How to make the air in your home drier. Causes of humidity. Working principle of a condensation dryer

Violation of the microclimate in a residential building is very often associated with an increase in humidity levels. Dampness causes the appearance of pathogenic microflora in the apartment, which leads to deterioration in the health of residents, as well as damage to their property and interior. How can you dry the air in your apartment yourself and prevent the risk of over-humidification in the future? You just need to find out the reason for moisture getting into your home, understand the methods of dealing with dampness and the types of equipment and substances used to get rid of excess humidity, and apply all this in practice.

Causes of dampness

Excessive humidity in a living space may appear from time to time or be a constant concern, but in any case it has its own reasons and they must be clarified in order to be eliminated in a timely manner. The appearance of mold and musty smell, and, as a result, respiratory disease, expensive repairs, or the purchase of new furniture, can become a serious punishment for carelessness in relation to sources of dampness in an apartment or house.

The main causes of excess humidity:

insufficient ventilation or its absence in the room (especially in the kitchen and bathroom)
groundwater that lies high or rises in the spring (relevant for private houses)
poor condition of water taps and sewer pipes
drying washed clothes in living rooms
a large number of house plants or arranging a greenhouse in an apartment
the presence of an open water tank (large fountain or aquarium)
swimming pool or sauna in the house (basement, ground floor or lower floor)
poor thermal insulation of walls
insufficient heating of the apartment ( low temperatures- cause of condensation)

The moisture level is measured using a hygrometer. Knowing the humidity standards for a living space (45-60%), you can even before signs of excess moisture and its negative consequences apply preventive measures.

Methods for drying a room

Simple methods on how to dry the air in an apartment or private house yourself, without the use of special knowledge, skills, professional equipment and technically complex work:

Ventilation– if the house has plastic windows, finishing from non-breathable materials is used, but entrance doors are well sealed, then ventilation of the room, especially in winter, will ensure the effective functioning of natural ventilation. Fogging windows are the first sign of the need for ventilation.
Cleaning ventilation ducts- weak draft is a sign of contamination ventilation ducts. Ventilation is installed in the toilet, bathroom and kitchen, where the maximum amount of moisture accumulates, which, with weak exhaust, spreads throughout all rooms.
Installation of fans– dehumidification of the air in a living room can be done by increasing natural ventilation by installing fans of a certain power. Stable air circulation will not allow moisture to dissipate throughout the apartment, pulling it out.
Kitchen hoods– the device itself was created to remove vapors and odors from the room where food is prepared, thereby preventing the steam from condensing out.
Oil heater– unlike others heating devices it does not burn oxygen and copes well with excess moisture in the room (especially if it has a built-in fan).
Household air conditioner— the operating principle of this device allows, providing constant air circulation and maintaining the desired temperature, take moisture from the air and remove it in the form of condensation outside the living space.

With all the desire and use of certain methods to dry the air in the room, it may turn out that more effective measures to eliminate dampness are required. In this case, specially designed devices - air dehumidifiers - will help dry the air in the apartment.

Types of dehumidifiers

Air dryers are climate systems, used in constantly over-humidified rooms to absorb water from the air. Available in three types:

household (removal of up to 30 liters of water per day)
semi-industrial (up to 300 liters of water per day)
industrial (more than 300 liters of water per day).

It is clear that industry uses bulky powerful devices, and more compact devices are suitable for residential premises.

Household dehumidifiers come in two types:

Home dehumidifiers have Various types devices:

Evaporative dryers (compressor)— the flow of moist air in such a dehumidifier hits the evaporator, where the moisture condenses and flows into the tank. The air itself, having gotten rid of excess water, flows back into the room. The productivity of such a device is ten liters of water per day. Disadvantage: bulky size and waste of energy.
Adsorption dryers— air drying occurs due to a moisture-absorbing substance – adsorbent. This type of dehumidifier is used in small spaces, does not require energy and is safe. As the adsorbent becomes damp, the adsorbent needs to be replaced.
Rotary adsorption– in this type of dryer, the adsorbent is located in a rotating rotor and the air loses moisture more efficiently than in a simple adsorption dryer, being drawn through such a mechanism. The unit makes less noise than an evaporative unit, but is still noisy.
Dryers using Peltier technology– they have a special semiconductor element (Peltier element), which is cooled using electrical energy. Otherwise, the principle of operation is similar to an evaporative device.

