So I air out my house 1-2 times a day. I was told it’s recommended to do it 3 times but I’m never home most of the day. Last week I had a couple times where I left the window open for at least 30min to an hour and I usually set my heat on low for the day (1-1.5). I noticed this big spot last night. I wanted to get a second opinion on if it’s something I can’t dry out? I’m leaving the heat on 3 while I’m away for 6 hours as that was first recommended. But I’m also going to be out of town for 3 weeks so I’m worried about it getting worse.
by BoxLongjumping1067
14 comments
I don’t see anything. What kind of spot?
That’s weird. Water should not be under the paint from just condensation.
Talk to your landlord. Keep the window closed when you leave and the heating to minimal.
I do not think it’s your fault
looks like water coming down from the window, probably during the night.
30min of airing by itselve should not result in a water stain that big. So there are 3 different potential sources: extremely humid air condensating at the window, water coming in through the open window, or water coming in through the closed window.
If it did rain, and you had your window closed, contact your landlord. He needs to check on the roof above the window.
If you have condensation on the inside of your window, get a cheap hygrometer and monitor the air humidity and temperature in your apartment.
If humidity is above 60%, you need to adjust your behavior. Heat more and air your apartment directly after showering/hanging your clothes to dry.
If humidity is below 50%, contact your landlord and tell him the window or its reveal is a thermal bridge and there is a lot of condensation.
If you had yor window open during rain… do not do that again.
For your time away, I would recommend not setting your heat as low as you normally do. You need to “push the dew point outside your walls”. As a stop gap solution for the next 3 weeks, while you are away, get a few of those chemical dehumidifiers and set them up close to the window. Its a bandaid, but you can at least say you did someting afterwards. If the spot is not gone before you leave, and depending on your relationship with your landlord, I’d also recommend making arrangements for them or a friend of yours, to check on the spot once a week while you are gone.
Please don’t turn down the heater down in winter! Cold air doesn’t hold moisture well. The humidity condenses on the coldest parts of the walls, and mold develops! You need a constant temperature of at least 16°C/18°C. Turning the heating up and down won’t save you on heating costs; in fact, it will increase them! Heating up cold walls requires more energy than maintaining a constant temperature. Search online for guides on “Richtig Heizen und Lüften”. The problem of damp patches and mold will worsen if you don’t change your heating habits.
To ventilate, open the windows completely for 5 minutes, not just tilted for 30 minutes, otherwise mold will form below the windows.
Does it sound more solid there than on the other side (hollow)? Maybe there is mortar underneath that kind of soaked some water in
Check your window seal, mabe it got damaged throu time or wear and tear
To me, this does not look like condensation. Could it be that it was raining while the window was open, and the water came into the flat from outside? It could also be that the window is untight even when closed and the water came in through the frame somehow.
That looks more like the water is seeping up. Not dripping in. The frame seals probably gone. Needs a touch up.
Water condensed on the window. Moved down. Dripped from the frame.
My suggestion Is more preferably to use this heater. And blinds have to be 45⁰ open, that hot air will warm the window. Trust me i had a similar situation. The problem will mostly disappear, but in very cold months condensate again can form.
Plus get a dehumidifier, very useful device, also you can dry cses with it
Do not air out for that long. If your apartment is humid airing out actually can make it worse. Especially when it’s cold outside or if the humidity outside is greater than inside.
It looks like a very weak shadow from the handle by an outside lightsource if you ask me. Did you hang up any Christmas Decoration?
Please look into the frame of your windows if there is an outlet for condensate. It looks like your outlet is clogged. This happens in Fall and Spring most of the times so you have to unclog it. Or else there will be more water coming into your walls
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