Remove humidity in the apartment. How to get rid of dampness in the apartment: causes of high humidity

Causes of dampness

If you feel that your house is damp, the first thing to check is the ventilation. Perhaps you accidentally covered it with wallpaper or covered it with furniture. Another way to check is to hold a piece of paper to vent. If it falls, then the ventilation is not working well and you need to resolve this issue with the management company.

“The optimal humidity in a residential area is considered to be 45%, permissible - up to 65%. The increase in humidity is affected by an increase in the number of people in the room, a large number of plants. In addition, the indicator depends on the intensity of cooking, washing and drying clothes, taking a shower and bath, on repair work"- comment service specialists of the company "Dinal".

Keep in mind that low humidity is also a problem. “If the humidity rises to 70% or more, this leads to the appearance of mold in the apartment. If it falls below 30%, then there is a feeling of dryness, and the chance of cold infections also increases, ”warns Vadim Rukavitsyn, environmental consultant for EcoShopper.

Modern plastic windows are airtight, thanks to which our house is warm and quiet. But if the house has poor-quality ventilation, then due to tightness, the humidity of the air gradually rises, especially in the bathroom and in the kitchen. It is better to take care of an autonomous ventilation system in advance, or at least ventilate the rooms more often.

Carefully inspect the ceiling - if there are any damp spots on it. Perhaps your neighbors are heating you up. Another common cause of moisture accumulation is insufficient thermal insulation of the walls. “There are two reasons for dampness - poor ventilation and low temperature. If the air temperature in the room is below 22 degrees, then the humidity will rise,” Dinal specialists add.

How to avoid high humidity

Even a large amount of laundry after washing leads to an excess of moisture. Try to dry fewer items at a time, and if possible, do it on the balcony.

Any damp room should be regularly heated, dried and ventilated.

If dampness in your home does not depend on the season or you cannot influence its causes, you can purchase a dehumidifier. Many modern models support themselves optimal level humidity in the apartment. “A dehumidifier should be purchased only if you do not have forced ventilation and air conditioning, or if you live in places where it is very humid outside even in winter. Then he can be really useful,” Vadim Rukavitsyn believes.

If the bathroom suffers most from dampness, then you need to dry the air in the room. “In bathrooms, fans are usually installed on the ventilation system hoods. For example, there are fans with humidity sensors that automatically turn on depending on the state of the air in the room. In addition, heated towel rails that are installed in hot water systems and constantly dry the air help to reduce the humidity in the bathroom, ”recommends Roman Sidlauskas, Development Director of the Russian representative office of Global Radiatori.

In the kitchen, consider the presence of a hood - it will absorb the moisture that forms during cooking.

Forced exhaust ventilation, most likely, will save you from dampness, but this is quite an expensive solution. The easiest thing you can do is install a fan in the kitchen duct.

Dampness on the first and fifth floor

Residents of the first floors often complain about dampness. As a rule, the reason is the flooding of the basement. Get authorized services to fix it.

In addition, housing on the ground floor is recommended to be heated periodically. There can be many ways - from heaters to underfloor heating. Humidity usually increases in autumn and spring, so use heaters during these periods. At the same time, provide regular slight ventilation - the humidity will return to normal. “The uniform heating of the rooms helps to fight dampness. Aluminum and bimetal radiators direct warm air to the center of the room, and it spreads evenly around the perimeter of the room. It is important to correctly calculate the number of radiator sections. Classical cast-iron batteries have no convective component, so they are not so effective in the fight against moisture,” emphasizes Roman Šidlauskas.

If you are trying to solve the problem with dampness on the fifth floor of the Khrushchev, then keep in mind that its cause is most likely in the features of the building. Mainly in the absence gable roof and poorly sealed seams between panels.

The installation of plastic windows only exacerbates the problems with ventilation, which on the upper floors of five-story buildings already leaves much to be desired. “To ensure sufficient ventilation, you can install a breather or heat exchanger in the apartment. This will ensure the flow of fresh, uncooled air, which is very convenient if it is cold outside. If you do not want to install additional supply ventilation, then you can limit yourself to airing several times a day, but this is not always convenient, ”says Vadim Rukavitsyn.

