How to quickly remove moisture from a room. High humidity in a house or apartment: ways to solve the problem and prevent it

For many people living in brick houses, high humidity in an apartment is a serious problem that entails great amount troubles for residents. First of all, due to dampness in the room, household items made from natural materials, such as leather or wood, can deteriorate. Deformation is also possible flooring, wallpaper coming off the walls and damage to the ceiling. The plaster can become wet and loose, and if it was applied poorly at the time, it will crumble at the slightest touch. One cannot ignore another problem when there is dampness in an apartment - the appearance of a persistent and very specific odor that eats into clothes, furniture and bed linen. And often it is dampness that causes mold to appear on clothes in closets.

Dampness in an apartment also negatively affects human health, often causing various diseases. In addition to the occurrence and exacerbation of allergic reactions, high humidity promotes the proliferation of harmful fungi and microbes, which lead to lung diseases and breathing apparatus. This is why residents of damp apartments often suffer from colds, but the worst thing is that children are susceptible to the harmful effects of fungi, microorganisms and dampness.

Reasons for moisture accumulation

Among the main reasons for the appearance of dampness in a living space is the lack of ventilation, or it may not work well. It is also possible that during installation kitchen appliances The main ventilation was blocked with new outlets. But in this case, neighbors on the lower floors may also suffer. Flooding by neighbors above also leads to increased humidity.

One of the reasons for dampness in the apartment may be flooding of the basement of the house. Often when insufficient thermal insulation external walls or flaws in the seams of a building can also cause moisture to accumulate in the room. In case of poor ventilation of rooms, insufficient heating in winter period or drying large quantity It is almost impossible to avoid the occurrence of high humidity in rooms. And in most cases it is not you who should solve the problem, How get rid of dampness in the apartment, and the management company.

Ways to deal with dampness in an apartment

First you need to determine where exactly the dampness enters the apartment. You need to take a small piece of yourself ordinary glass and press it firmly against the surface of the wall, and then, holding it for a while, remove it. If moisture is detected under the glass, we can safely say that the dampness is coming from outside. Otherwise, the source of moisture accumulation should be looked for in the apartment. Below are a few ways to deal with high humidity.

1). If there is strong humidity in the room, it is worth purchasing a dehumidifier, and the greater its power, the better. Ideally, you should buy a device with automatic operation so that it independently maintains optimal humidity in the room. And, of course, it is necessary to heat the premises, including in summer period for the purpose of drying rooms. To reduce air humidity, the apartment must be ventilated, which is also good for health.

2). Another way to get rid of dampness in an apartment is to place jars (bags) with salt or sugar in the corners of the room, which perfectly absorb moisture. You can also put a small bag of coffee beans in the linen drawer in the closet, and wipe the cabinets and drawers themselves with a solution of potassium permanganate.

3). If there is dampness in the bathroom, then it is necessary to install an electric heated towel rail. It will not only dry the towels, but also the air in the room. As for washed laundry, you should not dry it either in the bathroom or in any other rooms, dedicating a balcony for these purposes.

4). When preparing food, use exhaust ventilation, which successfully copes with the absorption of moisture in the room.

5). Work on insulating the floors and installing the walls, wipe down the walls with a bleach solution and re-plaster.

6). When cleaning, try to wipe any wet surfaces dry, for example, when washing floors. Be sure to finish cleaning by thoroughly ventilating the room.

7). If, nevertheless, the consequences of dampness in the apartment force you to do repairs, then try to use natural materials which will help absorb excess moisture.

From this article you will learn about the main causes of dampness in an apartment or house. We will also talk about how to eliminate these causes and restore the normal microclimate of your home. You will learn about the traditional and most modern methods solutions to the problem of air drying.

When the seasons change, almost all owners are faced with increased humidity due to melting snow. Scatter negative phenomena great: from mild discomfort to “crying” walls and mold. Let's look at some of the most popular cases and causes of dampness in residential premises, as well as ways to combat this unpleasant phenomenon.

Any changes in the microclimate have their own reason, by influencing which it is possible to change it. Dampness has its own “sources,” which the owner may not know about or may not attach importance to them.

Reason No. 1. Poor ventilation

Owners often “forget” about installing forced ventilation during renovations to save money, relying entirely on windows and doors. In our apartments, the design provides for ventilation of two rooms - a bathroom and a kitchen. Residential premises have vents, windows and balconies for ventilation. Of course, ventilation lowers the temperature of the room by blowing out warm (and humid) air, so it is rarely used during cold periods.

The drying effect in summer is achieved by mixing dry air from the street with saturated with vapors internal "exhaust" air. During transition periods, especially at the beginning of spring, atmospheric air is saturated with vapor, but remains cold. Accordingly, ventilation does not bring the desired effect.

