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Positive pressure ventilation

27 replies

summerlovingvibes · 11/02/2023 15:05

Do positive pressure ventilation systems really help that dramatically with mould?

OP posts:
DoingItUp · 11/02/2023 16:52

It depends on the source of your damp and mould. They’re good at dealing with moisture levels, therefore condensation and so prevent conditions for mould growth. But if damp is caused by water ingress, then it might help but wouldn’t cure the problem.

I’ve looked into getting one and have heard good things but opted for a dehumidifier first and it’s lowered the relative humidity well, although I don’t have an issue with mould. It’s been good in the hallway where there is some form of rising damp which I plan to resolve later.

summerlovingvibes · 11/02/2023 16:57

No it's definitely an issue with condensation - the windows are dripping wet every morning, even if we have a few left open upstairs. The mould is round the windows and on the ceiling where there is cold bridging coming from the loft.

I think we will give one a go...

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 11/02/2023 17:15

Where is the water coming from? Does your bathroom extractor fan work? Do you air the bedrooms every morning? Does your roof leak? Do you drape wet washing over radiators?

summerlovingvibes · 11/02/2023 17:31

PigletJohn · 11/02/2023 17:15

Where is the water coming from? Does your bathroom extractor fan work? Do you air the bedrooms every morning? Does your roof leak? Do you drape wet washing over radiators?

Extractor fan is in the process of being fixed, washing dries on airer downstairs in utility ( we do have lots of washing as newborn baby and toddler in family), windows opened each morning but not over night (except bathroom window). I think a lot of moisture if from breathing overnight in the bedrooms? As the rooms without people in aren't wet.

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Tiredmum100 · 11/02/2023 17:31

We fitted one about 6 weeks ago. We were having terrible trouble with condensation on the windows. Since having it we've had no condensation on the windows, and touch wood, no mold where we were getting patches. We also have a dehumidifier and the humidity in the house has really dropped. I'm very pleased and would definitely recommend.

PigletJohn · 11/02/2023 18:05

If you drape wet washing inside your home, the water vapour will diffuse throughout the building, and rise (because it is lighter than air) until it either escapes, or finds a cool surface to condense on.

If you can't afford a tumble drier, fit a powerful extractor fan in the wet room, and run it continuously, with the door and window SHUT.

summerlovingvibes · 11/02/2023 22:27

PigletJohn · 11/02/2023 18:05

If you drape wet washing inside your home, the water vapour will diffuse throughout the building, and rise (because it is lighter than air) until it either escapes, or finds a cool surface to condense on.

If you can't afford a tumble drier, fit a powerful extractor fan in the wet room, and run it continuously, with the door and window SHUT.

Thanks @PigletJohn yes I get that.
Question is whether a positive pressure ventilation system will help with the condensation / mould ... for whatever reason it is there.

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summerlovingvibes · 04/11/2023 12:10

@Tiredmum100 can I ask what size vent in the house it is? Is it quite big? Where is yours located?

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Rollercoaster1920 · 04/11/2023 12:32

A tumble dryer would be cheaper and solve most of your problem. Piglet John's suggestion would do a similar thing by extracting the damp air.

BlueMongoose · 04/11/2023 23:27

Maybe a dehumidifier for the laundry would help?

Ihateslugs · 05/11/2023 01:48

I have a positive air extractor in my hall which goes into the loft space - bungalow. Before it was fitted, the company tested the humidity in the loft as it had to be at a certain level for the system to work. It’s a white square grill, fairly flat against the ceiling, about 30 cm square. No one notices it unless I point it out. I was aware of a faint whirring noise at first but now I never hear it. I did pay extra to have a remote to change the speed but I never use it, it just on medium all year round, I don’t think I can switch it off!

Before it was fitted, I spent ages every morning from Autumn to summer wiping down every window. I don’t dry clothes in the house, if they can’t go outside, I use a condenser tumble dryer in the kitchen with a window open. There is an extractor fan in the bathroom which is on when I shower, I squeegee down the cubicle every use and I also leave the window open for an hour or so afterwards. I live alone so not really creating enough condensation for the state of my windows but my bungalow is built on a flood plain close to the water table and has a void underneath it to take any flood water. So a damp place basically.

After the unit was fitted, no more condensation, none! Until I had plantation shutters fitted in my bedroom and found that sometimes, not every day, there was a small amount of condensation just in my bedroom. I now leave the blinds very slightly ajar at night to allow air circulation which solves the problem.