If there is a need for a dehumidifier, then before purchasing it, you need to calculate the correspondence between the power of the unit and the volume of the living space to be dried.

How to make a dehumidifier with your own hands

A self-made air dehumidifier will help solve problems with excess humidity in the apartment.

Option 1 (simple)

Take several empty 0.5 liter containers (glass or plastic jars)
Fill them halfway with salt
Place the jars in damp places rooms
As the salt becomes damp, replace it with dry salt.

Option 2 (more difficult)
Necessary materials:

two plastic containers with lids (volume two liters),
fan (computer),
filler for cat litter(silica gel),
scissors,
bandage,
insulating tape,
awl,
wire with a block for powering the fan.

Installation steps:

Cut the first container in half. In the lower part, on the sides of the bottle, we make holes with a heated awl.
Remove the lid from the top of the container and wrap the neck with a bandage in several layers.
Pour 250 grams of silica gel into the lower part.
We lower the upper part into the lower one, with the neck with the bandage towards the silica gel.
The bottom of the second container must be cut off so that it is convenient to install a fan in it. The fan should draw air into the bottle through the neck and blow it out.
Place the second container on top of the first and insulate the entire structure. Lead the wire from the fan into the neck of the second container.
The homemade dehumidifier is ready.

The fan in the dehumidifier draws air out of the room. wet air and drives it through the adsorbent, bringing it out through the holes from below, already dry. The device turns out to be low noise, and the wet adsorbent can be dried and reused.

When using any type of room dehumidification, one should not forget about the dangers of too dry air. Remember to monitor the hygrometer readings to maintain optimal humidity in a residential area.

People have long discovered that they feel worse in some rooms than in others. Moving to a new apartment or going on a visit sometimes becomes a real challenge for some. The cause of deterioration in well-being is often the air we breathe. High humidity provokes the appearance of fungus on the walls, which is very harmful to health. When you breathe, mold gets into human body and can cause the development of allergic rhinitis, headaches, runny nose, and bronchial asthma. Malfunctions are also possible of cardio-vascular system and other deviations.

Causes of humidity

The main reasons why it occurs high humidity in the home are:

Availability of an aquarium;
Constantly preparing food;
Frequent washing in the bath or shower;
Drying clothes in the rooms;
Other factors, such as local climate characteristics, nearby groundwater.

Humidity norm

The optimal humidity level is considered to be 60%. IN summer time Humidity levels can reach up to 45%. Measure indoor humidity using a hygrometer. If the apartment has an air conditioner, then you need to carefully monitor the humidity levels. A running air conditioner contributes to a strong decrease in humidity levels, which is also harmful to human health.
Many people in winter time years, people prefer to dry their clothes indoors, which significantly increases the amount of moisture in the air. Therefore, after such procedures, ventilation in the apartment is mandatory.
The structures of residential buildings with high humidity often become deformed and destroyed. Structures made of stone and concrete crumble, metal ones corrode, and wooden structures rot faster. Efficient system waterproofing will protect the structure from premature destruction.
Humidity on all surfaces of the house - ceiling, walls, window glass - contributes to the appearance of condensation: wet spots appear, bad smell and mold, furniture and home appliances fail. Therefore, it is often necessary to make repairs, get rid of old things and or restore their appearance.

There are many ways to dehumidify indoor air yourself, including:

frequent ventilation;
high-quality exhaust system;
fan installation;
use of a heater;
use of climate control equipment.

Ventilation

The simplest and budget option Reducing air humidity in the apartment is normal ventilation. In order for the microclimate to be optimal for the human body, first of all it is necessary to ventilate the rooms in which the moisture concentration is greatest. In a home, such rooms are the bathroom, kitchen and toilet. You can determine that there is an increased concentration of moisture in a room by looking at the windows. If they fog up a lot, then it’s time to ventilate the room. During the winter months, many people avoid ventilation because they are afraid of the cold entering the room along with fresh air. Experts recommend using cross-ventilation of rooms in winter, since this method is more effective than microventilation. Rapid air exchange prevents the room from cooling down.

