I think I need a dehumidifier

I bought a few over the years and one of the best was from Argos, own range called the Mk 9 , I can't see they are still the same ones as I purchased it about 10 years ago they were about £90+ but well worth it it has survived a house move and I put it on overnight in the conservatory at this time of year and keeps the windows mist free and stops my blinds going black . Ebac is another good make that was the first one we had lasted 30+ years we gave it to my daughter when we moved and to my knowledge it is still in use.

The issue you describe is common in the UK & features a lot on Landlord forums where tenants are involved.
If you dry washing on radiators, try to stop doing that as it exacerbates the problem.
When you bathe or shower, keep bathroom door closed during & after. Crack window open.
Keep lids on boiling pans in kitchen.
Crack windows open or ensure trickle vents in double glazing are open.
Try using an airing rack in bathroom overnight with damp washing on it, so that the worst of the damp dries off in that space with door shut. Stand airer in bath if space is limited.
If you use a dehumidifier in a particular room, shut the door on that room whilst it’s in use. The dehumidifier won’t cope well if door is open. Too much to do.
There are special vents which can be installed to completely overcome this mould & condensation problem. Some companies who specifically deal in these vents usually offer a free survey & recommend options,
Regardless of winter, houses need to be aired. Today is sunny (for a change) so my bedroom windows are open & the door is shut.
Use a preparatory solution for mould on black patches and allow to thoroughly dry. Paint or emulsion over it as necessary.
There is lots of info on the internet if you Google for “condensation causes” & surf the sites for advice from there. There’s plenty there to help you.
It’s a demanding problem which takes application & energy to overcome and keep under control.
I’m sorry you have this worrying problem. It’s an absolute pain but can be overcome.

I'm green with envy muse! I haven't got any further with my installation with this roof blowing off lark, I hope to do it later in the summer.

Shandy57. We’ve installed a NuAire heat recovery system in our new build. Ducting throughout. It should help to keep humidity down to a healthy low of 60.

I live in Cornwall, which is a very humid county. Damp in houses is very common. Humidity in our little cottage is 71 at the moment because the dehumidifier is on but there’s still some condensation on the windows. We have 2 going some days. Humidity level has been as high as 80. Can’t wait to get into our new house.

I have had the machine running in the box room with the laundry for a few days now.
The washing dries quickly and so I only really need to use the tumble drier to fluff up towels now. The rest of the house already has less condensation on the windows. DH has started decorating again so that is a factor.
Electricity usage has remained the same, maybe even a little down which is good news. I also have a free source of water for plants and am trying it in the iron too.
I'm very happy with my purchase.

Teacheranne
I am convinced but DH isn’t. What company did you use?
Shandy hope it works.

www.bmstores.co.uk/products/fabulosa-interior-dehumidifier-rainbow-drops-3750272

Some times low tech works well! These have moisture absorbing crystals in them. I found one on each window sill made a difference and they’re only a pound or so each. You can get in pound shops, home bargains, B&M etc. you leave them sitting there and replace every few weeks or so when full. Wouldn’t replace a dehumidifier perhaps but you can’t have one of them in every room and these do help.

I moved into my bungalow in March, and noticed condensation on the bedroom windows in November. There are trickle vents in the tiny window, as well as a vent in the capped chimney breast.

I bought a 20L dehumidifer from Aldi, but hadn't realised it had to be in an enclosed space, only able to use it in the one room. It collected 10L in the first night. Since then I've discovered the whole bungalow has a condensation problem, the plasterboard floors are covered in mould.

I am going to have a positive ventilation unit installed in the loft, the company is called Nu Aire.

It's whirring away quietly in the spare room and I've just put an airer of newly washed clothes in there.
I put it on for a couple of hours yesterday and the water tank was half full when I looked.
Next test is to check the electricity usage on the smart meter.

Sod's law.....we slept with the window open a crack last night and no condensation this morning. The weather has changed too and there's not a drop on any window in the house.
I did notice moisture at the bottom of the front windows next door, so it's the house not us.
Anyway the dehumidifier is being delivered this morning and will be useful for drying washing if nothing else.
Using the water for plants is a great idea Hetty.

Is there any smell of mold if so it could be a leak.

