
One of the most common causes of dampness in buildings is ‘condensation’. Moisture is always present in the air, even if it cannot be seen. Cooking, heating, showering and washing and drying clothes further elevate moisture levels in homes.
Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. When warm air is cooled the amount of moisture it can hold reduces. If cooled far enough the air releases its excess moisture, forming droplets of water on sufficiently cool surfaces. This is known as ‘condensation’.
In the home condensation is most noticeable on cold mornings, often seen on windows, on the inside faces of external walls, or in places where air movement is restricted, such as in the corners of rooms and behind items of furniture placed close against walls, and even inside wardrobes.
The presence of condensation is often first indicated by the development of mould on walls, ceilings, and even furniture, clothes and other fabrics. Condensed water can go on to provide sufficient moisture to allow timbers to rot. Condensation is most problematic during the cold winter months, with the October to April period generally acknowledged as ‘condensation season’, although it can occur throughout the year.
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If you do, read all about our condensation data logging service. The only way to get a true picture of what is really happening in your home.
To minimize surface condensation, it is necessary to do one or more of the following:
a) obtain low vapour pressures by ventilation (Extractor Fans/Units, Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) Units & Passyfier Air Vents and/or reduced moisture input to the building;
b) obtain high surface temperatures by providing more insulation and/or increasing the heat input.
Read our latest BLOG post - How to prevent ventilation equipment being badly installed within your home.
We offer a range of positive input ventilation systems (PIV Units) to suit most property types.
Each property is unique and should be carefully surveyed by a ventilation surveyor to check it is suitable for the installation of a PIV unit.
Where a property is not suitable, we may have other ventilation solutions which could be installed, such as extractor fans and alternate flow fans.
PIV units have been preventing and curing condensation dampness related problems in homes for decades. They are also used to control other indoor air pollutants and have even proven to be an effective means for reducing Radon gas in some properties.
A positive input ventilation system gently forces air from the loft around a building (Roof Type). It reduces humidity and eliminates condensation, black mould and mildew. It is an effective and inexpensive way of eliminating black mould and takes maximum advantage of solar gain and warm air stratification.
Overall savings in central heating costs may be possible due to the recirculation of warm air at ceiling height.
The units are idea for most domestic properties, and also for second or holiday homes that are used infrequently.
The roof type PIV unit is positioned in the loft above the landing in a house or central hallway of a bungalow, the system then re- circulates air around the property.
For buildings without a roof space, a wall mounted PIV unit is available. The unit is normally placed within a central hallway.
We use a number of different types of PIV units, all of which have different features (Heaters etc).
As mentioned above, all properties are unique and therefore it is important to make sure that the PIV unit being installed is suitable for the property.
When we undertake a ventilation survey, our surveyor will discuss the different types of units to help you decide which is best for your property. Information leaflets are available to download below for some of the PIV units that we install.
To arrange a ventilation/ condensation control survey - Call DERBY 01332 960160 - Nottingham 0115 9304240 or use our online contact form.