Fans

Installing exhaust fans also helps reduce air humidity in the apartment. These devices are installed mainly in toilets and bathrooms. Bathrooms usually have small area. When people take water procedures, the room is instantly filled with steam. In the absence of good air exchange, all the dampness falls on the ceiling and walls, which leads to damage to the finishing of the room. In some cases it appears mold, which has a detrimental effect on the human body. Exhaust fans provide constant circulation of dry and humidified air, thereby maintaining an optimal level of humidity in the room.

Exhaust systems

The kitchen area needs to be equipped exhaust system. The main tasks of such a device are to capture and remove evaporation. The hood ensures exchange and freshness of air in the kitchen itself and throughout the home. Today you can see three types of hoods on sale. Flat hoods are equipped with special filtering systems that absorb air, purify it and return it to the room. On exhaust devices dome type, elbow pipes are installed through which air is removed into the ventilation system and is no longer returned to the room. Hoods of the third type combine the features of flat and dome systems. Such devices are the most effective and practical.

Climatic equipment

Various climatic equipment also contributes to a decrease in humidity. Modern market offers industrial, household, and semi-industrial desiccant absorbers (air dehumidifiers). Installation of such devices is carried out in places of high humidity. There are four main types of drying units:

Evaporative (with built-in compressor). Raw air from the room is directed to the evaporator (a cooled radiator), on which the moisture condenses and is then collected in a special container. The air then passes through the heated radiator and is released back into the room. These devices can drain up to ten liters per day. However, such dehumidifiers are large in size and consume quite a lot of electricity.
Adsorption. Such dehumidification systems contain a special substance - an adsorbent, which absorbs moisture from the air. The devices are often silent, do not consume electricity, and are also safe to use. Adsorption dehumidifiers are intended mainly for small rooms: pantries, toilets, closets.
Dehumidifiers created using Peltier technology. The main difference from compressor systems is the presence in such dryers of a Peltier element, in which special semiconductor structures are cooled under the influence of current.
Rotary adsorption. The rotor located in the device is filled with adsorbent. As the rotor rotates, humidified air from the room passes through the mechanism and releases moisture to the absorbent substance. Warm air regeneration goes into reverse side and takes moisture from the adsorbent. Compared to the noise of compressor engines, rotary engines are a little quieter.

Heaters

In the fight against humidity in a room, an oil heater becomes a frequent assistant. Today such a device is the most common source of " extra heat» in apartments and other residential premises. Design oil heater is reliable and safe. The price category is low, which allows anyone to purchase this device. For easier and quick disposal To combat high humidity, there are radiators that are equipped with a built-in fan function.
To heat the room and eliminate excess moisture in the air, they are used electric fireplaces. Such devices are very common in use today. Electric fireplaces are often found in residential and public buildings, restaurants, hotels and other in public places. Such fireplaces burn with the same brightness as real ones. At the same time, they are more convenient to use.

Air conditioners

Installation household air conditioner It will also help get rid of the problem of high humidity in the room. In addition to creating a comfortable indoor microclimate, the air conditioner helps to ventilate the room and remove dust and dirt. Cleaning occurs through modern filters. The device controls the level of humidity, so its use is especially important in rooms where many people are constantly present. Using the device, you can adjust the room temperature with an accuracy of a degree, which helps get rid of sultry heat or extreme cold. Modern air conditioners are equipped with intelligent systems. Therefore, the device works even when a person is absent and does not operate it. The air conditioner can be programmed for various types of tasks.

Before purchasing various devices for absorbing air humidity, it is necessary to determine in which rooms these devices will be used. In addition, you need to remember that excessively dry air is also harmful to the human body. In rooms with low humidity, there is a high probability of the spread of various bacteria and viruses.

Nowadays, people are increasingly resorting to folk remedies when they want to dry the air in a house, apartment, country cottage. After reading an article by a professional construction portal, you can use it today current advice and use it to improve your personal space.

