How to get rid of humidity in the apartment: methods of dealing with high humidity in a residential area

Content

Causes of high humidity in the house
What do doctors advise?
Factors causing an increase in humidity
Signs of low humidity
2 Causes of dampness in the apartment
What is dampness in a room?
Fungus under the wallpaper, how to remove mold from the wallpaper
The impact of dampness on housing and people
How to lower indoor humidity
Causes of damp indoors
Ways to reduce humidity in your home
Step 1. Fighting fungal plaque
Useful tips for prevention
Causes of dampness
source of moisture
See also
How to measure humidity
Determination of humidity without devices
Drawing conclusions

Causes of high humidity in the house

You can cope with dampness in the house only by determining the cause of its occurrence. Natural causes lead to an increase in humidity (laundry, wet cleaning, cooking, steam generation in the bathroom, etc.). When breathing, one person releases up to 4 liters of fluid per day. These factors do not always lead to the appearance of dampness, most often the causes of high humidity are different.

Humidity in the house rises due to:

hanging wet laundry indoors;
lack of a ventilation system or violations in its operation;
plastering and finishing works;
insufficient waterproofing of the foundation;
raising the level of groundwater;
lack of external insulation of the foundation;
leakage of construction pits;
defective drainage;
uneven distribution of heat in the house;
freezing walls;
indoor plants;
leaking roof, roof overhang defects;
walls filled with furniture;
damage to water or sewer pipes;
irregular or excessive ventilation;
improper operation of the heating system;
improper installation of double-glazed windows, their defects, high tightness;
problems with heat and waterproofing of walls;
the proximity of the sump;
swimming pool located on the ground floor;
damaged or clogged drain;
aquariums.

What do doctors advise?

hurtsdry inside

Violation of heat transfer, due to profuse sweating, and lack of oxygen leads to loss of consciousness and interruptions in the work of the heart.

Doctors recommend in hot weather to lower the level of humidity in the premises with the help of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and moisture absorbers.

Allergists and immunologists advise using all preventive measures to prevent the formation and reproduction of mold and fungal microorganisms. Avoid acute and chronic diseases will allow regular monitoring of the level of humidity in the apartment.

From this video you will learn how to get rid of dampness in the apartment:

Factors causing an increase in humidity

Unfortunately, it is much more difficult to eliminate dampness in an apartment building than in a private one - if in the latter it is enough to provide normal ventilation or install heat-insulating materials to solve the problem, then in the case of an apartment, everything is much more complicated.

But, first, let's look at the most common causes of high humidity in a residential area.

One of the most unfavorable consequences of constantly high air humidity is the appearance of a fungus that destroys the building and leads to the emergence of numerous diseases in people.

The most common causes of high humidity are:

Poor quality insulation of the foundation with the wall.
The presence of leaks in the pipes located in the basement.
Insufficient ventilation. It often happens that the ventilation in the apartment is either poorly debugged or absent a priori. Most often, the residents themselves interfere with normal ventilation by covering the ventilation openings with wallpaper. In addition, it is unsafe and prohibited by the standards of housing and communal services.
Unscrupulous neighbors or a leaky roof. And if in the latter case you can at least see traces of water leaks, then the intrigues of the neighbors from above can go unnoticed purely physically - unless, of course, a full-fledged flood has happened. The thing is that water does not always seep through the ceiling and penetrate into the apartment located on the floor below. Small portions are absorbed by the overlap. Or it may not be missed by a suspended plastic ceiling. It is these situations that create increased humidity with all the ensuing consequences.
The presence of poorly sealed interstitial seams. If during the repair work violations were made, including - the decoration and plastering of the walls were not completed, you will not have to wait for normal humidity either.
Basement flooding. The reason for this can be not only a burst pipe, but also the usual flooding with melt water. It is enough for the water to stand in the basement for several months, and a fungus appeared on the first floors.
Breakage of a pipe built into the wall.An accident of such a plan poses a great danger to the whole house, because dampness will be not only in the apartment where the leak has formed, but also in all the others. The current situation is also problematic in that access to such pipes is difficult - they are inside the ducts, and it will not be possible to quickly determine the place of the leak.
Incorrect installation of any equipment, one way or another connected with water. A constantly running faucet or even a banal accumulation of condensate on the toilet bowl - all these things will cause dampness.

