Damp problems with fitted wardrobe
Bear
external wall - the clothes in which naturally hang only a few inches
from said external wall. Despite having two large external air vents
in the wall on one side of the wardrobe, I'm suffering from damp
problems (mould on the wall, and damp wet feeling transferring from
the wall to the clothes). Obvious answer is to rebuild the wardrobe on
an internal wall which is possible but requires significant work. The
house is kept at a relative 14°C minimum when we're out and nearer
18°C when in. And windows are opened daily to reduce any moisture in
the atmosphere. Help please....! I've tried lightening the load in the
wardrobe but this has made some, although little difference. The
problem still exists.
Peter Parry
<nmo...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>Help please....! I've tried lightening the load in the
>wardrobe but this has made some, although little difference. The
>problem still exists.
Line the wardrobe with polystyrene ceiling tiles. Put ventilation in
the doors so the wardrobes are at room temperature. If the external
vents you mention vent into the wardrobe that will be a major factor
in causing the damp and they should be blocked. If needed for other
reasons (such as open gas fires) reinstate them somewhere else.
John Rumm
It sounds like you have a condensation problem caused by lack of
insulation and airflow. Warm wet air is getting into the wardrobe from
the house and condensing on the cold wall. The lack of airflow and heat
is preventing this from being evaporated away in the normal way.
If the vents are external (i.e. outside) then these do not want to vent
into the wardrobe space.
A layer of insulation in the wardrobe, stuck to the the outside wall
will prevent the moisture condensing on the cold surface.
--
Cheers,
John.
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John
<pe...@wpp.ltd.uk> writes
- that seems to have worked well.
--
John Alexander, <><
Remove NOSPAM if replying by e-mail
Harry Bloomfield
> Despite having two large external air vents
> in the wall on one side of the wardrobe,
Which is the cause of your problem.
> I'm suffering from damp
> problems (mould on the wall, and damp wet feeling transferring from
> the wall to the clothes).
Warm air in the house is getting into the cold wardrobe and condensing.
The wardrobe needs the vents diverted to either vent directly into the
room, or blocked off, but either way the wardrobe need more ventilation
from the warmth of the room to bring it to the same temperature.
Another way would be to add some form of heating in there - maybe a
loop of pipe from the heating system passing through it would be
enough.
--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk
Bear
directly from outside into the wardrobe space. I've been told that I
need these left open for air flow - although am I right in thinking
that the air flow must be warm, not cold? Why would someone have been
so stupid as to vent cold air directly into the wardrobe?
The wardrobe is a built-in type with sliding doors. Would I be best to
fit polystyrene ceiling tiles to the insides of the doors or the wall?
Thanks
Peter Parry
<nmo...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>Many thanks for the responses. Yes the vents do conduct cold air
>directly from outside into the wardrobe space. I've been told that I
>need these left open for air flow - although am I right in thinking
>that the air flow must be warm, not cold?
You need airflow at room temperature, otherwise warm air (which can
hold more moisture than cold air) enters through gaps in the doors or
when you open the doors and the moisture in the warm air condenses
onto the cold clothes and wall.
>Why would someone have been
>so stupid as to vent cold air directly into the wardrobe?
They were probably already there when the wardrobe was built and
whoever was building it didn't close them off. Did the room
originally have a fireplace or gas fire in it?
>The wardrobe is a built-in type with sliding doors. Would I be best to
>fit polystyrene ceiling tiles to the insides of the doors or the wall?
The wall. The wall will be the coldest part even after blocking the
air vents so to minimise condensation you need to insulate it so the
surface temperature of the wardrobe side of the insulation layer is at
room temperature. You don't want any insulation on the doors as you
want heat from the room to get in.
Harry Bloomfield
> I've been told that I
> need these left open for air flow - although am I right in thinking
> that the air flow must be warm, not cold?
It the days when houses lacked central heating and had open fires, yes
they were needed. Now with central heating and proper controlled
ventilation, cooker hoods etc. they are not needed so much. We had four
in one wall (four rooms) and a fifth in another wall. All were blocked
up about 25 years ago during a major refurb.
> Why would someone have been
> so stupid as to vent cold air directly into the wardrobe?
Who would be so stupid as to build a wardrobe over the vents?
NT
just insulate the external wall. No point insualting anything else
NT
Chris J Dixon
>On Feb 23, 1:13�pm, Bear <nmor...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>> Many thanks for the responses. Yes the vents do conduct cold air
>> directly from outside into the wardrobe space. I've been told that I
>> need these left open for air flow - although am I right in thinking
>> that the air flow must be warm, not cold? Why would someone have been
>> so stupid as to vent cold air directly into the wardrobe?
>>
>> The wardrobe is a built-in type with sliding doors. Would I be best to
>> fit polystyrene ceiling tiles to the insides of the doors or the wall?
>just insulate the external wall. No point insualting anything else
>
Might it be a good idea, if practical, to provide some
ventilation between the wardrobe and the room?
Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
ch...@cdixon.me.uk
Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.
JTM
had too much to drink, gets up in middle of night to relieve
himself ...
:-)
John
--
John Mulrooney
NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while.
Tidy desk tiny mind!
Dave
> When I saw this thread I immediately thought of 'young man
> had too much to drink, gets up in middle of night to relieve
> himself ...
>
> :-)
OK, hands up. How many have not done that?
Dave
John Rumm
> Dave <dave...@btopenworld.com>
> wibbled on Wednesday 24 February 2010 17:24
> did know someone who claimed he did the above to his brother's wardrobe.
>
> If you can walk (even barely) I've always wondered how you could confuse
> shiny porcelain with a pile of socks!
I found the danger comes after you get back from the bathroom - knelt on
the bed and put my hand out to steady myself against the wall. Problem
was I was using light from the wrong window to get my bearings, so the
wall was not there!