How to fight

Check the ventilation arranged according to the project - the draft should be noticeable. If there is good draft in the kitchen and bathroom, but dampness is not removed, there are three options for solving this problem.

1. Forced exhaust ventilation. The installation of such a system, although it will entail certain costs and inconveniences, will solve the problem of dampness once and for all. A branched hood has its drawbacks - energy consumption, channel system, background noise. The minimum that can be done is to install a fan in the kitchen duct.

2. Installation of the recuperator. A ducted room heat exchanger such as “PRANA”, “Reventa” or an analogue is a more modern and ergonomic element that solves two problems at once - the exhaust of humid air and the influx of fresh air. Many models are heated for winter operation. The cost of a duct recuperator is from 340 to 380 USD. e.

Video: channel recuperator "PRANA"

3. Use a dehumidifier. This device passes air through itself, collecting excess moisture and filtering it. This device is very effective - it removes dampness from the room within an hour. At the same time, the composition of the air remains unchanged. The moisture is collected in a separate container and drained. Filters, ozonizers and flavors can optionally be integrated into the device. The cost of such a device for a room of 30-50 square meters. m ranges from 140 to 220 cu. e.

Reason No. 2. Source of moisture

In private homes, these are septic tanks or shambo located close to the house. They saturate the soil with water, the water passes under the house, the soil surrounding the foundation or basement becomes damp. The same with atmospheric waters flowing onto the split blind area. Dampness in the basement and in the floor of the 1st floor is ensured.

In apartments this could be:

• leaking roof;
• a defect in the gutter or roof overhang that directs atmospheric water to the wall of the apartment;
• windy side of the house - rain constantly falls on the wall of the apartment;
• constantly running taps, plumbing;
• a large amount of water on the lower floor - aquariums, a swimming pool, a sauna;
• evaporation of condensation on the windows (which collects due to poor ventilation).

It is difficult to name other trouble-free open sources of moisture in an apartment, but in each individual case everything is possible.

How to fight

Eliminate the source. Fix a roof or gutter, move a septic tank, protect a wall from atmospheric waters. If the reason is an open source, waterproofing should be done liquid composition. Remember that waterproofing is applied from the side of the moisture source.

Reason No. 3. Unheated room

Extreme savings on heating based on the principle of “only warm air in the room” is the most common cause of dampness in the “crying walls” of an apartment or house. The wall must be heated to at least half its thickness. Then the dew point (the place where condensation forms) will face the street. A frozen wall shifts the dew point closer to the warm area, and sometimes even to the inner plane.

This problem often works in conjunction with a lack of ventilation. Abandoned or poorly heated rooms become damp very quickly - Decoration Materials are destroyed in 2 seasons, the structure loses up to 5-6% of its strength annually (in addition to natural wear and tear). It is extremely undesirable to combine heated and unheated (according to the design) premises under one roof.

How to fight

Increase heating. Try to calculate how much damage your home can suffer from merciless dampness and the amount you will save on heating. Then compare these amounts and draw a conclusion. Of course, insulation must be of high quality and timely.

If it is not possible to increase the temperature, install fans on heating devices and provide short-term ventilation - the humidity will level out. Do not leave the house unheated; if you are going to return, find someone who will heat it.

Reason No. 4. Improper insulation

Thermal insulation of walls with cheap and lightweight polystyrene foam or expensive modern extruded polystyrene foam has already gained momentum and is becoming a welcome event for residents apartment buildings. Almost no one ever does thermotechnical calculation walls of the apartment to determine the thickness of the insulation. Therefore, when choosing a layer of insufficient thickness, the wall continues to freeze and become damp.

Living in such a “thermos” can be ruined by dampness in the apartment and inevitable fungus. The reason is the same dew point, which is comfortably located between the panel (wall) and the insulation board. In addition, the vapor permeability of the sounded materials is close to zero and this is not the only problem with foam. Cheap material, produced by handicraft methods, is extremely flammable and toxic when heated. Keep this in mind when preparing to insulate your apartment.

Video: problems with polystyrene foam

How to fight

Study useful articles, where engineers and builders with extensive experience speak out. Understanding the physics of processes will save you not only from dampness, but also from many other troubles. There are two sure-fire options for insulating an apartment:

1. A deliberately excessive layer of polystyrene insulation. A thickness of 100-150 mm guarantees that the dew point is located outside the wall (in the thickness of the insulation) for any region.
2. Vapor-permeable insulation. Mineral wool, ecowool, any type of ventilated facade. This is guaranteed to get rid of moisture in the walls.

Dampness in an apartment can cause the appearance of mold, which, when it enters the body, causes viral diseases person. Moreover, on my own wet air Not suitable for everyone. Weakness, soreness, spontaneous loss of performance - this is what can happen due to excess moisture in the air. Therefore, eliminating moisture is a concern not only for your own walls, but also for yourself and your loved ones.