Defects that cause high humidity are hidden in the first stages of construction. And, if in the case of private households everything can be fixed, then the owners of apartments have a harder time.

Attempts to physically eliminate mold and other effects of high humidity will not bring the desired result. Increased humidity in the room - the main cause of this problem, remains unresolved

Developers very often make gross mistakes, forcing apartment owners, thus, to constantly deal with high humidity and its consequences. Moreover, a long stay in such a room can adversely affect the health of all household members.

The most common diseases that occur in people who stay in an apartment with high humidity for a long time are bronchial asthma, tuberculosis and aspergillosis.

In theory, the management company should deal with the elimination of problems of this kind, but not all of them are conscientious about their obligations.

There is one effective way to identify the source of excess moisture penetration. Take a flat piece of glass and lean it against the wall. Close.Remove the glass after a couple of days.

If, after removal, there is moisture on the surface of the wall to which it was leaned, then it penetrates into the apartment from the street. If the surface remains dry under the glass, it is necessary to look for a source of dampness in the walls of the apartment.

We also recommend reading our other article, where we talked in detail about the effect of air humidity on human health.

Signs of low humidity

characteristic features

Cracked wooden furniture that does not close well;
Cracks between parquet planks;
Quickly drying earth in flowerpots with houseplants;
Increased static electricity;
The smell of dust from curtains and curtains;
Difficulties in ironing clothes and bed linen;
Dry skin and brittle hair.

Dry air in living rooms can cause serious diseases. At first, a person experiences only a feeling of thirst and slight discomfort. These symptoms are replaced by fatigue, burning in the eyes, drowsiness, poor appetite.

Breaks down over time body water balance and protective functions of the mucous membranes, immunity is sharply reduced. Allergic reactions to dust can develop into chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs.

2 Causes of dampness in the apartment

Dampness in the room can appear for internal and external reasons. To determine where moisture penetrates - from the outside or from the inside - it is enough to conduct a small experiment. For several hours, glass is applied to the wall facing the street. If the indoor area becomes damp, this means that dampness is entering the room from the outside.This is especially common in corner apartments or in houses, during the construction of which waterproofing standards were violated.

If the part of the wall covered with glass turned out to be dry after a few hours, you need to look for the causes of dampness inside the room. It can be:

on the ground floor in a house with a basement - raising groundwater or man-made flooding of the basement;
poor ventilation or lack of it - this happens when neighbors close the ventilation shaft;
leaking plumbing, for example, the bath does not fit snugly against the wall and while taking a shower, water penetrates the floor, accumulating under the bath in puddles;
drying a large amount of laundry in the apartment, which happens when the family has a small child or a bed patient;
passion for home plants - any indoor flower evaporates water with leaves and affects the microclimate in the apartment.

Sources of internal humidity on the 1st floor or any other, as well as in a private house without a basement, can be:

frequent showers or baths;
daily laundry;
cooking food;
respiration and evaporation of moisture through the skin;
the presence of aquariums in the apartment.

What is dampness in a room?

As already noted, high humidity leads to damage to finishing materials and interior items. Particularly affected are products made from paper, wood or leather. Even door blocks can be deformed, paintings and books can become unusable. All this leads to the need for repair work.

But most importantly, dampness can cause irreparable harm to the health of households. The main dangers are young children and elderly residents

Spores of harmful microorganisms lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases.Once in the respiratory system, they cause allergic reactions.

Dampness can cause irreparable harm not only to the surfaces of walls, floors and ceilings, but also to health.

Much more often, apartment residents suffer from colds, and they occur in a more acute form. Damp textiles in contact with the body contribute to the development of rheumatism.

Symptoms associated with mold and humidity in the home can be wheezing, runny nose, morning cough, eczema

Staying at the apartment becomes uncomfortable. People have reduced concentration, fatigue, and problems with working capacity. The unpleasant smell emanating from clothes also does not add positive emotions. Finally, food has a reduced shelf life.

Fungus under the wallpaper, how to remove mold from the wallpaper

If mold has formed on the wallpaper or under the wallpaper, it is necessary to clean their surface from black dots and stains using one of the following solutions:

1-2 tbsp. spoons of whiteness, 30-50 g of washing powder, 3 liters of water;
100 g of laundry soap, 100 g of soda, 5 liters of water.

