Why are the walls on the ground floor wet? Methods of dealing with high humidity in the apartment (house)

High humidity and related problems - mold and mildew - are not uncommon. A few tips on how to get rid of dampness in an apartment or private house will help you forget about this trouble. To deal effectively with dampness, you need to determine the cause of its appearance. This can be, as a result of vital activity - steam from the bathroom or shower, things drying in the apartment - or defects made during construction. High humidity is often the result of an improper ventilation system or blockage of ventilation ducts.

"Symptoms" of high humidity

The relative humidity in the apartment is normally about 50%. If this indicator is exceeded, then this must be fought. You can measure humidity using a hydrometer, but there are some "symptoms" that clearly indicate that its level in the room is increased:

steam or condensation drops on window panes;

mold on walls or ceilings;

the smell of dampness (mustiness);

things in the room are humidified.

High humidity in the bathroom and kitchen

Getting rid of dampness after cooking, boiling things, or bathing is pretty easy. Most often, it is enough to organize ventilation for this. If for some reason this cannot be done, you can install an air dehumidifier in the house. For these rooms, a model with a capacity of 10 liters per day is suitable. Since the humidity due to vital activity is not constant, it is better to choose a portable dehumidifier and use it, if necessary, in the room where it is necessary to lower the moisture at a particular moment.

This device will help out during repairs, because technological humidity appears in the house when plastering surfaces and wallpapering, and it is not always possible to remove it by airing. For the kitchen, it will be relevant to use a hood of sufficient power. If things are often boiled there, food is prepared for a large family, then the capacity of the hood should be at least 500 m3 / hour.

Ventilation organization

Proper ventilation will help reduce humidity in the apartment and prevent damp problems. Of course, not everyone can decide to make major repairs for the device of ventilation shafts. In this case, a technological novelty is suitable - window pressure ventilators. They automatically create the required thrust, taking into account the difference in pressure outside and inside the house.

Hygro-controlled exhaust grilles installed in existing ventilation ducts are another useful device. Their action is based on the regulation of the suction flow depending on the humidity in the room. However, it should be noted that if the channel is clogged or has insufficient diameter, then the installation of such equipment will not help remove dampness. In this case, first of all, it is necessary to clean the clogged shaft, and only then install forced ventilation.

How to deal with dampness in an apartment on the ground or floor

Apartments on the ground floor are chronically "sick" with high humidity. Getting rid of dampness in them is sometimes not easy at all, because here the reason may be in the wrong arrangement of the foundation of the house. If such a defect is present, then it is impossible to eliminate it on your own. In this case, only additional heating and forced ventilation are suitable.

If the reason for the moisture is insufficient waterproofing, then the moisture can be reduced. To do this, it is necessary to arrange a coating or gluing waterproofing of the floor with sewing of cracks with waterproofing plasters. It is more difficult to cope with moisture penetration through interpanel seams. Such a problem is a construction defect, and it is felt by the inhabitants of all apartments in the house. To eliminate it, you can contact the housing office or collect the necessary funds at a meeting of residents and order sealing of seams from professionals.

How to reduce moisture for residents of the upper floors?

Residents on the top floor suffer from dampness in the absence of a pitched roof. Moisture penetrates to them through the ceiling. It is impossible to eliminate its ingress by waterproofing the ceiling in the room, since any solution in this direction will be unreliable. The water will simply "bypass" the obstacle and go into the walls. But there is still a solution. In order to get rid of dampness, you need to insulate the floor on the floor above the apartment. This is an attic or, as it is officially called, a technical floor. When repairing, special attention should be paid to sealing joints and seams, since it is mainly through them that moisture enters the apartment.

There are times when access to the attic is closed for various reasons, for example, the premises are rented or sold, and the new owner does not allow anyone there. Here the question of how to dehumidify the air in the apartment becomes problematic. There is only one way out - roof waterproofing. Not everyone can afford the financial investment for such a repair, so you will have to require the elimination of leaks from the organization serving the house, or collect funds from all residents of the riser.

Private house and high humidity problems

In a private house, excess moisture can be the result of insufficient waterproofing of the foundation, moisture penetration through cracks in the walls, or inadequate ventilation. One of the reliable methods of eliminating dampness in the house is to install the correct drainage system on the site. This is especially true if there is a high level of groundwater.