Unfortunately, the presence of any humidity (high or high) has a very adverse effect not only on the external aesthetics of the room, but also on the health and well-being of all household members. It has long been noticed that in such a room, the natural health of all those present deteriorates. protective forces body due to constant elevated temperature, as well as the presence of mold pathogens, which leads to allergies. In addition, do not forget that dampness also affects furniture, interior design, and clothing: wallpaper, parquet flooring, and even doors begin to peel off, lose all their technical and operational characteristics, and the wardrobe begins to emit an unpleasant musty smell.

From excess moisture causes condensation on windows

1. What causes increased moisture content

Anyone who wants to understand the real situation with humidity needs to get a convenient hygrometer. With its help, you can easily determine the percentage of moisture at any time. Experts say that an indicator above 50% is already a deviation from the norm. Take a close look: as a rule, you will easily detect the main signs of excess moisture in your home. What you should be wary of:

Glasses and mirrors constantly fog up;

There are dark spots on the walls;

The towels are damp.

Mold is very dangerous to the health of everyone in the household.

What activates dampness? Here are the TOP 10 reasons:

if there is a periodically flooded basement;
the drain is not installed correctly;
plumbing is faulty and leaking;
the roof or its elements are deformed, which leads to serious leaks;
the walls do not have full thermal insulation;
insufficient heating or ventilation;
groundwater is very close;
the lower floor is occupied by a swimming pool, bathhouse, sauna;
interpanel seams lack sealing;
the apartment is located on the leeward side.

In the kitchen, the problem under consideration is especially relevant.

Our experts recommend: if you doubt the main reasons (external/internal), then use a proven method. It is necessary to place the glass close to the wall at night. If it still doesn’t fog up after a while, then know: the problem lies in internal circumstances.

2. Reduce humidity: is it really possible to do it yourself?

Now let's turn to the saving factors that will always help out. So, everything in order.

2.1. Air Dryer

At the top of the most relevant devices for this manipulation is an air dehumidifier. It does an excellent job of eliminating excess moisture in any room: in an apartment, house, garage, cellar, country house and even in a car. Buy it when you need to quickly solve a problem in any area. As a rule, kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, and swimming pools are the first to suffer from it. In addition, in our country, a dehumidifier is also useful in the summer and autumn. It will help compensate for the lack of sufficient air circulation in warehouses: attics, dressing rooms, storage rooms, basements.

A dehumidifier is a real helper in case of increased humidity.

Today you can buy one of four types of dehumidifiers. The first ones are similar in configuration to compressors in refrigerators, hence the name - co-compressor. Thanks to the available hydrostats, they cope perfectly with the assigned tasks even in very large rooms and buildings. However, there are also significant drawbacks: they produce unpleasant and loud noise, and also have impressive parameters.

The second type of units is quieter, but its performance is lower than that of the models discussed above. For example, they use Peltier models. They have a high-quality thermoelectric converter.

The third type is absolutely environmentally friendly, because... equipped with an adsorbent. With its help, moisture is easily absorbed from the air. In general, such dehumidifiers are mobile and self-sufficient: they do not run on electricity, do not make sounds, and are safe. If you have compact room, then such a device will be very useful. However, you need to monitor how full the cassettes are and change them on time.

Then they go rotary units. They combine the principles of functioning of the first and third types simultaneously. They appeared on sale relatively recently.

2.2. Ventilation

As you know, the more often ventilation occurs in damp rooms and buildings, the more active natural air exchange. What you need to know so that during the autumn-winter period you do not lose excess heat due to this regular procedure.

If you are only periodically in a problem area, ventilation should be at least twice a day. The duration of the procedure is up to 10 minutes. If your stay there is permanent, then much more often.

At the same time, adopt the through method: wide open windows and doors completely renew the air. This is more reliable and effective than half-measures with them - only half or partially open all the time. In addition, the latter sometimes leads to mold and mildew.

A wall-mounted air conditioner is also a good alternative to an air purifier

2.3. Hood

The fan can become truly optimal solution when you want to ensure high-quality air exchange at high humidity. They are divided into exhaust, supply or reversible.

Exhaust units are installed in the air duct required premises(usually this is a bathroom or dressing room). They do an excellent job and do not leave an environment for mold to grow.