With the onset of the cold season, many are faced with a rather unpleasant, but very common problem - high humidity. You may notice that the walls have become damp and the windows are fogging up. Of course, these are additional concerns. But if you know some tricks, you will forget about such a problem as high humidity in the apartment. Let's talk about how to solve this problem.

Why is humidity rising?

First you need to find the reason for the increase in humidity in the apartment.

• Walls. If you notice that the walls in your apartment have become noticeably damp, it means that the insulation in your home was not done at the proper level. Experts say that at the stage of building a house, care must be taken to isolate the walls from the foundation. This good advice For everyone who builds their own house, use the most common roofing felt for insulation. This option will be optimal in quality and price.
• Floor. Floor moisture is also a common problem. This is especially noticeable, of course, for those who live on the ground floor. The dampness of the floor indicates that the foundation was not built at the required height. This is another piece of advice for builders - raise the foundation to 60 cm, maybe even more. This way you will protect yourself from problems with high humidity.

• Ventilate. Be sure to get into the habit of fully ventilating your apartment in any weather. There is no need to open the windows all day - half an hour a day is enough. For example, you can ventilate the apartment before going to bed - Fresh air It will not only resist humidity, but will also contribute to favorable sound sleep.
• Heat properly. Often the cause of humidity is improper heating in the apartment. So, you should make sure that each room is heated as evenly as possible. Remember school course physicists: warm air, moving to a room with a lower temperature, turns into settling condensation, that is, into moisture.
• Dry laundry in a ventilated area. If you neglect it simple rule, you are provided with high humidity in the room - the water from the laundry will evaporate and settle again. Therefore, open the windows in the room to dry clothes.
• Preventive measures. Take potassium permanganate and make a not too concentrated solution. Wipe all cabinets with a cloth soaked in this solution. Then place a small bag of coffee beans in your linen closet or drawer. All these measures will prevent the occurrence of troubles such as mold or mildew.

How to get rid of fungus on walls

1. First, inspect the window sills and walls to see if there are any cracks. Even if you find the slightest crack, repair it immediately.
2. Secondly, check the operation of the ventilation. The pull must be strong enough.
3. Thirdly, arm yourself with a spatula and remove all the plaster from the affected wall, clean it down to the concrete.
4. Fourthly, install heating devices to properly dry the walls.
5. Fifth, purchase a specialized antiseptic and apply it to the wall.
6. Finally, repeat the process after six hours, washing the wall, drying it and treating it with an antiseptic. In a day you can finish the room.

If you notice that condensation has appeared on the windows in your apartment, start taking measures to eliminate it. First, you must measure the humidity level with a special device. If this is a problem (you can say this with confidence if the level is more than 40-43%), then follow the tips described above. Adjust the heating, check the ventilation draft. Next you need to check the hood, also pay attention to window seams. One way or another, the main recommendation remains ventilation - even in winter, in frosty weather, open the windows for 30 minutes. And then you will forget about the high humidity in the apartment.

When assessing the air parameters in the house, most people first of all pay attention to its temperature, forgetting about this important indicator like humidity. The subjective sensation of heat or cold, general well-being, the condition of plants and the safety of many household items depend on it. Let's figure out what the norm of air humidity in the apartment is, and also find out what it affects.

The humidity indicator reflects the degree of saturation of the air with water vapor. It can be absolute and relative. In the first case, it is determined how many grams of moisture are contained in 1 cubic meter of air. In the second, the percentage ratio of the actual amount of water in the atmosphere (absolute indicator) and the maximum possible at a given temperature is calculated.

When using such a concept as the norm of humidity in an apartment, a relative indicator is implied. This parameter largely determines the comfort of the indoor microclimate. Both the person and the home environment suffer from too much or too little humidity.

Dry indoor air provokes increased loss moisture through the skin and respiratory tract. This can lead to such unpleasant consequences, How:

• decreased elasticity of hair, nails and skin, accompanied by the appearance of microcracks, wrinkles, peeling, dermatitis;
• drying of the mucous membrane of the eyes, the symptoms of which are itching, redness, and a feeling of “sand”;
• thickening of the blood, leading to a slowdown in blood circulation, weakness, headaches, decreased performance, and increased stress on the heart;
• an increase in the viscosity of gastric and intestinal juices, causing a slowdown in digestion;
• drying of mucous membranes respiratory tract, the consequence of which is a weakening of local immunity and an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections;
• an increase in the amount of respiratory allergens in the atmosphere, which should normally be bound by liquid droplets.

Excess moisture in the air creates acceptable conditions for the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria. As a result, residents of the house may encounter:

• respiratory diseases - chronic runny nose, bronchitis, asthma, allergies;
• feeling of stuffiness or dampness in the room;
• unpleasant odor due to the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms;
• increasing the drying time of washed laundry.

