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Original poster

Help me with my cold damp house!

50 replies

Decafflatteplease · 04/11/2023 08:58

I think I'm doing everything I can but if anyone has any more ideas that would be great!
The joys of a period house!

Large beautiful but draughty 1800s house, cold and damp but lovely and cool in the summer 😂

We have patches of black mould appearing so I keep wiping them but when I lifted the wallpaper it's actually in the walls.

At the moment we have the heating on for approx 1 hour in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. We have 2 dehumidifiers one upstairs one downstairs and these run for around 8 hours a day. One bedroom radiator doesn't work so we are using a fan heater in there. We did try an oil radiator but it wasn't effective in a large room.

The temperature usually hovers anywhere between 13 with no heating and 16 with heating on. Tn moisture is usually around 80, we can sometimes get it down to around 65.

The windows are covered in condensation each morning, I'm sat here and I literally can't see out of them. Will get the window vac on them in a bit

We do all the usual things like opening the windows in the morning. In fact one window doesn't close properly but can afford to get it replaced. Keep lids on pans, open bathroom window after a shower etc.

Is there anything obvious I'm missing or is this just life in a old house?

We own it if that's makes a difference so it's all our responsibility.

Maybe I need the heating on more but it's 💰💰💰.

OP posts:
Crabacus · 04/11/2023 09:03

Following for ideas too! We also have an old, damp house. In our case I think a lot is caused by a leaky old roof. We're having it replaced but not till next summer.
have you checked the condition of yours in case water is getting in?

for mould, we use a spray of white vinegar/water mix. Spray well, leave for an hour then wipe away. This kills the mould spores rather than just removes off the surface. When you are cleaning mould you are supposed to do it with doors shut but windows open (doors shut to prevent spores spreading around the rooms).

how big is the house? Are the dehumidifiers powerful enough for the size of the rooms?
do you have extractor fans? If not, can you fit them?

Lavenderfowl · 04/11/2023 09:11

I think you need to get the house properly warm and dry before you do what you're doing... otherwise all you're doing is adding heat to the dampness, which is making things worse. And you're spending more money trying to heat up the wet air as well.

So deal with any of the causes of dampness, like water getting in from somewhere, and then really heat the house for a few days. Dry out all the condensation and then restart your current regime...

LightSpeeds · 04/11/2023 09:12

You need a dehumidifier! (A desiccant one will also provide a level of heat.)

Original poster
Decafflatteplease · 04/11/2023 09:16

LightSpeeds · 04/11/2023 09:12

You need a dehumidifier! (A desiccant one will also provide a level of heat.)

Thanks but I already said we have 2 🙂

OP posts:
NewHouseShuffle · 04/11/2023 09:17

Have you checked pipes for any leaks? Are your gutters nice and clear? Could it be rising damp coming up from the ground?

If you can afford to I would get a specialist damp company out to assess where it is coming from and quote you for sorting it. We had damp caused by a split chimney liner (can't remember proper name for it now), the damp didn't go until we sorted the source of the problem.

something2say · 04/11/2023 09:23

Yes its time to find out the cause.

I lived in a single skin flat for ten years and had mild to manage.

Firstly I sand papered the walls and cleaned it all. Then I painted that anti cold paint on. Gross stuff but held it back for a few years at a time. There was a damp course done on the outside of the block by the residents association. Inside the anti damp paint helped.

I wish I had used a dehumidifier.

Also opening the windows during the day helps a lot.

And heating it much more than you are doing. One or two hours is not enough.

dooooom · 04/11/2023 09:25

Same here (no black mould - yet). New dehumidifier bought and getting a window vac shortly. I beat your lowest temperature though - settled at a breezy 11 degrees last winter.

Need to get all new windows that are double glazed. It's a bit relentless. Hoping utility bills will have gone down a bit so we can have the heating on more.

So watching with interest...

MafsisNafsbutcompelling · 04/11/2023 09:25

Ventilation under, through walls and roof. I would get a local heritage surveyor in to show you

dont get a damp company they will quote for pricey work. Get a survey that is independant

Perfect28 · 04/11/2023 09:34

More heating on.

Palmasailor · 04/11/2023 09:34

The cause is that it’s old and was not built the same way you would a modern house.

It loses a lot of heat from everywhere and to stop the mould you either need to put a lot of heat into it, or take it back to brick more or less and re build it.