The kitchen also suffers from humidity. Exhaust hood is simply vital here. It’s up to you to decide which one to install: flow-through or circulation. They have proven themselves to be excellent, because... solve several problems at once: eliminate odors, as well as humidity and create a healthy microenvironment. The flow hood is directly connected to the ventilation shaft. In the case where there is no ventilation duct in the kitchen, the only way out is to install a circulation unit that operates on replaceable filter cassettes.

Follow our advice and forget about your problems

In addition, there are supply fans. They not only make the air clean, but are also able to heat it up to desired temperature. They, in turn, are divided into window, roof, and wall.

And of course, supply and exhaust fans are loved by consumers. Their principle is simple: uninterrupted circulation of fresh (external) and contaminated or wet (internal).

2.4. Heated towel rail

A heated towel rail can also be considered as a good alternative for those who want to overcome humidity once and for all. Because it warms up the bathroom and prevents condensation and moisture from accumulating on the mirrors. This means the air is dry and dangerous. Three models have become widespread: water, electric, and combined.

Heated towel rail - good for the bath

Water heated towel rails are powered by a heating system. However, in summer period turning them off will be useless. But in another way, they are very economical.

An electric heated towel rail maintains the exact temperature in the room that is needed. There is a thermostat for this.

And the most interesting option- combined heated towel rails.

In general, when going to the store to buy, make sure that the product you like has an anti-corrosion coating. Otherwise, even very expensive model won't last even a few years.

Humidity can be a problem for pool owners

2.5. Cleaning the ventilation

Unfortunately, not every home modern layout boasts a good ventilation duct. At proper installation the draft will be sufficient so that the air circulates and is of normal humidity, and not high. In addition, various defects cause trouble common system ventilation: poor tightness, abrasion of the walls or cross-section of the channel itself. Sometimes the weather plays a role: the wind can make it easier or more difficult to function. In a private house, be sure to periodically check the serviceability of the air duct: problems or incorrect installation on the roof will have a very bad effect on air circulation.

With properly functioning ventilation, there is always clean and fresh air in the room

2.6. Foundation waterproofing

Sometimes there is dampness coming from under the floor. What to do? Take action urgently! You cannot do without waterproofing the foundation. This means you need to purchase a special film membrane. It is then laid on the ground at optimal height- up to half a meter, using high-quality foundation tape. If the soil is waterlogged, of course, it is worth purchasing appropriate drainage + multi-layer insulation (profiled membrane and geotextile).

Hire professional craftsmen and do waterproofing

2.7. Plaster

Do you suffer from damp walls? Then plaster is for you. But not ordinary, but with waterproofing properties. It becomes real armor for any work surface. You can also call organosilicon water repellents. They adhere effectively and well to mineral building materials. But they must be applied only in well-ventilated areas. Also take a closer look at the various waterproofing dry plaster mixtures and mastic.

The plaster must be of a special composition

After reading the article on the portal site, you can get rid of high humidity yourself folk remedies. Our qualified advice will allow you not only to save significantly family budget, but also to maintain health and well-being. Read the continuation of the topic: “How to dehumidify the air in a room with high humidity” - in the following materials! Subscribe to us on social networks.

3. Video: how to deal with mold.

There are four main reasons why you need to get rid of humidity in your apartment as soon as possible:

Causes of dampness

Poor ventilation, nearby sources of moisture, savings on heating and improper insulation are the main reasons causing dampness in a private or apartment building.

Insufficient ventilation is the most common cause of high air humidity. In apartment buildings, especially in older buildings, the installed ventilation shafts and grilles become clogged and overgrown with debris. As a result, air movement stops. The situation is aggravated by plastic windows, especially cheap ones, low quality materials for covering ceilings and walls. In private houses, especially self-built ones, owners sometimes try to save money by using ventilation, believing that there are enough windows and doors. This is wrong!

If the ventilation system cannot cope, it is not necessary to create a draft, especially in winter - this can lead to hypothermia. More expensive, but most practical solution will be forced exhaust ventilation, as well as amplifiers of an existing system, for example, exhaust fans.

Another solution to the problem is to install a recuperator or use a special air dryer. Last device indispensable if the cause of dampness is excess moisture (for example, in a bathroom, swimming pool, with an abundance of house flowers).