With the help of sponges and rags, we clean the walls and dry them with a household heater or hair dryer, then we apply an antifungal drug, for example, furatsilin or nystatin (4-6 tablets are diluted in a small amount of hot water, then another 3 liters of cool water are added).

Everything is done carefully so that the wallpaper does not get wet or torn. Most often, this makes it possible to remove the fungus for a while, but then the problem will arise again. The method is suitable if there is no opportunity and time to immediately deal with the causes of dampness and mold in the apartment.In severe cases, definitely, you will have to remove the damaged wallpaper and even peel off the plaster.

The impact of dampness on housing and people

In case of untimely actions aimed at eliminating dampness, or if the problem is ignored, unpleasant consequences will certainly arise.

A persistent heavy smell, characteristic of basements, will appear in the apartment;
Finishing materials, namely wallpaper or plaster, will begin to peel off. Moisture-saturated putty becomes loose and moves away from the surface of the wall or ceiling in whole layers;
Wooden floors or flooring can be deformed, cracks form at the joints of the elements, and a characteristic creak will appear;
Furniture items made from natural materials are also subject to deformation;
In the case when the humidity level exceeds the normal values for a person of 40-60%, this leads to an exacerbation of respiratory diseases or their development;
Allergies may aggravate;
All microbes and bacteria in a humid environment develop much faster and more actively;
Skin rashes, wounds or scratches will appear; it will take longer to heal or rot;
Such a microclimate is especially dangerous for young children, whose immunity is not yet strong and cannot provide adequate resistance. Children are easily exposed to diseases and stay sick longer;
A clear consequence will be the formation of black fungus on the walls or ceiling, that is, mold.

How to lower indoor humidity

To bring high humidity back to normal, do the following:

On sunny days, open the curtains to let the light into the room well. Do not put too bulky flowers on the windowsills.
In the hot season and in frosty winter, the air is dry outside.Therefore, you should ventilate the room as often as possible, and the humidity decreases. The ideal option would be airing 3 times a day for 30 minutes. And at night, leave the windows ajar at least in the kitchen.
Check ventilation. If it is faulty, it should be repaired, as it will be a good helper in the fight against dampness.
If you have an air conditioner, you can lower the humidity with it, there is a special function for purifying and dehumidifying the air.

Help to overcome dampness and household heaters. They quickly enough not only heat the air, but also dry it.
Certain building materials contribute to low humidity. It's wood and drywall. By sheathing the walls with them, you will adjust the hygrometer readings. Also use waterproofing plaster. It is absolutely waterproof and can withstand water pressure up to 5 meters deep.
Dampness will also be eliminated after the insulation of the outer walls. Unless the cause of this very dampness is a flooded basement.
In the kitchen, a kitchen hood will help remove excess moisture. It should be used every time you cook. If there is no hood, cover the pots with lids.
A slight decrease in air humidity can be achieved with a hair dryer, candles and indoor plants.
Dampness in the closet can be overcome by ironing clothes with a hot iron.

Read more: How to get rid of bad smell in the house

Causes of damp indoors

There are many sources of moisture in the house:

shower, bath;
washing clothes, drying them in the apartment;
aquariums;
plants;
ground water;
external environment;
people's breath.

Among the main reasons for the increase in humidity are the following:

Natural ventilation is disturbed. This is the most common reason.Often it is associated with the replacement of windows with plastic ones. Unscrupulous manufacturers can save money and not provide the product with a special ventilation system. Such windows are too tight and simply do not allow moisture to leave the home. Condensation appears, mold forms.
Foundation, walls are poorly insulated from moisture. This is due to a violation of the construction technology of a residential building. With such errors, the foundation transfers moisture to all walls, and they evaporate it into the room. Such defects are practically irreparable.
Oddly enough, the third most common cause is salt. It can be added to the foundation in winter so that it becomes durable even in frost. If there is salt in the concrete walls, they will be constantly wet. In this case, you need to be patient. After a few years, the walls will finally dry out.
Frequent rains. At the same time, dampness from the street passes into the house.
Aquariums, home fountains, waterfalls. They are best placed in rooms with a dry climate.
Drying clothes in the rooms, in the kitchen.
Windows do not face south. A shady location increases humidity.
Weak central heating in the apartment.
Leaking roof.

