Hello everyone, the title already describes the problem. Approximately 20% humidity in all living and sleeping rooms. We moved in about two weeks ago. That can’t be normal, right? I expected such low humidity only after 2-3 years, but not right from the start...
The first night in the house was really horrible. On top of that, we have been dealing with colds and coughing the whole time. We now have a humidifier running all night in the bedroom (starting in the evening, about 12 hours total) and wake up with around 35-40% humidity.
Could something be set incorrectly in the mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, or is this low humidity normal in a new house?
What can we do? Apart from the bedroom, we don’t notice it being a problem in any other room. Enthalpy exchangers are supposed to increase humidity by a maximum of 5%, right?!
Thanks for your feedback and best regards
The first night in the house was really horrible. On top of that, we have been dealing with colds and coughing the whole time. We now have a humidifier running all night in the bedroom (starting in the evening, about 12 hours total) and wake up with around 35-40% humidity.
Could something be set incorrectly in the mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, or is this low humidity normal in a new house?
What can we do? Apart from the bedroom, we don’t notice it being a problem in any other room. Enthalpy exchangers are supposed to increase humidity by a maximum of 5%, right?!
Thanks for your feedback and best regards
R
RotorMotor20 Jun 2023 15:38Do you have the air conditioning on? It also dehumidifies...
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WilderSueden20 Jun 2023 15:42The perceived temperature also depends on the humidity. Over the past few weeks, we have had almost constant easterly winds, which were warm and pleasant. This morning, everything was still damp and muggy from the thunderstorm, and just over 20°C (68°F) was already uncomfortable.
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 Jun 2023 16:43RotorMotor schrieb:
Do you have air conditioning on?
That also dehumidifies... I know. But nothing works without air conditioning. Welcome to the passive house.
However, we already had the problem with low humidity long before we turned on the air conditioning.
R
RotorMotor20 Jun 2023 17:09Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
I know. But nothing works without air conditioning. No shading?
What about cooling through the floor?
That does not reduce humidity!
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Welcome to the Passive House. That has nothing to do with it. Actually, quite the opposite.
But it’s good that the enthalpy exchanger has been ordered!
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 Jun 2023 20:18RotorMotor schrieb:
No shading?Yes, but since we go in and out a lot, the blinds would be constantly moving. That’s also why we decided to go with air conditioning.
Cooling through the underfloor system has been widely discussed here in the forum. It can lead to cold feet but not a cool head.
The passive house is designed for maximum heat retention, and with 6m (20 feet) floor-to-ceiling windows facing west in the open-plan area, it feels like an oven. It heats up very quickly, even in winter.
As mentioned, the temperature is controlled by the air conditioning. Hopefully, soon the humidity will be regulated by the earth-to-air heat exchanger (EWT).
R
RotorMotor20 Jun 2023 20:37Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Yes, but since we go in and out a lot, the blinds would be constantly operating. You can effectively use awnings, umbrellas, sun sails, or plants like trees in this situation.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Cooling through the floor has been discussed extensively here in the forum. It results in cold feet but not a cool head. Basically, that is incorrect.
It is true that the floor must be somewhat cooler than the room air to create a cooling effect.
However, low temperature differences are used so that the floor does not become uncomfortably cold while the room air is pleasantly tempered.
Certainly, many people here favor air conditioning, but often the advantage mentioned is dehumidification, which in this case can actually be a disadvantage.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
The passive house is designed for maximum heat storage. That is not entirely correct.
A passive house is well insulated.
This means it effectively retains heat inside but also prevents heat from outside from entering.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
With 6m (20 feet) floor-to-ceiling windows facing west in the open-plan area, it’s like an oven. It gets very hot very quickly, even in winter. That sounds like a design flaw but can be well remedied with the measures mentioned above.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
As I said, temperature is controlled by the air conditioning. Hopefully soon the enthalpy wheel will manage humidity. The enthalpy wheel can only recover moisture that is already inside the house.
If the air conditioner continues to remove moisture, it becomes difficult for the enthalpy wheel to do its job.
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