Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

What the company cannot take into consideration is the occupiers inability to take basic science into consideration. Modern buildings are virtualy hermetically sealed. A small window vent and stiking the extractor fan on 3 times a day isnt going to account for the amount of moisture you produce without including washing, showering, cooking etc.

There is a simple, low cost solution that any building surveyor/ EHO will be happy to help you with


OPEN THE FRIGGIN WINDOWS EVERY SO OFTEN

We do!

When we're in the apartment at least 2 of the windows are open in the living room area and the window in the kitchen area is always open, at the very least on the first latch (leaving about half an inch)

I know I might come of as if we're just sat there with the heating on full, cooker and hob on full and the dryer going but we're not!

We get loads of sunlight into the apartment so don't really need the radiators on and have to open the windows to get some fresh air in (have to with a 5 month old!).

Originally Posted by Stinkerson

Originally Posted by cloudbuster

A quick question - are any of your neighbours experiencing a similar problem, or is it just your property that is afflicted?

A couple of others within the apartment block are experiencing the same problem. They have also spoken to the compnay rep but i'm unsure of the outcome.

Reference a de-humidifier, I thought they used a large amount of electricity to power them? If thats all thats required then i'm all up for it.

At the end of the day it's a problem I want solved so we can crack on!

The simple answer to condesation is get rid of the water vapour by using ventialtion. Just remeber you and your family pump galons of water vapour into the air in your house every day, then there is the cooking, washing bathing, and do you have an non outside vented tumbler drier. Do yopu dry your washing in the house? The sources of water vaour are many but you can only get rid of it with ventialtion.

Hi Stinkerson,

Standard environmental health advice is to open windows, not dry clothes inside and not use poorly fitted tumble dryers etc.

But from what you've said you're doing that.

If you speak to an Environmental Health Officer at your local Council, and ask them nicely, they might come and have a look. I'd ask them very nicely, as they avoid getting involved with owner occupied houses. They will then give you their opinion as to the cause. Of course, they may just say keep the windows open.

Mould growth can be prejudicial to health, and in the short term you can take steps to prevent that yourself - you can buy sprays off the shelf.

Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

OPEN THE FRIGGIN WINDOWS EVERY SO OFTEN

What is your expert advice with a new build flat on the ground floor in say Whitechapel, London?



Bathrooms in new builds are usually internal and the motors on the extraction fans are not very good

Flats in new builds are hermetically sealed, air flow is crap

Mould is a problem in a lot of new builds no matter what the occupier does

I see the interiors on new builds about 25 times a week in London and have the unpleasant task of oportioning blame where there has been a large build up of mould. Sometimes it is down to the occupiers being idiots but sometimes they have done everything right and there is still a build up of mould and there is nothing you can do about it.

Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

What the company cannot take into consideration is the occupiers inability to take basic science into consideration. Modern buildings are virtualy hermetically sealed. A small window vent and stiking the extractor fan on 3 times a day isnt going to account for the amount of moisture you produce without including washing, showering, cooking etc.

There is a simple, low cost solution that any building surveyor/ EHO will be happy to help you with


OPEN THE FRIGGIN WINDOWS EVERY SO OFTEN

Have you contacted the NHBC, new builds will be covered by a 10 year warrenty.

My bold, check that these are open, and there is a hole behind routed through the window, vents provide 4000mm2 or 8000mm2 of ventilation.
If you are top floor, are there vented tiles on the roof?

If you need to go for them in a big way, employ a RICS registered surveyor who specialises in Part F of the Building Regs.

Good Luck.

Originally Posted by Stinkerson

Originally Posted by cloudbuster

A quick question - are any of your neighbours experiencing a similar problem, or is it just your property that is afflicted?

A couple of others within the apartment block are experiencing the same problem. They have also spoken to the compnay rep but i'm unsure of the outcome.

Reference a de-humidifier, I thought they used a large amount of electricity to power them? If thats all thats required then i'm all up for it.

At the end of the day it's a problem I want solved so we can crack on!

Get an "A" rated unit and you will be fine. The most I ever ran mine was 2 x 5 hours a day, rapidly reducing down to about 2 x 1 hour a day.
Look for a low db rating <50db, and a timer.
I bit the bullet and got a brushed aluminium Siemens unit that does dehumid, aircon for 100m2 and de-ionises at about 800 quid.
http://www.siemens-home.de/PA0840M.html use that as a benchmark, its good kit. Not sure if its available in UK and the aircon market is smaller due to the pants weather.

Delonghi do cheaper portable ones, as do Bosch.

Originally Posted by gentlesoul

Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

OPEN THE FRIGGIN WINDOWS EVERY SO OFTEN

What is your expert advice with a new build flat on the ground floor in say Whitechapel, London?.

Move?

Originally Posted by gentlesoul

Bathrooms in new builds are usually internal and the motors on the extraction fans are not very good

Flats in new builds are hermetically sealed, air flow is crap

Mould is a problem in a lot of new builds no matter what the occupier does

I see the interiors on new builds about 25 times a week in London and have the unpleasant task of oportioning blame where there has been a large build up of mould. Sometimes it is down to the occupiers being idiots but sometimes they have done everything right and there is still a build up of mould and there is nothing you can do about it.

Unfortunatly building regs do not take account of how we live our lives. Building contractors are only going to build to minimum requirements - no more. The simple fact remains in that we produce moisture from ourselves and our processes. This has to be dispersed by physical or mechanical means or you will get condensation which, if allowed to build up, will result in the growth of mould.

De-humidifiers work wonders. As do open windows

Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

Originally Posted by gentlesoul

Originally Posted by drain_sniffer

OPEN THE FRIGGIN WINDOWS EVERY SO OFTEN

What is your expert advice with a new build flat on the ground floor in say Whitechapel, London?.

Move?

Originally Posted by gentlesoul

Bathrooms in new builds are usually internal and the motors on the extraction fans are not very good

Flats in new builds are hermetically sealed, air flow is crap

Mould is a problem in a lot of new builds no matter what the occupier does

I see the interiors on new builds about 25 times a week in London and have the unpleasant task of oportioning blame where there has been a large build up of mould. Sometimes it is down to the occupiers being idiots but sometimes they have done everything right and there is still a build up of mould and there is nothing you can do about it.

Unfortunatly building regs do not take account of how we live our lives. Building contractors are only going to build to minimum requirements - no more. The simple fact remains in that we produce moisture from ourselves and our processes. This has to be dispersed by physical or mechanical means or you will get condensation which, if allowed to build up, will result in the growth of mould.

De-humidifiers work wonders. As do open windows

Open windows are not good from a security perspective, and add nothing when its raining or damp outside - burglary and sh1t weather being the UK norm, a dehumidifier seems the way to go.......

Granted, for security purposes an open window isnt great. However, without going back to basics, it is still effective for ventilation purposes, even when its raining outside.

Cheers for the replies and comments.

Will have to wait for the NHBC to come out and have a look at the apartment and building as a whole.

Looks like a de-humidifier is the way to go for the moment.