Repair features

If you are planning a renovation to get rid of dampness, try to choose natural Decoration Materials. It is also necessary to use waterproofing materials. Add antifungal ingredients to the grout.

When planning the arrangement, it is better to leave a small gap between the furniture and the walls.

In order to root out the appearance of mold, pay great attention to the insulation of walls and floors. It is recommended to treat the walls with a bleach solution and re-plaster them.

Constant dampness in a room can harm the floor, furniture, clothing, and even people's health. It is important to solve this problem as quickly as possible, otherwise it will develop over time dangerous mold. How to get rid of the smell of dampness in the apartment? Let's figure it out.

After the flood

Dampness in the apartment may appear after the neighbors have flooded the ceiling, the pipe has burst or the roof has leaked. If the room was flooded so badly that repairs had to be made, then first completely dry the rooms and treat all surfaces with a special primer.

If after the flood the humidity only increased greatly, then put a heater or a special device for drying air in the room. Check for mold on the ceiling, walls, or under the wallpaper. Did you find a fungus? Then you have to carry out repairs, otherwise disputes will quickly spread throughout the apartment. Dry everything in the room: clothes, curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture, toys. If you live in a private house, then put these items outside on a sunny day, if in an apartment, then on the balcony.

In the bathroom

Dampness and mold in the bathroom on tiles or whitewash indicates a bad hood. To begin with, try to keep the doors open as often as possible so that all excess moisture is vented. Then clean the hood. If it is in poor condition, you will have to install a new one. It can also be equipped with an additional fan. A heated towel rail will help get rid of dampness in the bathroom. It will regularly heat the air in the room and evaporate moisture.

In the basement

Often the cause of dampness in an apartment on the ground floor is the basement. Carefully inspect the pipes in the basement for leaks. If liquid oozes out of them, then it is worth repairing or replacing them altogether. You will also need to process all the walls and ceiling with a waterproofing solution. It is impossible to remove dampness from the basement with folk remedies, so you need to contact specialists to solve the problem.

In the closet

As soon as you notice dampness in the closet, take out all the things from it and dry them. Lightweight cotton products will dry in a few hours, outerwear will take more than one day. All things need to be straightened and hung up to speed up the process.

Wash the cabinet itself with water mixed with vinegar in a 1: 1 ratio. If you notice mold, then pour 1 tbsp. l. bleach per 1 liter of water and wipe the shelves and drawers with this solution. To remove mold from clothes, iron them through a damp cloth or use a steam generator.

How to remove damp smell

Any bad smell easy to remove with vinegar. Dilute it with water or use in pure form. Dampen a cloth with it and wipe all accessible surfaces. Chlorine will also perfectly cope with the smell of dampness in the apartment. Dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:5 and wipe everything in the room.

Hydrogen peroxide also effectively removes odors. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray around the room. Do not apply to painted walls or furniture as color may fade. Ammonia- another remedy for the smell of dampness. Mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio and wipe all surfaces in the apartment.

From bad smell help get rid of sorbent substances, for example Activated carbon mixed with salt. Pour the product into bowls and spread around the apartment. Change the mixture every few days. In addition, you can mask the unpleasant odor with essential oils. Add them to the sorbent or periodically light the aroma lamp.

You can get rid of the smell of dampness in the apartment, but it is better not to allow this. Ventilate the apartment regularly and open the bathroom door at night. In autumn and spring, when it rains, turn on the heaters for a while. And never put wet things in the closet.

One of important indicators estimates environment, in addition to air temperature, is its humidity. It is known that it can have the most direct impact on the state and even health of a person. What is the normal value? And what if the humidity is high?

Normal performance

So what is the humidity level? In the course of the research, it was found that values in the range from 40 to 60-65% are considered optimal. It is with such indicators that a person feels normal, and his body functions fully and smoothly.

How to determine humidity?

