Damp spots on the ceilings, walls of a private house and wet corners most often appear with the approach of winter, when windows are opened less and less to ventilate the rooms, precipitation begins to fall more often, and the walls of buildings almost do not warm up by the sun. Dampness in the home is a serious problem that needs to be addressed as it causes not only various diseases, but is also a favorite habitat for ticks, centipedes and fungi. Let's take a closer look at the question of how to get rid of dampness in the house.
How to get rid of dampness in the house - we follow the main rules!
If you do not know how to deal with such a serious nuisance as dampness in a private house, then following some important rules and advice, you can, if not get rid of it, then at least make it the most minimal. So:
- Try, if possible, to limit the use of various combustible substances, since many of them form a large amount of moisture, such as paraffin.
- Cover pots and pans with lids when cooking as they also release a fair amount of moisture.
- The bathroom has the highest percentage of humidity. To avoid this, regularly ventilate it and clean the hoods from dust and dirt in time.
- The most common cause of dampness in a private home is frequent washing, drying clothes, poor ventilation and heating. Try not to dry your laundry indoors, but if there is no other way out, then do it near the location of the hoods!
- If the problem of dampness in the house is constant, insulate the walls attic space and the walls of the house with special porous materials that prevent the appearance of moisture.
The main causes of dampness in a private house
Incorrect or insufficient ventilation causes condensation, high humidity and a musty, unpleasant smell in the house, as a result of which the windows become foggy, the corners damp, and the walls damp. How to get rid of dampness in the house? To eliminate all this, ventilate the room more often and use additional fans. An unpleasant and musty smell in the house is the result of the formation of mold, which is extremely dangerous for human health, since it releases a large number of harmful spores that a person inhales with the air. To get rid of mold, use antifungal agents. Just do not forget that all antifungal drugs are toxic, so you must strictly follow the instructions for them and be careful! Get a household dehumidifier that will ideally help you eliminate such a nuisance as dampness in a private house. It is convenient to use and easy to move from one room to another. Poor waterproofing of the foundation is a common cause of dampness in the house. The fact is that pound waters rising to a height of 1.5 m do not penetrate the walls of the building only because of horizontal waterproofing foundation. If it is not, moisture penetrates the walls. Traces of water can be seen in damp corners covered with mold, above the baseboard, on deteriorated wallpaper and, accordingly, on crumbling plaster. The fight against dampness in a private house is not an easy and sometimes expensive undertaking. Be that as it may, by determining the cause of this misfortune, you can begin to use effective methods fight it and then, for sure, come out of it as a winner! Comfort and coziness in a dry and warm house!
Hello dear readers! The other day I was talking with a friend who started a grandiose renovation. It turned out that everything is not so simple: they have mold in their apartment, so they decided to get rid of it in the most categorical way. This gave me the idea to tell you about the terrible dampness in the apartment, how to get rid of it.
When the apartment is constantly high humidity, dampness will certainly appear sooner or later.
It negatively affects your home: it worsens the condition wooden furniture or leather products, plaster becomes loose and crumbles, wallpaper falls off and can lead to floors, books, magazines and documents deteriorate, products quickly become unusable. And, of course, the worst thing is that mold and fungus appear.
In addition, the condition of the household is deteriorating. Such a microclimate can cause oily skin and increased greasiness of hair, provokes skin rashes and allergic reactions, and also disrupts the functioning of the respiratory organs.
Raw air is simply adored by microbes, and therefore your loved ones get sick more often. And of course, dampness accompanies an unpleasant smell.
Where did this trouble come from?
The causes of dampness can be different. First you need to check where it came from in your apartment: outside or inside.
To do this, you need to conduct a small experiment: attach glass to a wall that borders the street for several hours. Then look at the result: if moisture appeared on the wall, then dampness entered the room from the outside.
It happens so often corner apartments, as well as if mistakes were made during the construction of the house. But don't worry, even such flaws can be dealt with.
If the wall section is dry, then the reasons must be sought indoors. It's usually one of these:
- basement flooding;
- there is no ventilation in the apartment, or it is dirty and does not work well;
- flood from neighbors above (or from the roof, in the case of the upper floor);
- incorrect installation kitchen appliances(blocked the ventilation);
- they closed the pipes during the repair, and now the leak is not visible;
- poor-quality installation of plumbing (the bath does not fit snugly against the wall, which is why there are constant puddles under it);
- continuous drying of laundry in large numbers Houses;
- greenhouse of flowers (yes, no matter how surprised you are, but sometimes they are too zealous with flowers, and they create a too humid climate in the apartment).
