By:bhis
Posted By:Peter Huber
Source:
www.bit.ly/1NzosBy
Continued
from the post > CondensationIssues
Condensation is
basically simple. It involves preventing moist air from coming into contact
with cold surfaces (ie. surfaces at temperatures below the dew point of air).
In practice this can be achieved by:
§ Removing moisture
laden air (by ventilation) and/or
§ Raising the
temperature of any cold interior surface to a level above the room air dew
point (by heating).
The best way to remove
moist air is to use exhaust fans as its source. An electric fan should be
installed in the ceilings of the bathrooms and switched on when using showers
or baths. To enable the fan to work more effectively, leave a door or window
slightly open while the fan is running.
A ceiling vent is
recommended over every sink, basin or trough in the house.
More water vapour is
normally generated in laundries tan in any other room. Clothes driers should be
ducted to the outside air.
A hood fitted with an
exhaust fan is recommended over hot plates and stoves as follows:
§ The exhaust fan
should be at least 200 mm in diameter.
§ The distance
between the hotplate and hood should be 600 mm, this distance may be increased
to 750 mm if absolutely necessary.
§ The width and depth
of the hood should be preferably the same as the hot plate or stove.
If it is not practical to install a hood, an exhaust fan may be located in the ceiling over the stove and used while cooking.
In rooms where exhaust
fans are impracticable (eg. bedrooms) adequate ventilation can be obtained by
opening windows.
Remember it is better
to ventilate continuously by having all windows slightly open than by opening
one window wide for a short time.
Home Inspection Services
In addition to good
ventilation, heating can also help to reduce condensation on walls and
ceilings. Condensation on window panes and metal window frames, however, is not
significantly reduced by heating. This is because glass and metal are good
conductors of heat. Any heat which reaches these surfaces does not warm them
appreciably as the heat quickly is lost to the outside air.
In very cold climates
(and in Australia this can be takes to mean in areas above the snow line), it
may be necessary to provide double glazing to raise the temperature of the
inner pane.
Building Inspection services Perth
It is better to
provide some continuous background heating rather than short burst of heating.
Continuous heating allows wall and ceiling surfaces to warm up and stay warm,
which greatly reduces the risk of condensation. On cold days try to keep inside
air temperatures at least 5oC higher than outside air temperatures.
The risk of condensation
is considerably reduce in any room if walls and ceiling are insulated, because
it allows these surfaces to reach a higher temperature. For an existing house
it may not be practical to insulate walls, but ceilings can usually be easily
insulated. Apart from reducing the risk of condensation and mould growth,
insulation will substantially reduce heating costs.
Building Inspector Perth
Technical information
by Courtesy of CSIRO.
Your “Handy Jock”.
Any questions that our
readers may have would be gladly welcomed and endeavoured to be answered as
seen fit.
Source: www.bit.ly/1NzosBy
