How to get rid of dampness in an apartment: causes of high humidity

Recommendation points

• Reason # 1. Poor ventilation
• How to fight
• Reason # 2. Source of moisture
• How to fight
• Reason number 3. Unheated room
• How to fight
• Reason number 4. Incorrect insulation
• How to fight

In this article, you will learn about the main causes of dampness in an apartment or house. We will also talk about how to eliminate these causes and restore the normal microclimate of the home. You will learn about the traditional and most modern methods of solving the problem of dehumidification.

When the seasons change, almost all owners are faced with increased humidity due to melting snow. The range of negative phenomena is great: from mild discomfort to “crying” walls and mold. Consider some of the most popular cases and causes of dampness in living quarters, as well as ways to combat this unpleasant phenomenon..

Any changes in the microclimate have their own reason, influencing which, you can change it. Dampness has its own “sources”, which the owner may not know about, or not attach importance to them.

Reason # 1. Poor ventilation

Owners often “forget” about the device of forced ventilation during repairs out of savings, relying entirely on windows and doors. In our apartments, the project provides for the ventilation of two rooms – a bathroom and a kitchen. Living areas have vents, windows and balconies for ventilation. Of course, ventilation lowers the room temperature by blowing out warm (and humid) air, so it is rarely used during the cold period..

The dehumidification effect in summer is achieved by mixing dry air from the street with steam-saturated internal “exhaust” air. During transition periods, especially at the beginning of spring, atmospheric air is saturated with vapors, but at the same time it remains cold. Accordingly, ventilation does not bring the desired effect..

How to fight

Check the ventilation arranged according to the project – the draft should be noticeable. If the draft is good in the kitchen and bathroom, and dampness is not removed, there are three options for solving this problem.

1. Forced exhaust ventilation.The device of such a system, although it will entail certain costs and inconveniences, will once and for all solve the problem of dampness. A branched hood has its drawbacks – power consumption, duct system, background noise. The minimum that can be done is to install a fan in the kitchen duct.

2. Installing the recuperator.A ducted room recuperator such as PRANA, Reventa or an analogue is a more modern and ergonomic element that solves two problems at once – humid air exhaust and fresh air inflow. Many models are heated for winter operation. The cost of a duct recuperator is from 340 to 380 USD. e.

Video: PRANA duct recuperator

3. Use a dehumidifier.This device allows air to pass through itself, collecting excess moisture and filtering it. Such a device is very effective – it removes dampness from the room within an hour. In this case, the composition of the air remains unchanged. The moisture is collected in a separate container and drained. Filters, ozonizers and fragrances can be optionally integrated into the device. The cost of such a device for a room of 30-50 sq. m is from 140 to 220 cu. e.

Reason # 2. Source of moisture

In private houses, these are septic tanks or shambos close to the house. They saturate the soil with water, the water flows under the house, the soil, the surrounding foundation or basement becomes damp. The same with atmospheric waters flowing down to the split blind area. Dampness in the basement and in the floor of the 1st floor is ensured.

In apartments it can be:

• leaking roof;
• a defect in the drain or roof overhang, directing atmospheric water to the wall of the apartment;
• windy side of the house – rain constantly falls on the wall of the apartment;
• constantly flowing taps, plumbing;
• large amount of water on the ground floor – aquariums, swimming pool, sauna;
• evaporation of condensate on windows (which collects due to poor ventilation).

It is difficult to name other trouble-free open sources of moisture in the apartment, but in each case everything is possible.

How to fight

Eliminate source. Fix the roof or drain, move the septic tank, protect the wall from atmospheric waters. If the reason is in an open source, waterproofing should be done with a liquid composition. Remember that waterproofing is applied from the side of the moisture source.

Reason number 3. Unheated room

Extreme savings on heating on the principle of “only warm air in the room” is the most common reason for the dampness of the “crying walls” of an apartment or house. The wall should be heated to at least half the thickness. Then the dew point (the place of condensation formation) will come to the side of the street. A frozen wall shifts the dew point closer to the warm area, and sometimes even to the inner plane.

This problem often “works” in conjunction with a lack of ventilation. Abandoned or low-heated premises damp very quickly – finishing materials are destroyed in 2 seasons, the construct loses up to 5-6% of its strength annually (in addition to natural wear and tear). It is highly undesirable to combine heated and unheated (according to the project) premises under one roof.

How to fight

Boost heating. Try to calculate how much damage your home can get from the merciless dampness and the amount you will save on heating. Then compare these amounts and make a conclusion. Of course, the insulation must be of high quality and timely..

If it is not possible to increase the temperature, install fans on the heating devices and provide short-term ventilation – the humidity will equalize. Do not leave the house unheated, if you are going to return – find someone who will heat it.

Reason number 4. Incorrect insulation

Thermal insulation of walls with cheap and lightweight foam or expensive modern extruded polystyrene foam has already gained momentum and is becoming a welcome event for residents of apartment buildings. Almost no one ever makes a thermal calculation of the walls of an apartment to determine the thickness of the insulation. Therefore, when choosing a layer of insufficient thickness, the wall continues to freeze and damp.

Life in such a “thermos” can spoil the dampness in the apartment and the inevitable fungus. The reason is the same dew point, which is snugly located between the panel (wall) and the insulation plate. In addition, the vapor permeability of the sonicated materials is close to zero and this is not the only problem with the foam. This cheap, homemade material is extremely flammable and toxic when heated. Keep this in mind when preparing to insulate your apartment..

Video: problems with polystyrene foam

How to fight

Study useful articles, forums, where engineers and builders with extensive experience speak up. Understanding the physics of processes will save you not only from dampness, but also from many other troubles. There are two unmistakable options for insulating an apartment:

1. A deliberately excess layer of polystyrene insulation. A thickness of 100–150 mm ensures that the dew point is outside the wall (in the thickness of the insulation) for any region.
2. Vapor-permeable insulation. Mineral wool, ecowool, any kind of ventilated facade. This is guaranteed to get rid of moisture in the walls..

Dampness in the apartment can provoke the appearance of mold, which, when it enters the body, becomes the cause of human viral diseases. Moreover, humid air by itself is not suitable for everyone. Weakness, soreness, spontaneous loss of performance are what can happen due to excess moisture in the air. Therefore, the elimination of moisture is a concern not only for the native walls, but also for yourself and dear people.