How to determine the humidity of the air? The most effective and reliable way is to use a special device called a hygrometer. But if you don’t have it at hand, then you can use other more accessible and simpler, but less accurate methods. Here is some of them:

You will need a glass of water. Put it in the refrigerator for several hours so that the water temperature drops to 3-5 degrees Celsius. Next, take it out and place it in the room where you want to measure the air humidity. Then just watch the glass for five minutes. If during this period the glass walls fog up, but dry fairly quickly, then the humidity is most likely low. If after five minutes the glass remains slightly misted, then the indicator is within the normal range. If trickles of water flow down the walls, then the humidity is probably increased.
You can use a spruce cone to assess the humidity. It must be placed on any surface, but certainly remote from all heating and heating appliances. After an hour, carefully examine it. If the scales open, then the air is most likely dry. If, on the contrary, they approached each other, then this indicates an increase in the indicator.
Estimate the drying speed of the laundry after washing it. So, if it dries for a very long time, then it is obvious that the humidity in the room is greatly increased.

Why is the humidity rising?

The main reasons for the increase in humidity:

Insufficient ventilation. If the windows are constantly closed, then the moisture simply has nowhere to evaporate, so it will remain in the room.
Incorrect operation of the ventilation system. Take a close look at everything ventilation outlets. If the grates are heavily soiled or covered with something, this will lead to a violation of air circulation, as well as an increase in humidity.
Bad neighbors upstairs. If they often or constantly flood your apartment, then the humidity in it will certainly be increased.
Cracks in walls or ceilings, or leaking seams. Through them, moisture can penetrate into the dwelling from the outside, that is, from the street during rain or after it when condensation forms.
If you live on the first floor, and the basement in your house is flooded, then this may be the reason for the increase in the indicator.
Poor quality or wrong installed windows. If a wooden windows allow air to pass through even in the closed position, plastic ones prevent normal circulation. And that is why they must be equipped with a micro-ventilation system that allows access to oxygen. If your windows do not have this function, then this can lead to an increase in humidity.
Plumbing failure. Undetected leaks can also cause an increase in the parameter in question.
Abundant watering indoor flowers. If there is too much water in the pot, and the plant simply does not have time to absorb it, then it will certainly evaporate.
Frequent drying of large quantities of laundry.

Is high humidity dangerous?

Is high humidity dangerous? There is no threat to life, but still harm to health is quite possible. So, with high humidity, mold begins to appear. The thing is that fungi are very fond of moisture, heat and lack of fresh air. Many people think that mold plaque is just an external defect.

But in reality it's not like that. Microscopic spores are easily spread through the air and enter the human skin, as well as into the body through the respiratory system or mucous membranes. In addition, they can not only become more active and multiply, but also release dangerous toxins.

Fungal lesions often cause severe allergic reactions (up to bronchial asthma), as well as a variety of skin diseases. Among other things, with a decrease in immunity, diseases of the internal organs can develop.

How to reduce?

So, how to remove strong humidity in the apartment? There are several ways:

The easiest way is to use an air conditioner or split system. Such a device will provide an influx of air from the outside and reduce humidity. So just turn on the air conditioner every day for at least an hour to gradually normalize the performance.
There are special devices - the so-called air dryers. The air is forced through the evaporator, where condensate forms due to the temperature difference. The water flows into the container. Such a device can absorb about 10-200 liters per day.
Use a moisture absorber. It is also a special device, but its principle of operation differs from the essence of the dehumidifier. A special tablet is placed in the body of such a device, which absorbs water from the air. Such a device is much cheaper than a dehumidifier. But its performance is less, so it is hardly suitable for large rooms. In addition, the tablets will have to be changed frequently.
It is known that the humidity of the air decreases markedly during the period heating season. So if you notice its increase, then you can turn on the heater.
Try to use folk remedies. Many powdered compositions, such as starch, flour, sugar, crushed chalk, talc, semolina, and so on, have good adsorbing, that is, absorbent properties. You can pour one of these products into bowls and place them around the perimeter of the room. But it is difficult to call this method effective.

Most effective method control is the elimination of the main cause of the increase in humidity.