At the time it seemed an expensive solution but as I also found black mould in two of my fitted wardrobes on outsides walls ( no longer there), I thought it was worth the investment to protect the building. My next door neighbours on both sides also have them.

PigletJohn · 08/11/2023 09:13

summerlovingvibes · 11/02/2023 22:27

Thanks @PigletJohn yes I get that.
Question is whether a positive pressure ventilation system will help with the condensation / mould ... for whatever reason it is there.

Yes, if you have more money than you need, and wish to take the more expensive and less efficient option.

GasPanic · 08/11/2023 10:00

I think I would try a powerful dehumidifier first and use a window vac on the windows if they are dripping wet.

Basically if you dry your washing inside, then the water goes into the air in the house and condenses on the windows.

Try to limit where the humidity is, so do the clothes drying in a room with a closed door and dehumidifier/extractor on.

If water is condensing on the ceiling and causing mould then the ceiling is too cold. You need to get some loft insulation and fit. It's pretty cheap and one of the easiest and cheapest things to do to improve your house warmth/energy consumption.

PragmaticWench · 08/11/2023 12:37

PigletJohn · 08/11/2023 09:13

Yes, if you have more money than you need, and wish to take the more expensive and less efficient option.

It's also about the aesthetic and available space needed to have a humidifier sitting on your landing or in a utility room. With children and a dog running around I find the humidifier just gets in the way. My builder laughed at the notion of installing a positive ventilation system when we extended, but it's not him now having to step around a huge humidifier on the landing all the time. I should have stood my ground.

Daftasabroom · 08/11/2023 12:56

More expensive but mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is worth considering.

ToussaintTheChef · 08/11/2023 13:02

On our second winter. Helped enormously with moisture.

FSGirl · 08/11/2023 13:18

We had one fitted and have no condensation on windows at all now, it’s really helped. We don’t notice it’s there as it’s up in the loft with a vent on the landing.
I’m sure the alternative suggestions on here are well meaning but they are missing your original point and question. We never hung clothes over radiators and kept windows aired, it didn’t help. Didn’t want a bulky dehumidifier hanging around with kids and dog (also annoying to have to keep emptying) and I don’t have time to be wiping (or “window vaccing”) windows down every morning, so that wasn’t an option.

Jellycats4life · 08/11/2023 13:19

We had major issues with condensation. Windows would be pouring with water every morning. A PIV unit fixed things overnight.

blitzen · 08/11/2023 13:21

I had great success with an envirovent system

Ihateslugs · 08/11/2023 17:06

blitzen · 08/11/2023 13:21

I had great success with an envirovent system

That’s the make of my unit, really pleased with mine.

PigletJohn · 08/11/2023 17:34

PragmaticWench · 08/11/2023 12:37

It's also about the aesthetic and available space needed to have a humidifier sitting on your landing or in a utility room. With children and a dog running around I find the humidifier just gets in the way. My builder laughed at the notion of installing a positive ventilation system when we extended, but it's not him now having to step around a huge humidifier on the landing all the time. I should have stood my ground.

I didn't mention a dehumidifier. But I did suggest reducing the massive water load that wet washing provides.

Jellycats4life · 08/11/2023 18:25

Unfortunately a lot of people are stuck with having to dry clothes indoors during the cold months. I for one don’t tumble dry clothes because they shrink. My tumble dryer only gets used for bedding and towels.

We ran a dehumidifier almost constantly. Kept windows open a crack 24/7. Didn’t make any different to the condensation. Our house is seemingly quite poorly ventilated in general (no air bricks etc) so for us, the cost of a PIV system was worth every penny.

summerlovingvibes · 09/11/2023 12:27

Some really helpful comments on here thanks. We have bought one now and will be fitting it this weekend. Will let you know how we get on.

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Lellochip · 09/11/2023 12:34

I really want one but I don't have loft space, not sure whether there's any other way to fit them

GasPanic · 09/11/2023 12:46

I suppose the ultimate question is whether it achieves the environment you are after at the lowest cost.

Running one of these systems in terms of electric power is pretty low. But you will be cooling down the house by drawing cold air from outside the house/the loft into the house. It's basically a fancy way of opening a window with some duting to the centre of the house and a £20 fan in front of it.

Whether the cost of this is less than say a dehumidifier I have no idea. I guess it depends on the house. Would probably be less hassle as you don't have to empty it either. But the purchase cost and install could be 5-10x what a dehumidifier is. Ca £1k vs. £100 ?

Which pays for a lot of gas/dehumidification.

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