THE QUESTIONS
Is the humidity level described below normal for a household of four people living in 100m² (1,076 sq ft)? (Personally, I have had different experiences before.)
Is the household of four the sole, normal cause of this humidity?
Or should other sources of moisture be suspected (e.g., structural causes)?
I would be happy to send a professional the files (MS Excel) with the data recorded approximately every minute since February 22 (temperature, relative humidity, dew point) from various rooms and the (outside) balcony for a more detailed assessment.
THE FACTS
January 14: Apartment handover, thermostats on all radiators set to frost protection mode.
The apartment received new, modern windows in 2013.
From January 30: Renovation by two people: wallpapering two rooms, installing new ceiling panels.
February 4: Family moves in; most radiators turned on again, but not all the way to 20°C (68°F).
About two to three weeks after moving in, mold appeared in three different corners (not edges), all of which face outside. During these two to three weeks, relative humidity in the apartment sometimes exceeded 80%.
Meanwhile, the ceiling paneling swelled and became uneven like a “roller coaster.”
From around this time, we have also been regularly ventilating the apartment with quick airing.
[By the way, in our previous apartment (housing cooperative, recently completely renovated, new airtight windows, very well insulated walls, almost no heating needed), ventilation was recommended but absolutely not necessary.]
One month after installing the new ceiling panels, they were removed again, trimmed, and reinstalled (to prevent them from falling down).
Now, with regular quick airing and less cold outdoor temperatures, relative humidity usually stays “only” above 60%, but occasionally goes over 70%, see examples below.
Some of the wallpaper newly installed and painted during the renovation have still not dried at the seams. This also especially concerns wallpaper on one of the interior walls.
By the way, laundry (tried only once) does not dry indoors (at least with windows closed).
EXAMPLES
March 9
Very long airing (outdoor temperature 18.8°C (65.8°F)) → all windows and doors closed at 3:20 PM
Room 1: 3:20 PM relative humidity 38% → 7:33 PM 50% → 9:29 PM 60%; no one was in this room during that time
Room 2: 3:20 PM relative humidity 40% → 4:50 PM 50% → 6:30 PM 58% → 10:30 PM 65%; no one was in this room during that time
March 13/14
Quick airing → all windows and doors closed at 9:30 PM
Room 2 adults: 9:30 PM relative humidity 51% → 7:00 AM 67%
Room 2 children: 9:30 PM relative humidity 49% → 7:00 AM 64%
Empty, currently unused room: 9:30 PM relative humidity 45% → 7:00 AM 53%
Is the humidity level described below normal for a household of four people living in 100m² (1,076 sq ft)? (Personally, I have had different experiences before.)
Is the household of four the sole, normal cause of this humidity?
Or should other sources of moisture be suspected (e.g., structural causes)?
I would be happy to send a professional the files (MS Excel) with the data recorded approximately every minute since February 22 (temperature, relative humidity, dew point) from various rooms and the (outside) balcony for a more detailed assessment.
THE FACTS
January 14: Apartment handover, thermostats on all radiators set to frost protection mode.
The apartment received new, modern windows in 2013.
From January 30: Renovation by two people: wallpapering two rooms, installing new ceiling panels.
February 4: Family moves in; most radiators turned on again, but not all the way to 20°C (68°F).
About two to three weeks after moving in, mold appeared in three different corners (not edges), all of which face outside. During these two to three weeks, relative humidity in the apartment sometimes exceeded 80%.
Meanwhile, the ceiling paneling swelled and became uneven like a “roller coaster.”
From around this time, we have also been regularly ventilating the apartment with quick airing.
[By the way, in our previous apartment (housing cooperative, recently completely renovated, new airtight windows, very well insulated walls, almost no heating needed), ventilation was recommended but absolutely not necessary.]
One month after installing the new ceiling panels, they were removed again, trimmed, and reinstalled (to prevent them from falling down).
Now, with regular quick airing and less cold outdoor temperatures, relative humidity usually stays “only” above 60%, but occasionally goes over 70%, see examples below.
Some of the wallpaper newly installed and painted during the renovation have still not dried at the seams. This also especially concerns wallpaper on one of the interior walls.