The second method is external and internal waterproofing of the basement. External vertical insulation can be done after the house is built, but horizontal insulation is done only at the time of the foundation. We must not forget about the insulation of the floor in a private house. A concrete floor is more reliable to prevent moisture ingress, but good insulation can also be provided for wooden floors.

Waterproofing walls in a private house can be done by applying a layer of plaster of the following composition:

1 part cement;

1 part sand;

1 part silicone or synthetic latex.

This dry plaster mixture is diluted with water and applied to the walls in the usual way. This will strengthen the walls and prevent leaks.

When the humidity in the apartment is high, something urgently needs to be done, otherwise many problems may appear, up to the formation and reproduction of a fungus. In addition, dampness can lead to a musty smell in the room. That is why everyone should know how to remove excess moisture in an apartment.

It is desirable that the humidity in the room is at 60%. In summer, in hot weather, this figure can be reduced by up to 45%. True, it should be remembered that a person feels uncomfortable in an overly dry room. That is why those who prefer to solve such a problem with the help of an air conditioner should monitor the condition of the air and be aware of how to remove high humidity in the apartment. During operation, this climatic technology reduces the humidity in the room. This must be taken into account when using it.

On top of that, remember that if you prefer to dry your clothes at home without ventilating your apartment, the humidity in the air will quickly increase, and these conditions will be ideal for mold growth.

How to measure in a living space?

It is possible to determine that the indicator of the moisture content in the air in the apartment exceeds the norm by mold on the wallpaper and wet walls, and also with the help of a hygrometer. Moreover, this household measuring device is not very expensive. To control the level of dampness in a room, you just need to hang it on the wall like a regular thermometer.

The harm of excess moisture in the apartment

Excessive dampness in the room will first of all have a bad effect on the human skin, for example, rashes will appear or even allergies will arise. In addition, excess moisture can provoke the development of other unpleasant diseases. First of all, children and the elderly will suffer from high humidity, since their immunity is weakened.

Magazines and newspapers in a damp room deteriorate over time. Also, due to excessive humidity, the room begins to smell like mold. Moreover, this unpleasant smell will quickly permeate clothes and furniture. In addition, with excess dampness, food deteriorates much faster, so you should find out how to remove high humidity in an apartment so that they are not constantly thrown away.

The main reasons for the increase in humidity in the room

The reason may be poor-quality waterproofing of the walls of the house from the foundation. This happens due to a violation of technology during its construction. In such a situation, it will be difficult to get rid of the problem, since such construction defects are practically irreparable, but it is still worth figuring out how to remove the humidity in the apartment in order to improve living conditions.

The most common cause of excess humidity in rooms is a violation of natural ventilation. Often, after replacing old windows with new, more sealed double-glazed windows, dampness forms in the apartment. This happens, as a rule, due to a violation of air circulation, due to which moisture appears, which condenses on windows, walls and even provokes the growth of mold.

There is another source of increased humidity in an apartment - the release of water into the air when breathing family members. And here we are not talking about milliliters per day, but about liters. Therefore, you should definitely find out how to remove humidity in an apartment, otherwise you will not be able to avoid negative consequences.

In addition, the constant drying of laundry in rooms can worsen the humidity situation. Heating is another factor in increasing moisture. Moreover, even when the radiators do not heat well in the room, dampness may appear.

If the roof of the house is leaking, then it will be possible to eliminate the high humidity only after its repair.

How to remove humidity in an apartment?

To normalize the microclimate in the room, you do not need to curtain the windows on sunny days in damp rooms. You should not dry linen in the apartment, it is better to hang it on the balcony or loggia.

Many people, when faced with a similar problem, are looking for any information on how to remove moisture in an apartment using household appliances. There are many different moisture-absorbing devices on sale today. They contain an absorbent substance that absorbs all excess water from the air.

To prevent an increase in humidity in the apartment, you must always ventilate the rooms after the following manipulations:

It is recommended to install a hood, especially when the reason for the increase in moisture is a gas stove or a shower stall with constant vapors.

PVC-profile windows can also lead to an increase in humidity in the room. With a hermetically sealed glass unit, air exchange between the interior of the house and the street is disrupted. To prevent this from happening, it is better to buy plastic windows with a built-in ventilation system.