Source of moisture

Sources of moisture in the apartment:

precipitation: rain, melting snow, condensation can enter the apartment through a leaking roof, through wall pores and unsealed seams (especially if the wind, improper roof overhang or defective drainage constantly direct precipitation onto the wall);
stagnation of water in the apartment: leaking plumbing equipment, swimming pools, baths, aquariums, including those located on the floor below; the same effect is achieved by running a bath or taking a long shower;
the greenhouse effect from poor window ventilation (condensation accumulates on the glass), abundance indoor plants, especially if they need abundant watering;
The breathing of people, animals, and plants also increases humidity - usually this factor is not noticeable, but in cramped and / or poorly ventilated rooms it will be noticeable.

Near a private house there may be chambos or septic tanks that saturate the grant with moisture. As a result, the basement becomes very damp and mold develops in it. Another source of moisture in the basement and on the 1st floor is a split blind area (a waterproof covering located around the perimeter of the house). Moisture from the soil and precipitation will seep into the house or basement.

An unheated room is a refuge for dampness. Ideally, the walls of an apartment or house should be heated to at least half their thickness, then the place where condensation forms will go outside (to the street). In frozen walls, the place where condensation forms is shifted to a warm area, and is often even located on the surface of the walls on the residential side. The problem is aggravated by poor ventilation of the premises.

Housing where no people live or which is not heated enough begins to become damp very quickly: the wall decoration is destroyed on average in two seasons. In addition, in addition to natural wear and tear, the structure loses an additional 5% of its strength every year due to dampness.

Advice! Vacation home, dacha - no seasonal housing should be left without heating. Hire a person or arrange with a neighbor who will periodically monitor this. If you are going away for a couple of weeks, do not close the battery valves.

Improper insulation also causes dampness. The main mistakes are an insufficient layer to provide warmth, and poor materials with zero vapor permeability.

To properly insulate an apartment, you can use one of two options:

The thickness of the polystyrene insulation layer is within 10-15 cm (and this is relevant for any region of the Russian Federation).
Use vapor-permeable material as insulation, for example, ecowool, mineral wool. This will make it possible to ensure that moisture in the walls is removed.

How to remove high humidity

Dealing with moisture will likely require a significant investment of either money, time and patience.

The most reliable methods of dealing with dampness are expensive. However, after the restructuring you will not have to think about drafts or sachets. The methods are expensive, but they pay off with interest:

Replacement of the ventilation system, installation of fans, hoods.
A major overhaul that completely removes old plaster in damp areas. After this, the room is dried and the walls are covered with a fresh layer of plaster.
Replacement and repair heating systems and water supply pipes. The task becomes more difficult if these systems are hidden.
Solving problems with the waterproofing properties of the foundation, walls and roof, which is the most labor-intensive and expensive procedure. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope here on your own, without the involvement of specialists.

Available and simple ways reduce indoor humidity:

When the weather is dry and warm outside, you should ventilate the room more often by opening the windows.
The bathroom needs especially frequent ventilation; the hood in this room requires regular cleaning.
You should not dry clothes in the room, as this will significantly increase air humidity. This is only permissible in winter, when the air is dried out by the heating system and needs to be humidified. In summer, it is better to dry clothes on the balcony or street.
When cooking, pots with boiling water must be covered with lids. It is also recommended to close the doors to the kitchen, this will serve as an obstacle to the spread of steam throughout the rooms in the apartment. Open the windows for slot ventilation in winter or full ventilation in summer, do not forget to turn on the hood. Try not to let the pans steam too much (reduce heat).
Reducing the number of indoor plants will help to slightly reduce the humidity in the room.
A special air dryer (compressor or adsorption) will eliminate high humidity in a separate room.

Advice! Regularly ventilating the room, regardless of the time of year, will allow you to install plastic windows that are equipped with a “micro-ventilation” function.

High humidity is removed if the room is constantly heated at the same temperature.

How to remove damp smell

Often high humidity is accompanied by a characteristic smell of dampness. Its cause is a fungus, therefore, in order to eliminate the problem, the infection must be destroyed. Thoroughly wash away mold stains; if it has become deeply embedded, replace the coating (down to the layer of plaster), if possible. Then treat with a disinfectant compound, and then with a protective one. Products must be labeled “antifungal” or “fungicide.”