Also you could have an airbrick to the outside wall to allow air to come in. We solved a problem is our home by putting one in.

I have an Ebac, not the quietest - but very efficient. It dries washing (bone dry) in a couple of hours in the little laundry room.

I can wheel it out, or just leave the door open, at other times to dry out the house. We produce a lot of moisture just by breathing. In fact, it's quite horrifying seeing just how much water it collects.

I've never attached the drain hose, just empty the container and use that water for the houseplants.

PamelaJ1

We have this problem, if we open the windows slightly it helps a bit but not a lot.
We have a dehumidifier that we put on for a couple of hours every morning but the worst window, in our bedroom, is now closed all night and we have put a very low power greenhouse heater on the window sill. The type that looks like a pole.

I have looked at an air exchange system but my DH isn’t convinced.

I installed an air exchange system a few years ago and it cured my damp and mould problems almost immediately. It cost over £1,000 but was well worth it. No more condensation on windows or black mould on walks.

I’ve ordered the smaller Meaco

I have taken the plunge and ordered a Meaco to be delivered tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I knew Gransnetters would know!

re cavity wall insulation

The solid foams are not good, there can be debris and ties that will transmit outside water to the inside of the house. If there is a problem than it would be a massive problem to fix. Especially bad if in a wall that is exposed to rain

Blown granules or rockwool are good as they could be sucked out if a problem occurs

Whitewavemark2

Yes older houses need to breathe.

yes completely agree. So many houses were covered in concrete render and many with maisonry paint that does not breathe. My last house had a rendered wall but it was lime render and that breathes, humidity inside was always at a perfet level

Here I am having the whole interior painted, using mineral paint that also breathes

De-humidifiers. I have a meaco 12l platinum low energy dehumidifier. I had given mine to my dd and then decided that I needed one to dry washing very economically indoors in a closed room

I put mine on in my bedroom for an hour while I am having a shower, I noticed droplets overnight on my dg windows. Previous eco house had triple glazing in wooden frames, never any moisture on them. I did the research and that was the one I settled on, it is very good and dries 2 full racks of washing at one time, perfectly

We had our uPVC French doors changed to aluminium bi-fold doors last year. If I close the curtains overnight there is a lot of condensation and the curtains are getting wet and a bit stained at the bottom. It's also the room I have my clothes airers in.
We had a dehumidifier in there many years ago and I think it's time to invest in another one.

We have this problem, if we open the windows slightly it helps a bit but not a lot.
We have a dehumidifier that we put on for a couple of hours every morning but the worst window, in our bedroom, is now closed all night and we have put a very low power greenhouse heater on the window sill. The type that looks like a pole.

I have looked at an air exchange system but my DH isn’t convinced.

I had a very similar problem in a house I owned a few years ago. The bedroom and landing windows were the worst in the winter, but in the summer I just kept the windows on the vent setting and never had a problem. In the winter, I purchased a few of those disposable dehumidifiers that just sit on the window ledge and they did the job perfectly. They are extremely cheap and don't push your energy bills up.

DillytheGardener

We have a smallish dehumidifier in our bedroom. It is fairly quiet, and has an 8 litre water tank. We have it on every night in the winter while we sleep. It needs emptying every 2-3 days. Doesn’t disturb our sleep, and we now have no condensation problems in the room.

The make is neostar, it’s about 9 years old, bought it from the Telegraph. Cost about £149, it’s a desiccant one.

No idea if you can still get this make but has served us well.

Coastpath

When we invited opinion on our condensation we asked several builders about installing cavity wall insulation and they all sucked teeth furiously and said NO, it would absolutely make the situation worse.

Yes, although ours seems fine I think some types cause problems.
It was promoted vigorously a few years ago and Government grants were available but I think it's storing up trouble.

Following as I have one room in the house (ds1’s) old room that has condensation in the windows, and mould on the ceilings. It was the extension part of the house done in the 80’s, so I wonder if that is the issue? ?
I thought it was dils houseplants that caused the damp when they moved in with us for a time, but it’s remained after they left and they have been gone for over two years.
Will a mini dehumidifier help for a small bedroom or will I need to buy a proper big one? Do I need to get in a builder to look at the room?