What causes wet walls? The science of your walls sweating is simple. Either moisture can't get out of your home, or there's moisture is coming in. Condensation, leaks and inadequate drainage are the most common causes of moisture problems in homes.
Sweating walls inside a home aren't harmless or natural. This phenomenon occurs when water beads on the surface of a wall or trickles out of the wall itself, often leading to damp patches and, if left alone, possibly extensive water damage.
Sweaty walls happen when there is not sufficient insulation. Like condensation on a pitcher of ice water, when the walls are cold and the air is warm, condensation happens. The problem is that condensation on walls can cause mold growth.
This is condensation. In most cases, internal condensation issues occur because of too much humidity in the room or little to no air circulation. Low internal room temperatures can also create cold surfaces (particularly on windows and exterior walls) which allows warm air to condense onto them easily.
Yes, a dehumidifier can be an effective tool in combating damp in the home. Dampness can be a major problem for many homes in the UK, particularly in areas with high levels of humidity or rainfall. Left unchecked, damp can lead to mould growth, musty odours, and damage to furniture and other belongings.
The bad news is that the moisture caused by condensation is a breeding ground for mould and mildew that can cause a range of health problems from allergies to infections.
Damp patches on the walls are usually caused by penetrating moisture, meaning that water from outside is seeping through the exterior cladding to the frame and walls. For example, a masonry wall with damaged bricks and mortar can let moisture in and cause water infiltration.
Common Causes
There are lots of different reasons why you might spot a damp patch on the wall of your home. For example, it might be that there is a weakens in the weatherproofing of the home that is letting in the water somewhere – cracks in bricks, broken roof tiles or a problem with the guttering.
Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home. Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors.
Are Your Walls Sweating? You've got excess humidity inside your home. This level of moisture will allow mold to grow and can damage your furnishings.
Bodies of moisture hidden deep behind walls, under floors, or within concrete can allow the formation and spread of hazardous mold, undetectable by the naked eye.
The main cause of condensation is a lack of ventilation. The remedy is to improve ventilation to help equalise humidity inside and outside a property. Once upon a time, houses had badly-fitted windows, doors, chimneys and air vents that allowed for the circulation of air.
It's only when you have excessive condensation on the windows, or the condensation is between the window panes that you should be concerned.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
Accelerate drying by opening windows and doors. Use fans to move air around the damp walls. Dehumidifiers can help remove moisture from the air, which indirectly removes it from the walls, too. To speed up evaporation, remove molding and baseboards to prevent moisture from entering behind them.
A dehumidifier typically needs between 24 and 72 hours to completely dry out a room. It's critical to continue using the dehumidifier until the humidity levels are normal.
If you have radiators in the room where there is water damage, then you should consider turning the heating up. This will help speed up the drying process for the water damaged walls.
Visual and odor cues can indicate the presence of mold, such as dark stains on bathroom tiles or a musty odor in certain parts of the house. Mold can also cause paint blistering on walls, lumpy insulation, and inadequate bathroom ventilation. Mold has a damp and stale smell, almost like wet paper.
Yes, if you have damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
Does DampRid work? Yes. CHOICE household products expert Chris Barnes says, "We put a DampRid container in a sealed test chamber about the size of a closet with 80% humidity and a fan for air movement. Within three days, DampRid reduced humidity to 43% and collected almost half a cup of water."