I have a problem with moisture in one of the rooms in my basement. The room is 18m2 large and has two exterior walls with two windows, each with a radiator. These walls have the following materials:
plastic -> foam -> wooden studs -> wood panel
There is condensation on the plastic under one of the windows, but nowhere else?! Does anyone know what this is due to and what a suitable solution might be?
plastic -> foam -> wooden studs -> wood panel
There is condensation on the plastic under one of the windows, but nowhere else?! Does anyone know what this is due to and what a suitable solution might be?
you might need to clarify the construction a bit.. if you have internal wood paneling on the walls you don't see the plastic, do you? however, I generally think you should probably remove the plastic in the basement wall as it prevents the wall from breathing.
The fact that a material "breathes" is not always a good thing. In this case, for example, it's better if the moisture stays on the outer side of the plastic rather than "breathing" inward and causing mold on the moisture-sensitive material inside.
However, I would agree that the best in basements generally is a diffusion-open wall without organic materials.
However, I would agree that the best in basements generally is a diffusion-open wall without organic materials.
The condensation occurring there is likely due to it being colder around the window. But is the condensation on the inside or outside of the plastic? It's not surprising if moisture from the wall condenses on the outside of the plastic where it is coldest.
I have water-borne heating (district heating). Both radiators work fine, strangely enough, there is no condensation under the other window.
The condensation is on the "inside," the side facing the foam plastic where it occurs.
outer wall -> plastic "condensation" -> foam plastic -> wooden studs -> wood panel
the temperature is 17-18 degrees
No other ventilation than the old double-glazed windows.
The condensation is on the "inside," the side facing the foam plastic where it occurs.
outer wall -> plastic "condensation" -> foam plastic -> wooden studs -> wood panel
the temperature is 17-18 degrees
No other ventilation than the old double-glazed windows.
It is not surprising that condensation forms on the inside of the plastic. When the warm indoor air cools down at the window, the moisture in the air is released as condensation against the cold surface that the plastic forms.
The reason this only happens at one of the windows is because it is colder at this window (due to poorer insulation, the window's location, or similar reasons).
The reason this only happens at one of the windows is because it is colder at this window (due to poorer insulation, the window's location, or similar reasons).
I probably understood that, what puzzled me was that the plastic under the second window did not have condensation.
Any suggestions on what to do about it if you don't want it really cold.
Re-insulating from the outside is not an option...
Can you, for example, address this with more heat in the form of electric/oil heaters?
there is actually a fireplace in the room with an insert, but it doesn't feel fun to have to burn there continuously.
Any suggestions on what to do about it if you don't want it really cold.
Re-insulating from the outside is not an option...
Can you, for example, address this with more heat in the form of electric/oil heaters?
there is actually a fireplace in the room with an insert, but it doesn't feel fun to have to burn there continuously.
Another surefire way is to strip everything off the walls down to the plaster (something I have done/am doing) but I guess you're not too keen on that either. Have you tried a dehumidifier? What about your downspouts? Do they discharge at the corner of the house or do they connect to stormwater drains?
ok.
By ventilation, I assume you mean to the outside air.
The house is old and self-ventilated, not mechanical.
Both windows let in air (feels cold around the old windows)
Could this be too little ventilation?
Maybe a vent should be installed?
By ventilation, I assume you mean to the outside air.
The house is old and self-ventilated, not mechanical.
Both windows let in air (feels cold around the old windows)
Could this be too little ventilation?
Maybe a vent should be installed?
By ventilation, it likely refers to EXhaust air, i.e., a vent that sucks air out of the room. But if, as you say, it's pulling in cold air, then that might just be where the problem lies.
That is, warm air in the room contains a lot of moisture, it is cooled by cold air and cannot retain the moisture, which then condenses on the first available surface.
That is, warm air in the room contains a lot of moisture, it is cooled by cold air and cannot retain the moisture, which then condenses on the first available surface.
For the ventilation to work, there must be both supply and exhaust air. If no air enters, none can exit. Your house is not that new, so the supply air comes in from various places, which is not optimal. You have district heating, and therefore the chimney is cold, which causes the exhaust ventilation to work poorly.
In the current room, you have a wood-burning stove; start by opening the damper and doors on it, even if the chimney is cold, it should provide some exhaust ventilation. Install a couple of air supply vents in the basement; they can be mounted in other areas of the basement as long as the air has the opportunity to circulate. If the condensation problem decreases with these measures, you could then arrange for better exhaust ventilation, e.g., an exhaust fan in an available flue in the chimney.
In the current room, you have a wood-burning stove; start by opening the damper and doors on it, even if the chimney is cold, it should provide some exhaust ventilation. Install a couple of air supply vents in the basement; they can be mounted in other areas of the basement as long as the air has the opportunity to circulate. If the condensation problem decreases with these measures, you could then arrange for better exhaust ventilation, e.g., an exhaust fan in an available flue in the chimney.