Prevention

What can I do to keep the humidity from rising? Basic preventive measures:

Closely monitor the operation of the ventilation system.
Constantly evaluate the performance of the pipeline.
Every day (and preferably several times a day) ventilate the apartment or house.
If you are drying clothes in the room, then open the windows. Besides, in washing machine you can select the spin function to remove most of the moisture from the material. And if you have a balcony, then it is best to dry washed things on it.
Watering houseplants follows correctly. Avoid standing water.
If plastic windows are installed in your apartment or house, then place their shutters in the micro-ventilation position.
At the stage of building a house or overhaul eliminate all cracks in the ceiling, floor and walls.

Let the humidity in your home always be normal!

Everyone dreams of a cozy and comfortable home. But even the most modern apartments are not immune from the appearance mold fungus due to too high humidity levels in the rooms. You can deal with the problem with the help of effective folk methods and industrial facilities.

Causes of dampness

The normal level of humidity in the apartment is not more than 60%. During a hot summer, this figure can be reduced to 45%. It is under such conditions that a person will feel as comfortable as possible. But if it is high, living quarters are created optimal conditions for the development of dampness, and hence the fungus.

High levels of humidity in the room can cause fungus

The reason for the increased level of humidity in residential premises can be:

poor ventilation;
damage water pipes and improperly installed home plumbing;
regular drying of linen in living quarters;
frequent bathing;
the presence in the apartment of aquariums and a large number of indoor plants;
not insulated interwall seams and cracks.

High humidity is also formed during the cooking process. To eliminate such a problem, it is often enough to ventilate the room well. But if the ceiling is leaking, it will not be so easy to get rid of dampness.

The appearance of condensation in the room in summer and winter is also facilitated by the installation of plastic windows.

The formation of condensate disrupts the normal microclimate in the apartment

Where does mold grow?

Most often, mold can be found on walls and windows, on the ceiling and floor. Sometimes the fungus hides under carpets, in pile, behind wallpaper, furniture and decorative objects on the walls, as well as in cabinets and bookshelves. If mold is found, immediate action must be taken to prevent the growth of the fungus and completely remove it.

Why dampness may appear in the house - video

Instructions for reducing humidity in an apartment or private house

One of the most simple ways to effectively deal with dampness in the premises is regular ventilation.
High-quality ventilation of the premises helps to remove excess moisture
It is also necessary to take care of isolation of sources of dampness. If an indoor wall becomes damp due to plumbing or sewer pipes, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate breakdowns, which will eventually dry the wall. But if dampness in a private house occurs due to the proximity ground water, the only way to solve the problem is to isolate the walls and foundation with waterproof materials, which can be purchased in specialized construction stores. In some cases, it is advisable to organize additional heating of the room, which will dry the damp corners and prevent the further development of the fungus.
Additional heating of the room will reduce humidity and dry damp areas of walls and floors
To find out the reason why the walls of the dwelling are covered with moisture, you can use this method: attach a plastic sheet 50 cm long to the inner surface of the wall with adhesive tape, remove it after a few days and check the condition of the surface under it. If it is dry, the cause of mold is the high level of humidity in the room. If wet, then the reason lies in the seepage of water through the wall. You can get rid of this problem with the help of special water-repellent paints or plaster, which includes silicone or synthetic latex. To prevent dampness inside, these products are also applied to external walls. At the same time, in some cases it is advisable to carry out complex repair work.
Water-repellent paints and plasters will protect walls from fungus
Owners of private houses should remember that earthen floors are excellent conductors of moisture. For this reason, it is desirable to cover them polymeric materials or concrete.
Concrete floor does not allow excessive moisture to pass through
Cracks must be removed with solutions that harden on contact with a moist environment. For walls, a plaster solution is used. When sealing defects located at the junctions of walls and floors, epoxy materials are usually used.
High-quality sealing of cracks will prevent the appearance of fungus in an apartment and a private house
The reasons for excessive moisture inside wooden buildings are poorly caulked seams between logs and insufficient ventilation. You can deal with the problem using special antiseptic preparations and bleaches that effectively remove the fungus, such as Bioshield, Neomid, Remmers or Procept.
Sealing the seams between the logs and treating the wood with special compounds will prevent the appearance of dampness inside the house.
In apartments located in houses made of bricks, foam blocks and aerated concrete, with an increased level of humidity, it is advisable to use dehumidifiers. Such devices are ideal for destroying excess moisture in bathrooms, toilets and in the kitchen.
Dehumidifiers will cope with excess moisture in any residential premises