How to deal with the problem
First of all, check the ventilation and pipes: is it all working properly. If the cause is in them, then you will have to resort to the help of specialists who will help fix the problems.
If this is not the reason, then the following tips will definitely help you.
Fresh air
One of better ways combating excessive humidity and dampness is the regular ventilation of the apartment.
Open windows all the way to allow air to circulate in the rooms. This is especially true of the bathroom: leave it open for at least a couple of hours (or, for example, at night), then excess moisture will leave.
If you live in a metropolis and are afraid of gas pollution, then air conditioning will help: it will maintain not only the required temperature, but also dry the air.
You can install an alpine window: it will perfectly help to cope with drafts in the cold season.
Heating rooms
Warm - main way combat dampness and moisture.
And it does not matter if it will be heating devices or sunlight. The second, by the way, is more desirable: batteries run the risk of drying out the air. Therefore, be sure to open the curtains during the day.
In the bathroom, a heated towel rail will do just fine. If the problem is still in the basement, then you will have to purchase a heater and additionally turn it on in the off-season: the humidity in the basements increases in autumn and spring.
About household chores
While cooking, the ideal friend will be kitchen hood: it will not only eliminate odors, but also excess moisture.
Cleaning in a room where dampness is best done with “drying” agents: aqueous solutions with bleach, potassium permanganate or vinegar. They can wipe both floors and furniture. And the final step should be cleaning excess water with a dry cloth.
And, of course, try not to dry things daily in the apartment. If, nevertheless, there is no balcony or loggia, then try washing less often (for example, 2 times a week, not daily). And the ideal option for you would be washing machine with laundry drying function!
We eliminate dampness in the closet
Dampness in the closet is also an unpleasant phenomenon. Things can be damp and even have an unpleasant smell. Good drying after washing and ironing with a hot steam iron will help to cope with this. And in no case should things be put in the closet when wet.
Dampness and repair
If you have to repair, then think over all the details of this grand event. After all, if the apartment is prone to dampness, then at this stage the problem can be prevented.
- Treat the walls with antifungal products (but remember that they are toxic, so follow the instructions).
- If you have dampness from the street, then it is necessary to insulate the walls, thanks to this you will avoid condensation due to temperature changes.
- Give preference natural materials because they breathe. So, for example, now there is a great alternative to plastic windows, the breathability of which is doubtful - wooden windows with glass panes.
Your assistants in the fight against dampness
In addition, you can eliminate dampness with folk remedies.
One of these methods is the arrangement of sugar, salt or coffee in rooms. You probably imagined a bag of salt in the middle of the room? Well, of course, this is a last resort. Try to play with the details: coffee beans can be placed in a beautiful glass vase or a large glass.
Silica gel is one of the best moisture absorbers. It is actively used even in industry. Remember those little paper balloon bags in shoeboxes? This is what he is.
These envelopes can be put in a closet with linen or in a sports bag that you carry with you to workouts. And, of course, shoes! And yes, it is even poured into a container and placed under the bath. In such large volumes, you can buy it at the pet store, because it is used for cat litter.
This method is best used when you are sure that small children or pets will not eat it.
If you love flowers, choose plants that don't need to be watered often when damp. Cacti are perfect as ever. There are also flowers that absorb moisture from the air: these are fern, syngonium, geranium.
Improve the microclimate in the apartment and essential oils that freshen the air and kill harmful microorganisms: tea tree, eucalyptus, fir, grapefruit.
And yes, technology will help you: now you can buy an air dryer in any store. Their prices are quite reasonable, you can find options for any wallet.
When choosing, pay attention to power: the higher it is, the better it is. There are automatic models, they monitor the level of humidity and turn on themselves. This, by the way, can even save electricity.
I hope my advice will help you cope with such an unpleasant problem and get rid of dampness in the apartment. All the best to you, my dears!
Bye Bye,
Anastasia Smolinets
Dampness and high humidity in the house, especially in some of its places - many people face this problem. The reason for this may be poor ventilation, the constant presence of water, Construction Materials that were used in the construction of the house.
Dampness and high humidity in the house, especially in some of its places - many people face this problem.The reason for this may be poor ventilation, the constant presence of water, building materials that were used in the construction of the house.
As a result, we notice black spots on the walls and in the corners, the paint that paints the walls or some objects often deteriorates.
5 effective remedies for dampness
And, of course, dampness in the house is also harmful to the health of the people living in it. It creates a favorable environment for fungus and bacteria, for ticks. Because of this, a person often develops allergies and diseases of the respiratory system.
Fortunately, there are different products of natural origin, which help to neutralize the increased humidity in the house.