Candles, hair dryers, heaters and even indoor plants will help eliminate dampness in an apartment. But the most effective method for reducing humidity is air conditioning. In modern models, in addition to cooling and heating, there are additional functions such as dehumidification and air purification.

Dampness in the apartment can occur if the plumbing is out of order. To reduce air humidity, you will have to eliminate the causes of the leak, for example, replacing outdated pipes.

How to remove moisture in an apartment with folk remedies?

If the walls without wallpaper are covered with mold, then you can get rid of it with the help of a solution of laundry soap. It is not difficult to do it: the detergent is dissolved in 5 liters of water, after which it is brought to a boil. The resulting mixture is applied evenly to the walls with a brush and left to dry completely. The procedure should be repeated several times until soap traces form on the surface. Then they can be processed with a different composition, to create which you will need 6 liters of water and 100 grams of alum.

How to remove humidity in an apartment using a grandmother's method is interesting to many. For example, calcium chloride, which perfectly absorbs moisture, will also help fight this problem. Containers with it are placed in damp corners of the room. But in order to use calcium again, it will first have to be dried in the oven and then crushed. By the way, you can use charcoal or quicklime instead.

Other tricks for removing excess moisture in the air

Before removing high humidity in an apartment, you should familiarize yourself with other folk methods in order to choose the most suitable option. For example, you can get rid of dampness with bricks. They must be heated and placed against a moldy wall on any fire-resistant surface. It is advisable to do this until you can get rid of the dampness. It should be borne in mind that after 10 incandescences the bricks cease to absorb moisture. In addition, there should be no flammable objects near them.

But to combat black mold spots on surfaces in damp rooms, you will need a solution of the following ingredients:

The walls must first be dried, and then the antibacterial substance must be dissolved in alcohol and diluted with water. The resulting composition should be applied directly to the mold spots. This folk remedy will help to quickly eliminate them, and it will also prevent dampness.

How to avoid high humidity in the room?

If you do not want to face such a problem, you must carefully choose your indoor plants. Remember that tropical flowers need frequent watering. It is better to give preference to cacti, although some of them are not very attractive.

When renovating rooms with high humidity, it is advisable to purchase mineral-based materials, since they are able to regulate the level of dampness in the room and do not form a greenhouse effect.

During the fight against excess moisture in the air, most people forget that dryness is no less dangerous for human health, therefore it is so important to maintain the microclimate in the apartment at an optimal level.

Options for how to get rid of dampness in the room

Excessive dampness often becomes a diagnosis of private houses, urban skyscrapers and summer cottages. In the cold season, it manifests itself as mold on the walls and windows. Many owners start and end the fight only with the fungus, because it sharply negatively affects the health of the residents. In this case, the root cause - high humidity - is ignored, so the mold soon returns. Only an analysis of the situation and an integrated approach will help get rid of dampness.

Causes of high humidity

There are several hundred types of household mold in nature. The main factor in their appearance in a living room is excessive dampness. The fungus forms in places with poor ventilation on surfaces prone to sudden changes in temperature. In other words, if your house has a cold wall, a dark coating will appear in poorly ventilated corners, you just have to turn on the heating system.

In high-rise buildings, mold can arise due to global disturbances in the air circulation system. Test the draft in your vents with a regular match. Its weakening or termination occurs for the following reasons:

mistakes of builders even at the stage of building a house;

illegal interference with the integrity of the channels of your vertical neighbors;

failure of parts of the system due to the old age of the house.

It is difficult to eliminate ventilation in a high-rise building. Homeowners generally only go for this if a major redevelopment or renovation of a building is envisaged. You will have to rely on folk remedies to eliminate dampness in the room. In the private sector, such problems are relatively easier to solve, because everything depends only on the owner.

Attention! On the ground floors of apartment buildings or in private houses, dampness may appear due to flooding of the basement by a burst of water supply, groundwater or poor thermal insulation between the wall and the foundation. Mold forms at the bottom of the wall.

Step 1. Fighting fungal plaque

To get rid of dampness, first of all, you need to identify and eliminate all fungal plaque on the walls. Delay can lead to the development of diseases. Spores of the fungus with the air enter the lungs and disrupt the functioning of the respiratory system. Dampness and mold can cause acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases up to tuberculosis. In addition, it suppresses the immune system. For residents of the house, especially children and the elderly, this manifests itself in a deterioration in well-being, allergic reactions and exacerbation of all kinds of ailments.