To prevent mold from growing again, in addition to treating with protective agents, you will need in warm, dry weather:

arrange a draft in the apartment, which will ensure good ventilation;
hang carpets, bed linen, curtains, clothes outside to dry and disinfect under the sun's rays.

Advice! In winter, heaters, household dehumidifiers, and air conditioners that are equipped with a heating function will allow you to dry the room.

Folk remedies for dampness in the apartment

Folk recipes also help to dry the air in the apartment:

With the onset of summer, warm weather It is recommended to treat walls that are not covered with wallpaper and are covered with mold with the following composition: dissolve half a kilogram in five liters of water laundry soap, then boil the mixture. Cover the wall evenly with a cooled soap solution using a brush and let dry. Repeat the treatment several times. Traces of soap suds should form on the wall. After this, apply another composition consisting of 100 grams of alum diluted in six liters of water.
Calcium chloride absorbs moisture excellently. Place containers with this substance in damp areas of the room. The advantage of calcium chloride is its reusability. It is enough to dry it (for example, in an oven). Be sure to crush calcium chloride before use.
Treatment with a mixture of salicylic acid and alcohol will help eliminate mold and prevent the spread of dampness. Dry the walls thoroughly. After this, combine one part salicylic acid and two hundred (200) parts alcohol. Dilute the mixture a small amount clean water. Lubricate the black mold spots with the resulting product.

Advice! Replace calcium chloride charcoal or quicklime.

Use a hydrometer. In the warm season, the optimal humidity will be from 30 to 60%, maximum - 65. At the end of autumn, in winter, in early spring Humidity should vary between 30-45% and not exceed 60.
Provide access to the sun's rays.
Ventilate the apartment; this must be done systematically and efficiently.
Seal cracks in walls and floors.
Provide high-quality waterproofing.
Use fans, including exhaust fans, in the kitchen and bathroom. Check your traction periodically ventilation system. Check the condition of the plumbing equipment, and Special attention Pay attention to the pipe connections.
Systematically inspect the seal on plastic windows and replace it with a new one in a timely manner.
Doing major renovation, use building materials on mineral based. This will make it possible to effectively regulate the humidity in an apartment or private house.

You can eliminate dampness in your apartment with simple and accessible ways. Wall treatment special compounds will destroy mold and prevent it reappearance. Systematic prevention will protect against increased humidity and fungus formation.

Hello, dear readers! The other day I was talking with a friend who started a grandiose renovation. It turned out that everything is not so simple: they have mold in their apartment, so they decided to get rid of it in the most categorical way. This gave me the idea to tell you about why dampness in an apartment is terrible and how to get rid of it.

When there is constantly high humidity in the apartment, dampness will certainly appear sooner or later.

It negatively affects your home: it worsens the condition wooden furniture or leather goods, the plaster becomes loose and crumbles, wallpaper falls off and the floors can become damaged, books, magazines and documents deteriorate, food quickly becomes unusable. And, of course, the worst thing is that mold and mildew appear.

In addition, the condition of the household is deteriorating. Such a microclimate can cause oily skin and increased greasiness of hair, provokes skin rashes and allergic reactions, and also disrupts the functioning of the respiratory organs.

Germs simply love damp air, which is why your loved ones get sick more often. And of course, dampness is accompanied by an unpleasant smell.

Where did this trouble come from?

The reasons for dampness can be different. First, you need to check where it came from in your apartment: outside or inside.

To do this, you need to conduct a small experiment: apply glass to a wall that borders the street for several hours. Then look at the result: if moisture appears on the wall, then dampness has entered the room from outside.

This often happens with corner apartments, and also if mistakes were made during the construction of the house. But don’t worry, even such flaws can be overcome.

If a section of the wall is dry, then the reasons need to be sought indoors. Usually it's one of these:

regular flooding of the basement;
there is no ventilation in the apartment, or it is dirty and does not work well;
flood from neighbors above (or from the roof, in the case of the top floor);
incorrect installation kitchen appliances(the ventilation was closed);
the pipe was closed during repairs, and now there is no visible leak;
poor-quality installation of plumbing (the bathtub does not fit tightly against the wall, which is why there are constant puddles under it);
constant drying of laundry in large quantities at home;
a greenhouse of flowers (yes, no matter how surprised you are, sometimes they are too zealous with flowers, and they create a too humid climate in the apartment).

