The £1 purchase that stopped condensation from ruining my windows and slowing down mould
THE COLD winter season is fast approaching and that means two bad things: high energy bills and windows that are wet with condensation.
A common fall and winter problem, condensation consists of water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
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Not only can this annoyance create an unsightly mess, but these water droplets can also lead to the growth of mold, which can be fatal in some cases.
The most vulnerable include newborns, young children, the elderly, as well as people with respiratory problems, allergies and asthma.
In the UK alone, a whopping 58% of private rented households have reported mold and condensation. Homebrite.
As temperatures now slowly but surely drop, thousands of desperate Britons have taken to social media to ask for advice on how to tackle the common problem.
One of these was an anonymous Facebook user who shared a photo of her wet windows on the popular website DIY on a budget page and explained that this has been repeated every year she has lived in the building.
”We live in a semi-detached, old, weakly built concrete house, so it is cold in winter.
”This is our first house so not much experience with these things yet, this is our 5th year here and every winter the house gets what I can only describe as wet lol windows and exterior walls (at the bottom) in every. Single. Room.”
The woman went in looking for the perfect solution the mail: ”Does anyone in the same situation have any tips for getting the house through the winter?
”I’m tired of having to redecorate the house because it all breaks down in colder weather, curtains and blinds turn black, wallpaper is a no-no because that’s where black mold comes in, I can’t put furniture anywhere near the outside walls because mold is growing behind them again.”
According to the Facebook user, who wondered if it was ‘just a matter of opening the windows with the heating on’, the rendering of the house has been updated so she was confident it had nothing to do with ‘ coming water’. through cracks in the walls”.
Fortunately for the woman – and anyone else looking for the best remedy – the post was quickly flooded with more than 100 helpful comments.
The answers ranged from using a mold cleaner to picking up a window vacuum to suck up all the moisture, but there was one suggestion that was more popular than others: getting your hands on a dehumidifier.
One person said: ‘We have a dehumidifier. If that happens, just turn it on and empty it regularly.
“You’ll be surprised how much moisture you get out of it.”
What is condensation?
Condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Condensation occurs when:
Air cools
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. When moist air hits a cold surface, such as a window, the water vapor in the air turns into liquid water droplets.
Windows are colder than walls
Windows are often colder than insulated walls, which means there is a greater chance of condensation.
Windows are poorly insulated
Poorly insulated windows can lead to condensation, especially if they are made of aluminum, which conducts heat quickly. If left untreated, it can lead to mold and other serious problems.
Another said: ”I have dehumidifiers on all my windows which helps.”
A third also liked the method, writing: ”Definitely invest in a decent dehumidifier if you can, and lots of small disposable dehumidifier boxes that can be placed on sills.
“Keep the windows open as often as possible.”
A dehumidifier, an essential winter product for many households, works “by sucking air from the room through a coil that is cooled to a very low temperature by a cooling system,” explained the benefits of the Breathing space.
The water vapor then condenses on the cold surface and the water drips into the collection bucket below.
Best budget dehumidifier
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Although you can buy the handy winter gadget from many high street stores such as B&M, you don’t have to spend a fortune as Amazon shoppers are keen on a budget option.
The Straame Home Interior Dehumidifier is currently reduced to £10.49 and comes with ten mini dehumidifiers that will cost you just over £1 each and they claim to be ”ideal for any room”.
The handy boxes are filled with special hydrophilic crystals and ”help absorb moisture from the air, preventing moisture in your rooms that can cause unwanted odors”.
Not only is this great for ”keeping your home smelling clean and fresh”, but the £1 purchase will also ”reduce the risk of damp, mildew, mold or condensation”.
With an impressive 4.3 star rating, the small dehumidifiers have received over 3,500 positive reviews from around the world, with many giving the maximum five stars.
One delighted customer said: ”These are perfect for removing damp around your home [you still need to ventilate your home]but great products and small enough to put in wardrobes in your home.”
Another fan of the bargain find wrote: ‘These do a good job. I only bought them to keep moisture and moisture on my walls internally, and they do that.”
Despite the rave reviews, not everyone was happy with their purchase, as one critic claimed the dehumidifier did nothing.
‘It doesn’t appear to be absorbing water or moisture. My previous item showed that it gets heavier over time, but unfortunately this item stays the same in a very humid area…it’s been weeks…”
