Borrowers" clock family.

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stuart noble 14 years ago

Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with your situation but cavity wall insulation should be your priority (I envy anyone who has cavity walls), and oil fired central heating would be a good investment. It's a lot to shell out initially but what price do you put on your health and long term quality of life?

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sweetheart 14 years ago

Cavity wall insulation has been done.

Oil is extremely expensive. I couldnt affiors that and thats saying something. Besides OH wouldnt let me have it on for the same reason as I am not allowed all my current heating on - he draws the line and I dont need the argument.

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ARWadsworth 14 years ago

You could spend one of your inheritances. Call it an investment.

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