Ways to reduce humidity in your home

You can reduce humidity using various means, but first it is important to identify the exact cause of its increase in your home.

High air humidity can be temporary, for example during cooking. In this case, ventilation will help. You can use improvised means, for example, turn on the heater. The main thing is to ensure good circulation and access of oxygen.The air flow in the room should be especially powerful if moisture began to condense on the walls. This can be achieved with a conventional draft.
A damp room should be regularly heated with a heater.
Poor condition of the ceiling can also lead to increased dampness. Drying it out is not easy. You can try re-plastering. At the same time, the furniture is taken out so that moisture is not absorbed into it.
PVC windows can significantly restrict the access of air to housing and provoke dampness in it. When ordering frames, specify the presence of a special ventilation system.
There are modern means for treating rooms that lower humidity (for example, "Stop Moisture"). They contain crystals of the absorber, absorbent. Moisture is in special containers.

So, humidity indicators can be improved independently:

Make sure there is enough sunlight to enter the room. Pull back curtains regularly. There should be no bulky flowers on the windowsills.
Ventilate more often (three times a day for half an hour). Ventilation is especially effective in summer and winter, when the air outside is as dry as possible. At night, you can leave the window open in the kitchen.
Ensure proper ventilation. Check if the ventilation window is closed, if the system itself is working.
If it is very damp, you can turn on the household heater. It will quickly heat up and dry the air.
Drywall, wood - building materials that prevent high humidity. Use them for repairs.
Even walls can be sheathed with drywall. Waterproofing plaster will also help to cope with the problem.
Insulate the walls outside. This will help, unless, of course, a flooded basement has led to dampness.
Install a range hood in the kitchen.Turn it on every time you cook. Cover kitchen utensils with lids.
Candles, a hair dryer, and even houseplants (which don't require frequent watering) can help dry out the room a bit.
If dampness has settled in the closet, iron the clothes with a hot iron.

Step 1. Fighting fungal plaque

To get rid of dampness, first of all, you need to identify and eliminate all fungal plaque on the walls. Delay can lead to the development of diseases. The spores of the fungus with air enter the lungs and disrupt the functioning of the respiratory system. Dampness and mold can cause acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases up to tuberculosis. In addition, it depresses the immune system. For residents of the house, especially children and the elderly, this is manifested in a deterioration in well-being, allergic reactions and exacerbation of various ailments.

Attention! A dark coating that has appeared due to dampness can not be immediately seen. But a strong moldy smell will immediately give away the problem.

In the process of cleaning, it is important not only to clean, but also to disinfect all surfaces where there is a fungus.

Use any suitable means:

In the process of cleaning, it is important not only to clean, but also to disinfect all surfaces where there is a fungus. Use any suitable means:

chlorine bleach and other chemicals;
vinegar;
hydrogen peroxide;
soda;
ammonia;
tea tree oil, etc.

It is important that spores do not get into your respiratory tract in large quantities during close contact. When using special store products, in no case do not mix one with the other

This can cause a chemical reaction with dangerous consequences for you. The video will help you understand in more detail how to deal with mold and dampness.

If the mold has extensively covered the surface of the wallpaper, get ready to rip it off the wall. The mycelium of the fungus is under the paper layer. There are no means to kill him without damaging the wallpaper itself. In this case, the plaster will probably also have to be removed. First, thoroughly clean the surface of the fungus, and then treat with an antiseptic. For example, an aqueous solution of office glue (1: 4) or urea. Before any further work to get rid of dampness, the wall section must dry completely.

Advice. For the effective action of the disinfectant, heat the cleaned walls to +50 ° C.

Useful tips for prevention

Do not dry clothes in the apartment. It is better to do this outdoors, on the street or on a balcony. If this is not possible, you can purchase a washing machine that has a “drying clothes” function.
After taking water procedures or hand washing, ventilate the room.
When purchasing plastic windows, give preference to options in which the frames are equipped with a ventilation system, since it is plastic bags that do not allow air to pass through.
If you have an aquarium, decorative fountain or indoor waterfall, it is better to refuse them.
If you like indoor plants, it is better to purchase those that do not require frequent watering, such as cacti.

Quality indoor air is good for your health. Knowing how to reduce the humidity in the apartment, and maintaining these figures within the normal range, you provide yourself and your loved ones with comfortable living conditions.