Those are the only real options.

there probably isn’t much “wrong” with it.

Geneticsbunny · 04/11/2023 09:40

I would guess leaky gutters. They cause terrible issues especially in older houses. You definitely need to heat the house more in the meantime. Do you have any usable fireplaces? Not ideal obviously but might be cheaper than running the heating .

We also shut some rooms up turn the heating off in them and don't really use them in winter so that we are only heating the rooms that we are in.

Is the loft insulation good?

Thatwouldbeme · 04/11/2023 09:40

Have you looked into piv, we have one, although my house is not old like yours it's was always had windows full of condensation. They go into your attic and suck fresh air in and blow it around your house( that's in my explanation 😄). It's worked great for me and everyone I have told who I know that got one

BananaHamster · 04/11/2023 09:41

We get damp patches in our house (built 1940s) mainly upstairs on the walls in the corners.

We leave the windows open slightly at night & keep the heating on low. Have throw away condensation boxes on the windows, and wipe the windows every day. Tends to keep it at bay unless I have a day and forget to leave the windows open!

MafsisNafsbutcompelling · 04/11/2023 09:42

BananaHamster · 04/11/2023 09:41

We get damp patches in our house (built 1940s) mainly upstairs on the walls in the corners.

We leave the windows open slightly at night & keep the heating on low. Have throw away condensation boxes on the windows, and wipe the windows every day. Tends to keep it at bay unless I have a day and forget to leave the windows open!

I’d look at your gutters @BananaHamster

Thatwouldbeme · 04/11/2023 09:43

Mine is a nuaire, they are positive input ventilation systems.

Original poster
Decafflatteplease · 04/11/2023 09:43

Palmasailor · 04/11/2023 09:34

The cause is that it’s old and was not built the same way you would a modern house.

It loses a lot of heat from everywhere and to stop the mould you either need to put a lot of heat into it, or take it back to brick more or less and re build it.

Those are the only real options.

there probably isn’t much “wrong” with it.

Hmm I think you are onto something here. Some of the windows are single glazed stained glass and you can feel the cold if you stand in front of them.

It's very high ceilings think 12 foot.

Energy rating is E 😱

Loft is insulated really well.

A builder friend said the damp is seeping through the window ledges they are sandstone and we are on the coats so wind and rain comes in right off the sea.

OP posts:
Goodornot · 04/11/2023 09:43

It's surely false economy to have the heating on so little if the house is riddled with damp.

Dehumidifiers are expensive as are repair works.

You need to properly dry that house out and have the heating on a lot more. Also to find the cause of the damp.

BananaHamster · 04/11/2023 09:45

@MafsisNafsbutcompelling it's definitely partly down to the gutters, it's rented and we ask the landlord every year to come clean them out and by 3 months later they are overflowing again! Blush but also other issues with the house like the landlord never replacing the roof despite a tree growing out of my chimney. 😂

MafsisNafsbutcompelling · 04/11/2023 09:45

I have read that over insulation the loft does indeed stop the breathing. PIV might help. Looking into it….

We used heritage house for a survey. The communication team was terrible so I don’t recommend them directly but the experienced surveyor was amazing. Do look for someone who can go round and look at the damp buts, cold areas and advise you on flow.

BananaHamster · 04/11/2023 09:47

Also mould magic for the mould, I swear by it. White vinegar does work but I find it still sometimes comes back whereas mould magic I've never had it come back.

otherwayup · 04/11/2023 09:47

Crabacus · 04/11/2023 09:03

Following for ideas too! We also have an old, damp house. In our case I think a lot is caused by a leaky old roof. We're having it replaced but not till next summer.
have you checked the condition of yours in case water is getting in?

for mould, we use a spray of white vinegar/water mix. Spray well, leave for an hour then wipe away. This kills the mould spores rather than just removes off the surface. When you are cleaning mould you are supposed to do it with doors shut but windows open (doors shut to prevent spores spreading around the rooms).

how big is the house? Are the dehumidifiers powerful enough for the size of the rooms?
do you have extractor fans? If not, can you fit them?

Can you tell me how much vinegar/water you put in each spray bottle please? I'm going to try this!

ginandtonicwithlimes · 04/11/2023 09:50

Unfortunately the main thing that has helped our old 1900's house is having the heating on. 😬 Sorry!

FallingAutumnLeaf · 04/11/2023 09:53

Run the dehumidifiers for 24 hours a day.

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