How to get rid of the fungus in the apartment - video

Often unwanted moisture accumulates under linoleum. It is there that all the conditions are created for the development of mold, which is almost impossible to get rid of completely and you have to change the coating. In doing so, it is advisable to follow important recommendations:

on floors affected by mold, in no case should old materials be laid;
the fungus often goes to the walls, so you should cut off the lower part of the wallpaper adjacent to the baseboards;
when installing a new linoleum, it is desirable to treat it with antifungal drugs.

To remove the fungus under the linoleum, you need to change the flooring

If mold has formed under the wallpaper, it is necessary to clean the surface of black spots using one of the solutions:

from washing powder and chlorine (1–2 tablespoons of chlorine and 30–50 g of powder) - dilute the dry mixture with 3 liters of cool water, not forgetting to use protective equipment in the form of gloves and a respirator.
from ½ bar of laundry soap, 100 g of soda and 5 liters of water.

Armed with a few clean rags and a sponge, you should clean the walls and dry with a household heater or infrared device. Then you need to apply antifungal drug, for example, Furacilin or Nystatin.

It is good to dissolve 4-6 tablets in 0.5 l of hot water.
Add another 3-5 liters of water.
Treat the walls of the room with a solution. Instead of these drugs, copper sulfate can also be used.
Dry surfaces thoroughly.
Apply primer for wallpapering. When choosing suitable composition It is worth paying attention to products containing antifungal substances.

The formation of fungus under the wallpaper is a common problem for rooms with high level humidity

Mold on plastic windows

If mold has formed on plastic windows and slopes, action should be taken immediately.

Remove visible fungus stains using an aqueous solution of bleach in a 5:1 ratio.
Treat windows with ready-made antifungal compounds (Vincents, TEX, Polyline, Dufa) or self-made.

At home, you can make remedies according to the following recipes:

0.2 l of boric and 70% acetic acid per 1 liter of water;
100 g of sodium fluoride and blue vitriol for 1 liter of water;
100 ml of copper sulfate and household bleach per 1 liter of water.

The selected composition must be applied to the surface plastic frames and slopes with a brush. To prevent the recurrence of mold, it is recommended to use rubber-based waterproofing mastics. With the help of such means, it is possible to provide surfaces with a waterproof coating.

Do not forget about protective equipment - gloves and a mask. After finishing the treatment, ventilate the room for 40 minutes.

Plastic windows without ventilation systems often cause mold and mildew.

How to get rid of condensation on PVC windows - video

Mold in the bathroom

When mold appears in the bathroom, it is also impossible to do without surface treatment with antifungal compounds. If the fungus has formed on the ceiling, it should be removed along with the plaster, cleaning the affected areas from sealant and paint. After completion of work, it is necessary to make sure that the pipes and mixers are not leaking, to eliminate breakages. Joints plastic parts can be treated with a sealant.

Home remedies for fighting fungus and indoor dampness

In addition to industrial compounds in the fight against fungus, you can use effective and inexpensive home-made products.

Take 0.5 kg of laundry soap, grate and dissolve in 5 liters of water.
Boil the resulting composition, cool it.
In warm summer weather, brush a few coats of soapy water onto moldy, bare walls.
Then cover them with a composition prepared from 100 g of alum and 6 liters of water.

You can cope with dampness with the help of calcium chloride, placing it in the corners. For reuse it must be dried under the influence high temperatures, and then ceiling. Suitable as a replacement charcoal and quicklime. However, when using this method, care should be taken that these substances are not available to children and pets.

