Damp.

[barefoot]

Damp is such a fact of life over here, I don't think I know of anyone who doesn't suffer from it in one form or another. Once the property is bought, there are plenty of steps you can take to eliminate it as much as possible.

 

[fil6699]

Slightly Of topic but as damp has been mentioned a couple of times. I can give you some sound advise if you keep the place well ventilated this will help eliminate damp. You need a flow of air all the time. Our Finka is very old and the walls are extremely thick. We always make sure that the place is well ventilated when we are there and when we are away for any length of time and never have a problem with damp. Its the cheapest and simplest way to combat damp. If you can for example close the shutters locked but leave a window open at the front and back of the house just a little this will ensure the property is secure but also allow air to flow through and keep it fresh and free from damp.Another tip if you are away for any length of time leave wardrobe doors and cupboards etc open slightly again allowing air to flow.

 

[Sparky]

To prevent confusion i have moved the above posts from the "Legal or not" thread where the problem of damp in properties was mentioned .

 

[eleanor]

Good tips Fill we especially ensure we keep the kitchen cupboards open as they can smell quite horrid with the damp.

Another tip is to leave bowls of salt around which helps to soak up the damp. You know it works as the salt turns solid! Another cheap one too!

 

[fil6699]

Good tips Fill we especially ensure we keep the kitchen cupboards open as they can smell quite horrid with the damp.

Another tip is to leave bowls of salt around which helps to soak up the damp. You know it works as the salt turns solid! Another cheap one too!

Another tip if you leave your freezer on while you are away and want to be sure power has not gone off and back on place an ice cube in a saucer in the freezer if the freezer has been of for any time the cube will have changed shape and ice will be in saucer Sorry I know its not damp tip but it just came to mind

 

[eleanor]

I also leave lavender around during the winter. Useless for damp but great for keeping the villa smelling nice!

 

[Sparky]

You can also buy "Silica Gel Bags" of varying sizes, these are often found in the packaging for electronic and other items, so i save them and put them in cupboards and the great thing is, they are completely free .

 

[eleanor]

Very useful to have these tips especially the free ones! Damp is a very hard war to win and has been said is a real problem in Mallorca and more so in the North. I think as fil says it certainly helps to keep the air flowing throughout the building and to keep small windows open is a good idea. Some of the older properties have bars on the outside of their windows so to leave one open slightly wouldn't cause a security threat and would help the damp situation. My question would be IF there was a break into the property even if not through that window, would the insurance policy stand or would the fact a window was open be enough for them to wiggle out of it? Negative I know but I'm still fighting a Spanish Insurance company who has refused to pay out as someone who knocked down our wall didn't leave a visiting card!!

 

[El Gordo]

....If you can for example close the shutters locked but leave a window open at the front and back of the house just a little this will ensure the property is secure but also allow air to flow through and keep it fresh and free from damp. .....

"Trickle Vents" are reasonably cheap and easy to fit to windows. They allow the circulation of air without jeopardising security. They work a treat

 

[eleanor]

Thanks for this Gordon - actually when I looked at your link I was reminded of a property we viewed which had what looked like chopped broom sticks along the window frame with the window open just a few inches. The sticks obviously stopped the windows being opened any further. Another cheap way of sorting the damp problem.

 

[barefoot]

Of course, living here permenantly makes it a little hard to leave windows open, particularly in this cold spell. The major problem is of course breathing, particularly overnight in a room with the door closed to keep the heat in. If we could just stop breathing, there would be no problem with damp!

 

[Belladonna]

We used the silica gel sets, where you have a plastic box with the gel at the bottom. This was a couple of years ago. We used to put them in one of the bathrooms over the winter months, and when we returned they were overflowing! Just proved how much condensation was happening on one side of the apartment. We then started leaving the windows open, just a touch, but that just made the apartment freezing when we returned.
Didnt think about changing the windows to include the trickle vent ones, that seems a good idea.
Anyway, we then had a great guy come and take the plaster back to the brickwork and re do the plaster with the special anti mould plaster. This has helped with the mould situation. Also have a lovely housekeeper pop in and check now and then re opening windows for a while. Still an ongoing problem though, and one which we all have to deal with unfortunately!

 

[Project]

Hi all
Yes, damp is a nightmare, also affecting the health of many.
I once met with a "damp specialist" and learnt a great deal. One thing being that if you are not in the property then leaving windows open is not a great idea as it also allows a lot more damp air in over periods of wet weather, made sense when I thought about it!
Airflow is definitely the key though and trickle vents or one way valves are also essential as they allow the air to move. If you also heat the air to say, 15c, then it does expand pushing it out of such vents.
A dehumidifier running during winter set on a stool with the hose into the shower is also an excellent way to keep the air dry.
Certainly is a case of finding out what works for you, but this along with a few other tips and tricks helped a friend of mine not have damp related asthma in the winters.
Talking of which, where did the sun go??
Regards
Paul

 

[phil]

Dehumidifiers are a great way to combat damp but if you do as acid burn suggests don't forget to use the cling film trick and cover the toilet otherwise the dehumidifier will try and remove the water out of it.
P.s. Dont forget to remove the cling film before using the loo.

 

[pescador2009]

When studying 'building services' many years ago the lecturer came out with the phrase "Good heating and good ventilation leads to comfortable living". For some reason I've never forgot that phrase - it is very true.
I appreciate heating and venting when you leave the property for a while (e.g. winter) is not really on and I don't have a full answer for anyone on that score.
Back in sunny old England, I open the Bathroom and Kitchen windows for a while every morning when I get up, winter or summer. We have never suffered from damp or mould.
The Mediterranean climate is perfect for same during winter. From my school geography days it was described as: 'Warm, wet, westerly winds in winter'. However it seems from Sparkey's daily forcasts that there has been a lot of 'Cold, wet, northerly winds this last winter or two'.