Understanding Condensation
Types of Damp
RISING DAMP • Rises up from ground (therefore only occurs at ground level)
• Tide marks appearing on a wall to a height of 1m approx
• Occurs if damp course is bridged, damaged or none existent
PENETRATING DAMP • Enters through the property at any height
• Often due to poor property maintenance eg blocked gutters, cracked render
CONDENSATION • Imbalance of airflow, heating & ventilation
• Can occur throughout the home
• Black mould, streaming windows, musty smell, damage to home contents, health
implications
WATERLEAKS & • Ongoing leaks from pipes which have gone undetected
FLOODING • Changing weather patterns & environmental factors leading to increased risk of
flooding
WATER PRESSURE • Dampness and flooding to underground structures caused by groundwater pressure
AFFECTING BASEMENTS
& CELLARS
What should landlords look out for? Visual evidence
• Mould growth
• Deterioration of finishes, blowing/disintegrating plasterwork
• Liquid water on surfaces
• Staining of finishes
• Efflorescent salts on surfaces
• Timber decay
• Distorted timbers
• Dampness to finishes
Common Faults
Ground Water Rainwater
goods
Rising Damp Blocked Gullies
Other Defects
Condensation
We will look at:
What is condensation?
How and why does it form in buildings?
Types of condensation
How we identify a condensation problem
How condensation affects occupation
Remedies
What is Condensation?
Condensation occurs when water changes from its ‘gaseous state’ to its ‘liquid state’.
This only happens when the air reaches a relative humidity of 100%
The point at which the water changes state as saturation occurs
is known as the ‘Dew Point’
Condensation
Condensation is deposited on any surface that is below the Dew Point.
Condensation
• All air contains some water vapour
• The amount of water that can be held in the air is dependent on the temperature
• The higher the temperature, the more water can be held in the air
• Surfaces are usually cooler than the air that surrounds them
• If these surfaces are cooler than the dew point, then the water will condense out
of the air
Surface Condensation
Condensation
The condensation problem is mainly seasonal.
Most problems happen between October and
April each year.
If there are persistent problems with dampness
outside the period, it is unlikely to be
condensation.
Condensation can be deposited at the surface and is
known as ‘surface condensation’
Or within a structure where it is
called ‘interstitial condensation’
Interstitial Condensation
Condensation that occurs within a structure
This can be very difficult to
diagnose and is relatively
uncommon.
Interstitial Condensation
Wall temperature
gradient
Dew point temperature
gradient
Outside
Interstitial
Inside
condensation
Height of Rise (1)
Air at 10⁰C can hold a max. of 7.6g water vapour/kg dry air
Air at 20⁰C can hold a max. of 14.7g water vapour/kg dry air
It is therefore useful to know how saturated the air is with water vapour
This is the RELATIVE HUMIDITY
So we can say:
The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere at any given temperature
expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of water vapour that can
be held at the same temperature = RELATIVE HUMIDITY
RELATIVE HUMIDITY is therefore a PROPORTION, NOT AN AMOUNT!
Effects of cooling air on Relative humidity (rh)
20 ⁰C
15 ⁰C
12 ⁰C
60% RH 83%RH 100%RH
Where is the water from?
• Atmospheric water coming out of its gaseous state.
• Water is released in the air from a number of sources associates with
normal life and occupation.
Moisture Production Per Day
MOISTURE PRODUCTION PER DAY
(Average dwelling, 4-5 people)
ACTIVITY MOISTURE
PRODUCTION
Washing & bathing 0.4 – 0.5l
Drying clothes 4.0 – 5.0l
Washing clothes 4.0 – 4.5l
Washing up 0.8 – 1.0l
Cooking 2.3 – 2.8l
2 people active (16 hours) 1.5 – 1.7l
4-5 people asleep (8 hours) 1.3 – 1.6l
TOTAL: 14.3 – 17.1l
Does rising or penetrating damp contribution to condensation?
Water from rising or penetrating damp is very unlikely to contribute
significantly to a condensation problem.
If condensation is occurring the walls will be relatively cold.
If the walls are cold then significant evaporation is unlikely.
Diagnosis and Investigation
The best plans for remediation are based on a good understanding of the
problems – the specialist must therefore:-
• Survey
• Research
• Communicate
• Open up
• Sample
• Measure
• Observe
• Record
Diagnosis and Investigation
Obvious evidence of condensation
problems:
• Mould Growth on walls ceilings
• Musty Smell
• Fungal Growth
• Water droplets on impervious
surfaces
• Steamed up windows
• Decay to internal sections of
timber window frames
The significance of mould & health
Is mould associated with condensation a health hazard?
The role of the building
Typical Bungalow High Rise flats
Steel clad house
System built flats
Heating
Combating Condensation
• Improve ventilation – sweeps out moisture laden air and replaces with
drier air from outside
• Improve heating – make it constant, not intermittent
• Reduce sources of moisture – clothes drying/cooking/bathing
• Improve thermal properties of walls – keep dry (silicone?)
• Dehumidifiers?
• Improve surface temperatures – insulate
• Ongoing condensation?
Combating Condensation
With ventilation
Passive stack
Positive pressure
ventilation
ventilation solution
Vericure
What do we at Proten Services recommend to cure
persistent condensation?
• Condensation Survey
• Vericure Range of Positive Pressure Condensation Control Units and Extractor Fans
• Units work by creating a slight positive pressure which forces moisture laden air out of the
property and replaces contaminated air with fresh, filtered dry air
• Powerful, low energy and can start to cure condensation within two days of installation
• Various units available to suit all property types
• Energy positive with low running costs of around 2p per day
• No maintenance required other than replacing filters every 3-5 years
• Operates continuously & automatically and quietly with no attention required from occupants
Combating Condensation
Other Remedies
Other building solutions Mould removers and
Anti mould Paints
can be effective against anti mould chemicals
mould growth