Mold Prevention

To prevent mold, monitor the humidity level in the room with a hydrometer.
Provide good ventilation and adequate sunlight.
Use fans in the bathroom and kitchen, regularly check the draft in the ventilation shafts, monitor the condition of plumbing fixtures, especially at their joints.
Repair cracks in walls and floors.
When carrying out major repairs, use materials on mineral basis allowing more effective control of indoor humidity levels.
Take care of high-quality waterproofing.
Inspect regularly plastic seals on the PVC windows, check their suitability, carry out timely replacement.
At the first appearance of condensate, promptly eliminate the cause of its formation.

Simple and available methods will help eliminate excessive levels of moisture in the premises, thereby preventing the development of a harmful fungus. Using a variety of tools and formulations, do not forget about safety measures that can protect your health. Regular preventive measures will minimize the risk of mold recurrence in your home.

When the humidity in your home exceeds the norm, you need to do something about it immediately. Some people live without paying attention to it, but this is a big mistake, since excessive humidity in the apartment can provoke the appearance of various diseases. A moist environment is ideal for the reproduction of fungus and other pathogenic bacteria.

In addition, an unpleasant musty smell may appear in the house, which will eventually permeate all furniture, linen and clothes. You can avoid such problems by knowing how to reduce the humidity in the room.

Humidity standards in residential premises

Before you try to get rid of the humidity in the house, you need to measure it. Relative humidity in a residential area should be in the range of 40-60%. To measure it, a device called a hygrometer is used.

There are several types of hygrometers, but for an apartment it is most convenient to use the electronic version. Using such a device, you do not have to do anything, just observe the indicators.

What air humidity is considered normal in the apartment

How to lower indoor humidity

The hood in the kitchen significantly reduces the humidity in the entire apartment.

To bring high humidity back to normal, do the following:

On sunny days, open the curtains to let the light into the room well. Do not put too bulky flowers on the windowsills.
In the hot season and in frosty winter, the air is dry outside. Therefore, you should ventilate the room as often as possible, and the humidity decreases. The ideal option there will be airing 3 times a day for 30 minutes. And at night, leave the windows ajar at least in the kitchen.
Check ventilation. If it is faulty, it should be repaired, as it will be a good helper in the fight against dampness.
If you have an air conditioner, you can lower the humidity with it, there is a special function for purifying and dehumidifying the air.

An air conditioner with a drying function or special dehumidifiers will help in the fight against high humidity.

Help fight dampness domestic heaters. They quickly enough not only heat the air, but also dry it.
Reduced humidity contribute to certain Construction Materials. It's wood and drywall. By sheathing the walls with them, you will adjust the hygrometer readings. Also use waterproofing plaster. It is absolutely waterproof and withstands water pressure up to 5 meters deep.
Dampness will also be eliminated after the insulation of the outer walls. Unless the cause of this very dampness is a flooded basement.
In the kitchen, remove excess moisture will help kitchen hood. It should be used every time you cook. If there is no hood, cover the pots with lids.
A slight decrease in air humidity can be achieved with a hair dryer, candles and indoor plants.
Dampness in the closet can be overcome by ironing clothes with a hot iron.

How to get rid of an unpleasant smell in the apartment

Folk recipes

Salt and sugar are highly hygroscopic.

In addition to the methods listed above, there are also folk recipes to help eliminate dampness in your home:

When using silica gel to reduce humidity, be careful if there are small children in the house.

How to remove mold from the walls of the apartment and the balcony

How to get rid of humidity in the apartment with a special device

If your hygrometer is off the charts and you're wondering how to dehumidify your home, a special technique can help. In stores, you can find a device called a dehumidifier or dehumidifier.

Excessively humid air passes through a special evaporator. The temperature in it is lower than in the room. Due to this, moisture turns into condensate and flows into a container designed for this. And already drier air enters the room.

How to get rid of mold on a wall without peeling off the wallpaper

Such devices can be stationary or portable. Stationary devices have great performance, they are mounted in the wall. Portable dehumidifiers, in turn, are more miniature, but they also have less power. When choosing a dehumidifier, pay attention to the power, the higher it is, the better.

Quality indoor air is good for your health. Knowing how to reduce the humidity in the apartment, and maintaining these figures within the normal range, you provide yourself and your loved ones with comfortable living conditions.