B
BauFrager22 Nov 2023 12:31Hello,
here is a slightly different question, as I am not yet a homeowner but a tenant:
We are planning to move into a newly built semi-detached house as the first tenants. It is a prefabricated house with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating. Originally, we were supposed to move in on November 1st, but the heat pump was not yet available. Everything else is already installed, including the floors.
Now the heat pump has been delivered and installed, and a technician from the manufacturer will come tomorrow to set it up and commission it.
The landlord now wants to hand over the house to us the day after. We also need to move out of our current house, so we are under significant time pressure. An acquaintance said it is nonsense that we can move in immediately after the system is commissioned, as the heat pump needs to run for several days first. Also, the house, especially the screed, should be fully dried out, which could not have happened yet without the heat pump. He sees the already installed floors as a potential problem regarding mold formation.
Could you please advise us – is there likely a problem here?
Thank you in advance.
here is a slightly different question, as I am not yet a homeowner but a tenant:
We are planning to move into a newly built semi-detached house as the first tenants. It is a prefabricated house with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating. Originally, we were supposed to move in on November 1st, but the heat pump was not yet available. Everything else is already installed, including the floors.
Now the heat pump has been delivered and installed, and a technician from the manufacturer will come tomorrow to set it up and commission it.
The landlord now wants to hand over the house to us the day after. We also need to move out of our current house, so we are under significant time pressure. An acquaintance said it is nonsense that we can move in immediately after the system is commissioned, as the heat pump needs to run for several days first. Also, the house, especially the screed, should be fully dried out, which could not have happened yet without the heat pump. He sees the already installed floors as a potential problem regarding mold formation.
Could you please advise us – is there likely a problem here?
Thank you in advance.
Once the heat pump is installed and running, it will start warming up. This can easily take a day, especially if everything has cooled down by several degrees, but there is no need to wait unnecessarily.
The screed can only dry properly if there is no flooring installed yet, so at this stage the heat pump or heating system doesn’t matter. Screeds have dried for decades without underfloor heating or heat pumps. Nowadays, screed drying is usually supported by heating simply because it speeds up the process and allows the flooring to be installed sooner. This can also be done by temporarily connecting a mobile heater, usually electric. If the screed is already covered by flooring, it means the screed is dry. If it’s not dry yet and covered, you will notice this from issues like peeling parquet or tiles.
So: Move in!
The screed can only dry properly if there is no flooring installed yet, so at this stage the heat pump or heating system doesn’t matter. Screeds have dried for decades without underfloor heating or heat pumps. Nowadays, screed drying is usually supported by heating simply because it speeds up the process and allows the flooring to be installed sooner. This can also be done by temporarily connecting a mobile heater, usually electric. If the screed is already covered by flooring, it means the screed is dry. If it’s not dry yet and covered, you will notice this from issues like peeling parquet or tiles.
So: Move in!
W
WilderSueden22 Nov 2023 12:59Residual moisture in a newly built house typically lasts for 1-2 winters. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. Move in whenever it suits you.
B
BauFrager22 Nov 2023 13:02Thank you in advance for your answers. My impression so far is that cost-cutting was done everywhere in the house, combined with a certain lack of planning by the builder. Therefore, I am very cautious.
The concern regarding the screed was mainly that the floors might have been installed too early. We saw the house in August/September, and there was no screed yet; by October, the floor was already installed. We can no longer verify whether it was properly dried. By the way, the floor is laminate and seems to have been laid somewhat unevenly, at least that’s what I would say as a layperson.
To ask differently: if there is a problem after all, how can we detect it? Would consistent readings on a hygrometer above a certain level be an indicator?
By the way, there are room ventilators installed, not a central mechanical ventilation system but individual fans in each room.
The concern regarding the screed was mainly that the floors might have been installed too early. We saw the house in August/September, and there was no screed yet; by October, the floor was already installed. We can no longer verify whether it was properly dried. By the way, the floor is laminate and seems to have been laid somewhat unevenly, at least that’s what I would say as a layperson.
To ask differently: if there is a problem after all, how can we detect it? Would consistent readings on a hygrometer above a certain level be an indicator?
By the way, there are room ventilators installed, not a central mechanical ventilation system but individual fans in each room.
Similar topics