1. Soda
Baking soda is known as a good natural deodorant, as an antibacterial and bleaching agent. She is also one of the best means to combat high humidity in the house.
The absorbents included in its composition help get rid of mold, neutralize bad odors and clean walls from dark spots.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of soda (30 g)
- 2 tablespoons of oxygenated water (20 ml)
Cooking
- Pour baking soda into a container and mix it with oxygenated water.
Mode of application
- Apply this paste on damp stains. Then remove it with a brush.
- Do this procedure at least 2 or 3 times a week.
2. Sea salt
Due to its absorbent properties sea salt is one of the best remedies for reducing humidity in enclosed spaces.
The components included in its composition disinfect, help get rid of unpleasant odors and mold stains.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons sea salt(30 g)
- 5 drops essential oil lavender
Cooking:
- Pour salt into small bags or saucers and add lavender essential oil to it.
Mode of application:
- Put these bags of salt in enclosed spaces that you want to keep damp, such as closets.
- After 2-3 weeks, replace them with new bags of salt and lavender oil.
3. Borax
Borax (sodium tetraborate) has become very popular in last years. It is not as aggressive as bleach and, thanks to its anti-fungal action, helps to remove mold from walls and tiles.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon borax (10 g)
- 5 cups water (1250 ml)
Cooking
- Put on rubber gloves and dissolve borax in water.
Mode of application
- Spray the areas you want to remove mold with this solution. Let it act for 30-40 minutes, then remove its remnants with a napkin.
- Repeat this procedure at least once a week.
4. White Vinegar
White vinegar, an environmentally friendly product with antibacterial properties, is used in household to solve different problems.
Thanks to the natural acids it contains, it inhibits the growth of mold on walls, neutralizes bad odors and reduces humidity.
Vinegar also helps clean tubs, toilets, tiles, and other wet surfaces.
Ingredients
- ½ cup white vinegar (125 ml)
- ¼ cup water (62 ml)
Cooking
- Dissolve white vinegar in water and pour this solution into a spray bottle.
Mode of application
- Shake the solution before use. Spray them dark spots and mold spots.
- Let it dry. Its excess can be removed with a napkin.
- If stains are difficult to remove, use pure vinegar (without diluting it in water).
- Do this while cleaning, at least 3 times a day.
5. Tea tree essential oil
Tea tree oil is an excellent natural detergent. It kills bacteria and inhibits mold growth.
It is ideal for cleanliness in places with high humidity, such as in the bathroom. It can also be used to clean closets and keep windows and doors in good condition.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of tea tree essential oil (30 g)
- 1 cup water (250 ml)
Cooking
- Mix tea tree oil with water.
- Pour this mixture into a spray bottle.
Mode of application
- Spray the tiled walls, bathtub and other places where water often gets in and where the humidity is high.
- Let it work for a couple of minutes. Its remains can be removed with a sponge or a piece of cloth.
- Do this 2-3 times a week.
Do you see signs in your home? high humidity, mold and smell bad? Then prepare one of the remedies that we have listed, and get rid of mold and moisture before they become the cause. serious problems with the health of you and your loved ones.
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet
There are four main reasons why you need to get rid of the humidity in the apartment as soon as possible:
Causes of dampness
Poor ventilation, nearby sources of moisture, savings on heating and improper insulation are the main causes of dampness in a private or multi-apartment building.
Poor ventilation is the most common cause of high humidity. IN apartment buildings, especially in the old fund, the laid ventilation shafts and grates are clogged, overgrown with debris. As a result, air movement stops. The situation is aggravated by plastic windows, especially cheap samples, low-quality materials for covering ceilings and walls. In private houses, especially self-built ones, the owners sometimes try to save money through ventilation, believing that there are enough windows and doors. This is not true!
If the ventilation system cannot cope, it is not necessary to make a draft, especially in winter - this is fraught with hypothermia. More expensive but most practical solution will be forced exhaust ventilation, as well as amplifiers of an existing system, such as exhaust fans.
Another solution to the problem is the installation of a heat exchanger or the use of a special air dryer. The latter device is indispensable if the cause of dampness is excess moisture (for example, in a bathroom, pool, with an abundance of home flowers).
source of moisture
Sources of moisture in the apartment:
- atmospheric precipitation: rain, melting snow, condensate can enter the apartment through a leaking roof, through the pores of the walls and unsealed seams (especially if the wind, the wrong roof overhang or a defective drain constantly direct rainfall to the wall);
- stagnation of water in the apartment: leaking plumbing equipment, swimming pools, baths, aquariums, including those located on the floor below, the same effect is given by a taken bath or a long shower;
- greenhouse effect from poor ventilation of windows (condensate accumulates on the glass), abundance indoor plants, especially if they need abundant watering;
- humidity also increases the respiration of people, animals, plants - usually this factor is not noticeable, however, in cramped and / or poorly ventilated rooms it will be noticeable.