By the way, laundry (tried only once) does not dry indoors (at least with windows closed).
EXAMPLES
March 9
Very long airing (outdoor temperature 18.8°C (65.8°F)) → all windows and doors closed at 3:20 PM
Room 1: 3:20 PM relative humidity 38% → 7:33 PM 50% → 9:29 PM 60%; no one was in this room during that time
Room 2: 3:20 PM relative humidity 40% → 4:50 PM 50% → 6:30 PM 58% → 10:30 PM 65%; no one was in this room during that time
March 13/14
Quick airing → all windows and doors closed at 9:30 PM
Room 2 adults: 9:30 PM relative humidity 51% → 7:00 AM 67%
Room 2 children: 9:30 PM relative humidity 49% → 7:00 AM 64%
Empty, currently unused room: 9:30 PM relative humidity 45% → 7:00 AM 53%
B
Bauexperte14 Mar 2014 10:34Hello,
what exactly is the problem with heating?
It is not possible to assess your situation from the outside; a qualified expert must inspect it on site. However, in my opinion, since you are saving on heating and ventilation, you likely bear some responsibility for the apartment’s condition.
Best regards,
Bauexperte
what exactly is the problem with heating?
lanter schrieb:A person consumes about 0.4 liters of oxygen per minute; exhales 1 liter of water per day, excluding skin perspiration.
Is the humidity level described below normal for a household of four people in a 100m2 (1,076 sq ft) apartment? (Personally, I have had different experiences before.)
Is the four-person household the only typical cause of this humidity?
Or should other sources of moisture be suspected (e.g., structural causes)?
lanter schrieb:With these documents, you should consult a qualified, “real” expert. Free support will not be effective for you.
I am happy to send a specialist the files (MS Excel) with the values (temperature, relative humidity, dew point) recorded every minute in various rooms and the (outdoor) balcony since about February 22 for a more detailed assessment.
lanter schrieb:Was the masonry or insulation also adapted to the new windows? Probably not. And why did you set the radiators only to frost protection mode?
January 14 apartment handover, thermostats on all radiators set to frost protection mode
The apartment received new, modern windows in 2013.
lanter schrieb:Was moisture introduced into the apartment without proper removal?
From January 30 renovation by two people: two rooms wallpapered, new ceiling panels installed
lanter schrieb:Laundry should be dried in a tumble dryer or outside, if possible, not inside the apartment when there is no adequate ventilation.
By the way, laundry (tried only once) does not dry inside the apartment (at least with closed windows).
It is not possible to assess your situation from the outside; a qualified expert must inspect it on site. However, in my opinion, since you are saving on heating and ventilation, you likely bear some responsibility for the apartment’s condition.
Best regards,
Bauexperte
Hello,
I’m not an expert, but I recently read that new windows combined with UN-insulated walls can more frequently cause problems. This happens because the condensation no longer forms on the glass but on the walls (to put it simply) and can no longer escape, since the new windows are much more airtight than the old ones.
Therefore, it is definitely important to continue with ventilating by fully opening the windows, but with the following routine: ventilate for 3 minutes, close the windows for 3 minutes, then ventilate again for 3 minutes – repeat this sequence 3 times. (5 to 6 times a day) This helps to remove the moisture.
Additionally, if this applies to your condominium, you might consider installing a decentralized ventilation system with heat recovery.
If you live in a rental building, I would recommend discussing the issue with your landlord to investigate the cause. Possibly with the help of a specialist.
I’m not an expert, but I recently read that new windows combined with UN-insulated walls can more frequently cause problems. This happens because the condensation no longer forms on the glass but on the walls (to put it simply) and can no longer escape, since the new windows are much more airtight than the old ones.
Therefore, it is definitely important to continue with ventilating by fully opening the windows, but with the following routine: ventilate for 3 minutes, close the windows for 3 minutes, then ventilate again for 3 minutes – repeat this sequence 3 times. (5 to 6 times a day) This helps to remove the moisture.
Additionally, if this applies to your condominium, you might consider installing a decentralized ventilation system with heat recovery.
If you live in a rental building, I would recommend discussing the issue with your landlord to investigate the cause. Possibly with the help of a specialist.
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