How to deal with the problem

First of all, check the ventilation and pipes to see if they all work properly. If this is the reason, then you will have to resort to the help of specialists who will help eliminate the problems.

If this is not the reason, then the following tips will definitely help you.

Fresh air

One of the best ways The fight against excessive humidity and dampness is to regularly ventilate the apartment.

Open windows all the way to allow air to circulate in the rooms. This is especially true for the bathroom: leave it open for at least a couple of hours (or, for example, overnight), then the excess moisture will go away.

If you live in a metropolis and are afraid of gas pollution, then an air conditioner will help: it will not only maintain the required temperature, but also dry the air.

You can install an alpine window: it will perfectly help cope with drafts in the cold season.

Heating rooms

Heat is the main way to combat dampness and moisture.

And it doesn’t matter if they do heating devices or sunlight. The second, by the way, is more desirable: batteries run the risk of drying out the air. Therefore, be sure to open the curtains during the day.

In the bathroom, a heated towel rail will do the job perfectly. If the problem is still in the basement, then you will have to purchase a heater and additionally turn it on in the off-season: the humidity in basements increases in autumn and spring.

About household affairs

An ideal friend while cooking kitchen hood: it will not only eliminate odors, but also excess moisture.

Cleaning a room where there is dampness is best done with “drying” agents: aqueous solutions with bleach, potassium permanganate or vinegar. They can be used to wipe both floors and furniture. And the final step should be to remove excess water with a dry cloth.

And, of course, try not to dry things in your apartment every day. If you still don’t have a balcony or loggia, then try doing laundry less often (for example, 2 times a week, not daily). And the ideal option for you would be washing machine with clothes drying function!

Eliminating dampness in the closet

Dampness in the closet is also an unpleasant occurrence. Things may be damp and even have an unpleasant odor. Good drying after washing and ironing with a hot iron and steam will help you cope with this. And under no circumstances should you put things in the closet while they are wet.

Dampness and repairs

If you have to renovate, then think through all the details of this grandiose event. After all, if the apartment is prone to dampness, then at this stage the problem can be prevented.

Treat the walls with antifungal agents (but remember that they are toxic, so follow the instructions).
If you have dampness from the street, then you need to insulate the walls, thanks to this you will avoid condensation due to temperature changes.
Give preference to natural materials, because they breathe. For example, now there is an excellent alternative plastic windows, the breathability of which is questionable - wooden windows with double glazed windows.

Your helpers in the fight against dampness

In addition, you can eliminate dampness with folk remedies.

One of these methods is to place sugar, salt or coffee in the rooms. You probably imagined a bag of salt in the middle of the room? Well, this is, of course, a last resort. Try to play with details: coffee beans can be placed in a beautiful glass vase or large wine glass.

Silica gel is considered another of the best moisture absorbers. It is actively used even in industry. Remember those little paper bags with balls in shoe boxes? This is what he is.

These envelopes can be placed in your linen closet or in a sports bag that you carry with you to workouts. And of course, shoes! And yes, they even pour it into a container and place it under the bath. You can buy it in such large quantities at a pet store, because it is used for cat litter.

This method is best used when you are sure that small children or pets will not eat it.

If you love flowers, then when it's damp, choose plants that don't need to be watered often. Cacti are more suitable than ever. There are also flowers that absorb moisture from the air: these are ferns, syngoniums, and geraniums.

Improve the microclimate in the apartment and essential oils, which freshen the air and kill harmful microorganisms: tea tree, eucalyptus, fir, grapefruit.

And yes, technology can help you: now you can buy a dehumidifier in any store. Their prices are quite reasonable, you can find options for every budget.

When choosing, pay attention to the power: the higher it is, the better it is. There are automatic models, they monitor the humidity level and turn on themselves. By the way, this can even save energy.

I hope my tips will help you cope with such an unpleasant problem and get rid of dampness in your apartment. All the best to you, my dears!

Bye bye,

Anastasia Smolinets