Shambo or septic tanks can be located near a private house, which impregnate the grant with moisture. And as a result, the basement becomes very damp, mold develops in it. Another source of moisture in the basement and on the 1st floor is a split blind area (a waterproof coating located around the perimeter of the house). Moisture from the soil and precipitation will seep into the house or basement.
An unheated room is a haven for dampness. Ideally, the walls of an apartment or house should warm up to at least half the thickness, then the place where condensate forms will go outside (on the street). In frozen walls, the place where condensate forms is shifted to a warm area, and often even located on the surface of the walls on the residential side. The problem is exacerbated by poor ventilation.
Housing, where people do not live or which is not heated enough, begins to damp very quickly: wall decoration is destroyed on average in two seasons. In addition, in addition to natural wear and tear, the structure loses an additional 5% of strength every year precisely due to dampness.
Advice! Vacation home, cottage - not a single seasonal housing can be left without heating. Hire a person or arrange with a neighbor who will periodically monitor this. If you are visiting for a couple of weeks, do not close the valves of the batteries.
Incorrect insulation also causes dampness. The main faults are an insufficient layer to provide warmth, and poor, zero vapor permeability materials.
To properly insulate an apartment, you can use one of two options:
- The thickness of the polystyrene insulation layer is within 10-15 cm (and this is true for any region of the Russian Federation).
- As a heater, use a vapor-permeable material, for example, ecowool, mineral wool. This will ensure that moisture is removed from the walls.
How to remove high humidity
To deal with humidity, it is likely that a tangible cost of either money or time and patience will be required.
The most reliable ways to combat dampness are expensive. However, after the restructuring, you do not have to think about drafts or sachets. Methods are expensive, but pay off with interest:
- Replacement of the ventilation system, installation of fans, extracts.
- Major overhaul, which completely removes old plaster in damp areas. After that, the room is dried, and the walls are covered with a fresh layer of plaster.
- Replacement and repair heating systems and water pipes. The task becomes more difficult if these systems are hidden.
- Solving problems with the waterproofing properties of the foundation, walls and roof, which is the most time-consuming and expensive procedure. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope on your own, without the involvement of specialists.
Available and simple ways reduce indoor humidity:
- When the weather is dry and warm outside, you should ventilate the room more often by opening the windows.
- The bathroom needs especially frequent ventilation, the hood in this room needs regular cleaning.
- Do not dry clothes in the room, as this increases the humidity of the air significantly. This is permissible only in winter, when the air is overdried by the heating system, it needs to be moistened. In summer, it is better to dry clothes on the balcony or outside.
- In the process of cooking, pots of boiling water must be covered with lids. It is also recommended to close the doors to the kitchen, this will serve as an obstacle to the spread of steam through the rooms in the apartment. Open windows for slot ventilation in winter or full ventilation in summer, do not forget to turn on the hood. Try not to let the pots steam too much (turn down the heat).
- Slightly reduce the humidity in the room will help reduce the number of indoor plants.
- A special dehumidifier (compressor or adsorption) will eliminate high humidity in a separate room.
Advice! The installation will allow you to regularly ventilate the room, regardless of the time of year. plastic windows which are equipped with the "micro-ventilation" function.
Increased humidity is removed if you constantly maintain the same heating in the room.
How to remove damp smell
Often, high humidity is accompanied by a characteristic smell of dampness. Its cause is a fungus, therefore, in order to eliminate the problem, the infection should be destroyed. Thoroughly wash off mold stains, if it is deeply ingrained, replace the coating (up to the plaster layer), if possible. Then treat with a disinfectant, and then with a protective one. Products should be labeled "anti-fungal" or "fungicide".
In order for the mold not to divorce again, in addition to treatment with protective preparations, it will be required in warm, dry weather:
- arrange a draft in the apartment, which will ensure good ventilation;
- hang carpets, bedding, curtains, clothes outside to dry and disinfect in the sun.
Advice! In winter, heaters, household dehumidifiers, air conditioners, which are equipped with a heating function, will allow you to dry the room.