Excessive or an insufficient amount moisture also has a bad effect on the condition of home furnishings. Plants dry out or begin to rot, wooden furniture and parquet become deformed or “shrink,” paintings fade, paper products lose their structure.

Factors affecting humidity

The main factor that affects air humidity is its temperature. The warmer it is, the greater the amount of water vapor it can maximum accommodate, and vice versa. But when estimating relative humidity, it applies inverse relationship: the warmer the air, the lower its relative humidity will be for the same volume of water vapor contained in it. Therefore, airing in winter makes the air fresher, but less humid. Optimal temperature considered 18-22 ºC.

Water vapor is “taken” from the air in the room:

• any heating devices;
• air conditioner;
• interior items, especially cushioned furniture, toys, carpets.

Any sources of water and steam lead to an increase in relative humidity:

• aquarium;
• houseplants;
• wet laundry;
• containers with boiling water (saucepan, kettle);
• leaking roof;
• faulty water pipes and plumbing.

Standard indicators

Let's figure out what air humidity is considered normal in an apartment. It depends on the purpose of the premises and the time of year.

Humidity standards for housing:

• warm period - 30-60%, maximum allowable - 65% (for certain regions with high humidity, this standard can be increased to 75%);
• cold period - 30-45%, maximum permissible - 60%.

Relative air humidity is not standardized in auxiliary rooms - bathroom, toilet, corridor, pantry and others.

Standards for plants and interior items:

• for furniture and antiques – 40-60%;
• for equipment – ​​45-60%
• for books – 30-65%;
• for plants – tropical – 80-95%, subtropical – 75-80%, others – 40-70%.

What is the normal level of relative humidity in the apartment where the child lives? Since the intensity of heat exchange processes is increased in young children, they are especially sensitive to non-compliance with microclimate parameters. Ideal air humidity in a children's room is 50-70%. If a child is sick with ARVI or an infectious pathology, then this parameter should not be allowed to decrease below 60%.

Important: B heating season air humidity drops to 15-20%. It definitely needs to be raised, especially if there are children, asthmatics and allergy sufferers in the house.

How to measure relative humidity?

Knowing what it should be optimal humidity air in the apartment, it is worth deciding how it can be measured. The most rational way is to use special device- hygrometer.

There are several types of devices - electrical, chemical, condensation, hair and others. There is no need to purchase an expensive professional device for an apartment. The simplest hygrometer with an error of 3-5% is enough. It is often combined with a clock and a thermometer. It is important to place the hygrometer away from sources of moisture and heat.

You can determine humidity using alternative methods– a glass of water, an Assmann table and a fir cone.

Glass of water

Pour water into a glass and cool it to 3-5 ºС. To do this, just put the vessel in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Next, you need to place the glass on the table away from the radiator and watch it for 5 minutes. At the same time, condensation forms on its walls due to temperature differences. Possible results:

• the glass has dried within a few minutes – the humidity is reduced;
• the walls remained fogged - the microclimate parameters were normal;
• Streams of water flowed down the glass - there was too much moisture in the air.

Assmann table

The Assmann table is designed to determine humidity using a psychrometer - an instrument consisting of two thermometers - a regular one and one with a humidification device. Its likeness can be made at home. You must first measure the temperature in the room with a regular alcohol thermometer and write down its value. Then you should wrap its end with a damp cloth. After 5 minutes, the temperature must be measured again. It should go down.

Next you need to look at the Assmann table. The readings of the “dry” thermometer are located vertically, and the temperature difference is located horizontally. Having seen the desired values, you should find their intersection. This will be an indicator of relative humidity.

fir cone

Note: Indirect signs of low indoor air humidity are drying out the tips of plant leaves and electrical discharges emanating from synthetic clothing.

Humidity regulation

At any time of the year, normal air humidity in the apartment should be no less than 30-40% and no higher than 65%. How to regulate it?

Ways to reduce humidity:

• frequent ventilation of premises;
• installation of exhaust fans;
• use of dehumidifiers and climate control systems;
• timely repairs water pipes and plumbing fixtures;
• use of heaters and air conditioners;
• refusal to dry clothes in the room;
• installation of a hood in the kitchen.

Methods for increasing humidity:

• purchasing an aquarium or decorative fountain;
• minimal use of heater and air conditioner;
• hanging wet towels on radiators;
• periodically spraying water from a spray bottle;
• using an air humidifier - steam, ultrasonic or traditional;
• regular wet cleaning;
• growing a large number of indoor flowers.

Air humidity in a house is an important parameter that affects both the well-being of its inhabitants and interior items. Normally, this figure ranges from 40 to 60%. It is especially important to monitor the humidity in the rooms where most children, as well as people with respiratory diseases. To regulate the moisture concentration in the air, it is convenient to use household humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

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