Condensation and mold control in buildings / homes: Q & A
Author: admin // Category: Bulding a Home
QUESTION: I am a little confused. You say that one of the measures to control the internal humidity during the heating season is to ventilate. How can it be possible?
Inside relative humidity is mostly higher than the internal HR Sometimes it is as high as 95-98%.
ANSWER: It is wrong between the meanings of the terms “absolute” and “relative humidity”. To achieve a “dilution” of the indoor humidity we need drier air outside on an absolute basis. The relative humidity of the index could sometimes be misleading because it depends strongly on temperature.
Let a small example to make it quite clear.
In our beautiful Thessaloniki, northern Greece, this is not a rare phenomenon of having the outside temperature was about 0 degrees Celsius. This means that even for a relative humidity of 100% absolute humidity or moisture load is 4.8 gr/m3.
Coming to the interior …
For an average temperature of 22-23oC the absolute humidity is about 14gr/m3. This is a much larger number.
In fact, for the heating season is always the case: inside absolute humidity is higher than outside. This means that, for ventilation, we can still achieve a “dilution” of the moisture inside.
QUESTION: What is the most effective measure to prevent or control the growth of mold in the house?
ANSWER: The growth of mold is a moisture problem related. When you control the humidity, you can control the growth of mold. Potentially, there are many sources of moisture, etc. roof, leaking pipes and front basement leaks, infiltration of humid air, etc.
Moisture produced from everyday indoor activities is by far the largest source of moisture under normal conditions.
Then do your best to reduce the production of moisture by refraining from certain “bad” habits (such as drying clothes inside).
Question: I have not any condensation and mold problems in my damp. No problem also in the room where we used to dry our clothes on the radiator. But I have problems in other parts without the activities of steam. Why?
ANSWER: First, we must emphasize that the water vapor can easily travel from room to room through open doors. Thus, the relative humidity will soon be equalized. Reasons for condensation and mildew thrive in this special chamber could be:
1. This room is not adequate ventilation.
2. This room is underheated.
3. This room has an unfavorable direction.
4. And most likely, there are thermal bridges in the exterior walls.
Other factors to consider:
- Are there any plants in the room?
- Is it a room, so busy?
QUESTION: There are two identical apartments with the same orientation. I have problems with condensation and mold while my neighbor who lives one floor above me almost no problems.
ANSWER: Please check the previous answer. The apartments are identical in form but not in conditions that prevail. Possible differences (except above) could be:
- More people inside your apartment
- A baby maybe?
- Adolescents who have baths 2-3 times on a daily basis
- Drying clothes indoors
- Heating unvented gas or kerosene, etc.
The moral is that two otherwise identical apartments in terms of construction, will always be marked differences in their current conditions.
QUESTION: Can we reduce mold and condensation problems that occur outside?
ANSWER: If you mean the sealing measures, certainly not. The only possible external intervention could be adding an additional thermal insulation. Of course, this could be done from the inside.
I saw a lot of money thrown out the window to try to solve these problems by sealing exterior.
Chris Strogilis
http://maconwaterproofing. blogspot. com /
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