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StuttgartDHH31 Dec 2016 18:23Hello everyone,
We moved into a newly built semi-detached house (Energy Saving Ordinance 2009) in May. About a month ago, we experienced proper freezing temperatures outside for the first time, and in the morning the roof window was damp on the inside. The front door and several ground floor windows were also damp.
There are three semi-detached houses in total, so six households. Since the other residents reported similar issues and attributed it to the normal residual moisture of a new build, I didn’t think much of it. On particularly cold days, we simply wiped the windows from the inside in the morning and briefly ventilated. For me, that was enough to resolve the issue.
However, yesterday we discovered mold in the circular recess of the plastic roof window frame (possibly to clamp an internal roller blind?). There were some drops of water there, which we might have overlooked when wiping. We immediately removed the mold. I don’t think it’s a major problem since the mold was not directly on a wall or on wood or similar materials, but on plastic.
Still, we want to avoid potential mold problems in the future. Therefore, my question is: How often and how long should you ventilate in general to prevent mold growth? The construction company recommends three times a day (they even provided a brochure about this during handover), but I can’t just come home from work during lunch and then drive back out again only to briefly open the windows.
How do you manage this?
Best regards,
StuttgartDHH
We moved into a newly built semi-detached house (Energy Saving Ordinance 2009) in May. About a month ago, we experienced proper freezing temperatures outside for the first time, and in the morning the roof window was damp on the inside. The front door and several ground floor windows were also damp.
There are three semi-detached houses in total, so six households. Since the other residents reported similar issues and attributed it to the normal residual moisture of a new build, I didn’t think much of it. On particularly cold days, we simply wiped the windows from the inside in the morning and briefly ventilated. For me, that was enough to resolve the issue.
However, yesterday we discovered mold in the circular recess of the plastic roof window frame (possibly to clamp an internal roller blind?). There were some drops of water there, which we might have overlooked when wiping. We immediately removed the mold. I don’t think it’s a major problem since the mold was not directly on a wall or on wood or similar materials, but on plastic.
Still, we want to avoid potential mold problems in the future. Therefore, my question is: How often and how long should you ventilate in general to prevent mold growth? The construction company recommends three times a day (they even provided a brochure about this during handover), but I can’t just come home from work during lunch and then drive back out again only to briefly open the windows.
How do you manage this?
Best regards,
StuttgartDHH
K
Knallkörper31 Dec 2016 18:44Hello.
You need to ventilate at least three times a day or set up a drying device or find another technical solution. Window frame vents, ventilation units integrated into Velux double casement windows, electric windows, installing decentralized ventilation systems... things like that.
You need to ventilate at least three times a day or set up a drying device or find another technical solution. Window frame vents, ventilation units integrated into Velux double casement windows, electric windows, installing decentralized ventilation systems... things like that.
Residual moisture is one aspect that definitely needs special attention. But even in dry construction, there is moisture that will move somewhere during the winter. This phenomenon is therefore likely to be ongoing, although it may weaken over time.
My grandmother always said, better water on the window than on the wall. She was right.
So it’s best to wipe away moisture, ventilate regularly, and watch typical mold-prone areas (corners of the house, avoid placing furniture directly against the walls, etc.). Thermal bridges can of course occur anywhere and lead to condensation...
For myself, I am especially grateful for the ventilation system — we are still in the planning phase 🙂
My grandmother always said, better water on the window than on the wall. She was right.
So it’s best to wipe away moisture, ventilate regularly, and watch typical mold-prone areas (corners of the house, avoid placing furniture directly against the walls, etc.). Thermal bridges can of course occur anywhere and lead to condensation...
For myself, I am especially grateful for the ventilation system — we are still in the planning phase 🙂
S
StuttgartDHH31 Dec 2016 19:15Thanks in advance for the quick responses!
That’s a good point: The bedroom in question tends to be a colder room.
Although "colder" is relative here, since all the heat from the house rises anyway through the open staircase.
However, we turned up the radiators in the attic again yesterday quite a bit.
I wasn’t familiar with double casement window vents, I’ll look them up. Since our double casement windows are also from Velux, there should definitely be something suitable.
Mycraft schrieb:
But not just ventilate, also HEAT!
Especially the rooms with skylights—I would now increase the temperature enough to avoid falling below the dew point, otherwise, welcome to mold paradise...
That’s a good point: The bedroom in question tends to be a colder room.
Although "colder" is relative here, since all the heat from the house rises anyway through the open staircase.
However, we turned up the radiators in the attic again yesterday quite a bit.
I wasn’t familiar with double casement window vents, I’ll look them up. Since our double casement windows are also from Velux, there should definitely be something suitable.
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