Causes of dampness

Dampness and mold in an apartment, house, office begin to appear in the autumn. The normal humidity level for a residential building is 60%.In hot summer, the figure drops to 45% and in such conditions we feel as comfortable as possible. With an increase in the level of humidity in residential premises, optimal conditions are created for the development of dampness, which means - fungus, mold, which is the same thing.

High humidity occurs due to:

poor ventilation;
incorrectly selected kitchen hood;
condensation on metal-plastic windows;
damage to water pipes;
improper installation of plumbing;
frequent drying of laundry in the house;
multiple baths;
excessive number of indoor plants;
aquarium;
cracks on the walls and not insulated wall joints.

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);
stagnant 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), an abundance of 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 condensation 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% strength every year precisely due to dampness.

Incorrect insulation also causes dampness. The main mistakes are an insufficient layer to provide warmth, and poor materials with zero vapor permeability.

To properly insulate an apartment, you can use one of two options:

The thickness of the layer of polystyrene insulation 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 measure humidity

Relative humidity in the room is measured using special instruments - hygrometers. They have a different design and principle of operation:

Electronic. Usually combined with thermometers to simultaneously measure the temperature in the room. In them, a thin layer of electrolyte is applied to the inner plate, through which the voltage passes. The results are displayed on the dashboard.
Mechanical. Cheaper and easier-to-use devices, however, can give a measurement error of up to 8%. They work without a power supply, are available as desktop or wall-mounted. They do not have a digital display, they are equipped with a dial and an arrow.

There are several ways to determine the saturation of air with moisture, not all of them are popular, but there are:

Weighted or absolute. It is a device that determines relative humidity by absorbing it. With the help of special tubes with a chemical composition, he takes measurements. Do not use at home.
Hair. This type of hygrometer is used only in laboratories, and then only because its principle of operation is based on the study of a human hair.
Film. It also belongs to the category of laboratory instruments. The main mechanism is a special film, which, depending on the level of humidity, is stretched or, conversely, compressed.It is most effective to use it in the winter season.
Electronic. This type of device is most often purchased for household measurements of humidity. Using it is quite simple, as the mechanism immediately displays the final measurement result on the touch screen.
Psychometric. The most accurate type of moisture meter. Often it is purchased for work in industrial, laboratory premises. Also, many "civilian" users leave their choice on psychometric hygrometers because of their relatively low cost and extreme accuracy.

To determine the norm of air humidity in an apartment, an inexpensive mechanical hygrometer is suitable. For domestic use, certification in the metrological service is not required.

It is important to pay attention to the temperature range of use - the maximum value is 80-120 degrees. When using in a sauna or bath, you must choose the extreme option

Determination of humidity without devices

You can independently find out quite accurately the humidity in the room without having instruments. There are two options for this.

When measuring in the first way, you need to measure the air temperature in the room with a thermometer and record the readings. Then take a small piece of a cloth or bandage, wet it and wrapping the tip of the thermometer, leave it for 5 minutes.

Psychometric table for determining the relative humidity of the air

In the second case, you need to pour a glass of water and cool it in the refrigerator to + 3 ... + 5 ° C. After that, transfer the glass to a room away from heating appliances and leave for 10 minutes. We look at the glass if:

The glass is dry. The humidity in the room is insufficient.
There is condensation on the walls. Humidity is fine.
Lots of condensation and leaks. The humidity is too high.

Increased condensation on a glass with drips indicates high humidity

Drawing conclusions

To summarize:

How to remove dampness in a room - we found out, and the first step must be to find the source of this problem.
Having an idea about the methods of dealing with high humidity, you can correct the situation yourself.
You need to start solving problems of an external nature with the insulation of the building itself, do not forget to insulate the outer walls and seal the seams between the panels

This is followed by the process of thermal insulation of the apartment itself.
We check, first of all, the ventilation power and clean it.
As often as possible, we air all the rooms in the house, the bathroom and the kitchen.
It is advisable to install an air conditioner, because it will be very useful in such a situation.
When preparing food in the kitchen, do not forget to turn on the hood.
Indoor plants also need to be chosen carefully - it is better if they are varieties that do not need frequent watering.
When buying a dehumidifier, pay attention to its capacity.