Folk remedies for dampness in the apartment
Folk recipes also help to dry the air in the apartment:
- With the onset of summer, in warm weather, walls that are not covered with wallpaper and covered with mold are recommended to be treated with the following composition: dissolve half a kilogram in five liters of water laundry soap then boil the mixture. Cooled down soapy water evenly cover the wall with a brush and let dry. Repeat the treatment several times. Traces of soap suds should form on the wall. After that, apply another composition consisting of 100 grams of alum diluted in six liters of water.
- Calcium chloride perfectly absorbs moisture. Place containers with this substance in damp places. The advantage of calcium chloride is its reusability. It is enough to dry it (for example, in the oven). Before use, calcium chloride must be crushed.
- To eliminate mold and prevent the spread of dampness, treatment with a mixture of salicylic acid and alcohol will help. Dry the walls thoroughly. Then combine one part salicylic acid and two hundred (200) parts alcohol. Dilute the mixture with a little pure water. Lubricate the black spots of mold with the resulting product.
Advice! Replace calcium chloride charcoal or quicklime.
- Use a hydrometer. In the warm season, the optimum humidity will be from 30 to 60%, the maximum - 65. At the end of autumn, in winter, in early spring humidity should vary between 30-45% and not exceed 60.
- Provide access to the sun's rays.
- Ventilate the apartment, you need to do this systematically and efficiently.
- Repair cracks in walls and floors.
- Ensure good waterproofing.
- Use fans in the kitchen and bathroom, including exhaust fans. Periodically check the traction in ventilation system. Check the condition of plumbing fixtures Special attention allocate pipe connections.
- Systematically inspect the seal on plastic windows, replace it with a new one in a timely manner.
- Doing overhaul, use building materials on mineral basis. This will make it possible to effectively adjust the humidity in an apartment or private house.
Eliminate dampness in the apartment can be simple and accessible ways. Treating the walls with special compounds will destroy the mold and prevent its reappearance. Systematic prevention will protect against increased humidity and the formation of fungus.
fight with high humidity in the house it is necessary to start at the first alarming signs. In order to prevent the appearance of a specific smell in the home, damage to property by mold, deterioration of well-being, it is important to find the causes of dampness.
Proper home waterproofing
On the initial stage construction, pay special attention to the horizontal insulation of the foundation. Especially if there are prerequisites for increased moisture formation high level ground water, the presence of reservoirs, frequent precipitation.
If horizontal insulation are done only at the time of construction, then vertical waterproofing of the foundation can be performed when the house is rebuilt. Principle of work: a trench is dug around the building, and the foundation walls are coated with a waterproofing compound. Depending on the materials used, waterproofing can be:
- Coating. Executed using liquid formulations based on bitumen and mastics.
- Roll. The foundation is pasted over with an insulating material on a paper or synthetic basis. The most common roofing material.
- Plaster. TO cement mortar the polymer component is mixed.
Warming
IN autumn-winter period from moisture coming from outside, will protect high-quality external or internal insulation Houses. Popular and cheap insulation foam, basalt fiber, mineral wool. Each has its pros and cons.
Ventilation
In the event that a major overhaul is impossible for a number of reasons or it is established that the reason for the dampness of the premises is in a slow exit humid air correct and sufficient ventilation of the house, apartment will help to eliminate or minimize the problem:
- Arrange forced ventilation in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet. It is more convenient when the built-in fans turn on automatically when you open the door or turn on the light.
- Mandatory tightness of plastic windows often causes a lack of ventilation. To remove moist air in the profile of a problematic window or doorway make additional small ventilation holes and install ventilators.
- Be sure to regularly arrange cross-ventilation throughout the house!
Household dehumidifiers
This device is an "ambulance" for a damp house. The principle of operation of the dehumidifier is to condense excess moisture by cooling the incoming air stream. The condensate flows into a special reservoir, the air, devoid of excess moisture, is heated and returned to the room. Thanks to this, the house becomes drier for very a short time. In adsorption dryers, moisture from the air is taken by an adsorbent located in the device.
Dehumidifier selection features:
- When choosing a dehumidifier for your home, be guided by the footage of the room.
- Pay attention to the power, the noise level during operation, the design of the device.
- Be careful when using appliances and do not overdry the air. Very convenient models with automatic operation. The dehumidifier turns itself on if the moisture level is increased, and turns off when the required parameters are optimized.
Other ways to deal with moisture
To combat dampness:
- Try lowering the humidity with chemicals. Pour into small containers plastic cups 200 ml each, calcium chloride powder, arrange in problem rooms.
- If only one wall gets damp, most likely the reason is an improperly planned heating system. Bring an additional radiator to the “weeping” wall.
- Eliminating dampness, do not forget to take measures to destroy mold, fungus.
- Use a range hood while cooking.
- Household air conditioners help reduce air humidity.