| Condensation
accounts for approximately 70% of reported domestic damp and is undoubtedly
a contributing cause of some infestation by Wood Boring Beetle and
Dry Rot outbreaks.
Condensation can commonly be attributed to a lack of balance between
heating and ventilation, resulting in a rise in relative
humidity. In a nut shell, air can hold more water vapour when it is
warm than when it is cold. When the warm air is cooled, such as when
the heating system is switched off at night, it will deposit the water
it can no longer retain as condensation on a cold surface.
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An
average family of 4 to 5 people can produce up to 17 litres of
water vapour a day. This can be from drying wet clothes on radiators
or using the tumble dryer, having hot baths or showers, boiling
kettles, cooking and of course breathing. That’s a lot of water
vapour being stored by the warm air in a typical centrally heated,
double glazed home. The evenings are chilly, the heating goes
off at night and the air temperature inside the home drops. Cool
air cannot retain the same amount of water vapour as warm air
and when the warm air comes into contact with a colder surface,
such as an outside wall or a window, it will deposit the moisture
it cannot hold onto that surface. So you have misted or streaming
windows, and in extreme cases walls that are wet to the touch
and black mould growth.
We
currently send out a brochure and a very informative factsheet,
on request, about condensation and the cures and we would be pleased
to post a copy to you for your perusal and information.
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