During the cleaning process, it is important not only to clean, but also to disinfect all surfaces where there is a fungus. Use any suitable means:

chlorine bleach and other chemicals;

vinegar;

hydrogen peroxide;

soda;

ammonia;

tea tree oil, etc.

Attention! Wear gloves and a mask with all types of anti-damp and fungus cleansing agents.

It is important that close contact does not allow large quantities of spores to enter your airways. When using special store products, never mix one with the other. This can cause a chemical reaction with dangerous consequences. A video will help you understand in more detail how to deal with mold and dampness.

If mold has covered the surface of the wallpaper extensively, prepare to rip it off the wall. The mycelium of the fungus is under the paper layer. There is no means to kill him without damaging the wallpaper itself. In this case, the plaster will probably also have to be removed. First, thoroughly clean the surface from the fungus, and then treat with an antiseptic. For example, an aqueous solution of office glue (1: 4) or urea. Before any further work to get rid of dampness, the wall section must be completely dry.

Step 2. Finding and eliminating the root cause of dampness

Diagnosing the problem is the key to getting rid of the dampness. Take the glass, press it against the wall and fix it in this position. After 2-3 hours, clean up and check the surface:

dry - a source of humidity inside the room;
wet - dampness penetrates from the outside.

In the second case, it's easier to figure it out. Your task is to reduce the temperature drop, from which the walls suffer due to dampness. There are two ways to do this. Better to use them in combination.

Thermal insulation of the wall. Cover it with breathable insulation. Today, many people choose external insulation, but experts advise first of all to carry out work inside.
Check and, if necessary, upgrade the heating system. Perhaps it is cluttered or not powerful enough to warm up and protect certain corners of the house from dampness.

Advice. Large-sized furniture often causes the formation of harmful plaque if it interferes with the normal ventilation of the wall adjacent to the street. Take care of the rearrangement.

Folk ways to get rid of dampness due to poor ventilation:

white mold usually appears in flower pots as a reaction to excessive moisture or the use of certain fertilizers. Human exposure may manifest as allergies;
green mold can appear on food: eating contaminated food runs the risk of backfiring serious diseases. Green mold also occasionally infects building materials such as brick;
black mold- enemy number 1. This is the most common type of mold that can affect any surface: wallpaper, paint, plaster, boards, concrete, etc. If you do not fight it, then it can subsequently cause insomnia, dizziness, fever, headaches, and in the worst case, asthma, bronchitis, dermatitis, pneumonia and even lung cancer;
mold blue often appears on wooden surfaces in the house: parquet, frames, furniture, etc. They begin to acquire an unpleasant dull blue tint, the paint layer is destroyed, and even the paintwork does not save;
rotting mold- another enemy of wood. Depending on some features, the tree can acquire a gray or brown hue, become lighter, cracks appear on it, etc.

None of the finishing materials known to us can resist mold. But besides the harm to repairs, it is also toxic to the human body, especially for children. Depending on the level of mold spread in the apartment, the symptoms may be different: first, there is an effect on the respiratory system, and then on the entire body as a whole. Evidence of the negative influence of the fungus is the appearance of a cough, a runny nose, lack of air, chronic diseases that are difficult to diagnose - all this is the reason for being in a damp room infected with mold.

Mold can also cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, and fatigue. In addition to the fact that it looks unaesthetic, it also has a destructive effect on building materials: it penetrates into the structure, quickly spreads and occupies more and more new areas. That is why, after detecting even hints of mold, it must be removed immediately.

Causes and signs of mold

To get rid of mold once and for all, it is enough to clearly determine the cause of its appearance in your apartment and eliminate it. The fact is that fungal spores are present in any room, but the basis for their development is favorable conditions, which become causes of moldy spots in different parts of your home:

high humidity combined with poor ventilation, which is often the case in the kitchen or bathroom, in apartments on the ground floors, houses where humidification is abused, etc.;
freezing of walls;
soil dampness;
leaking water pipes;
roof leaks;
poorly heated room.

Everyone has probably already encountered the phenomenon of mold and easily recognizes it: this is the appearance of an unpleasant damp odor, spots of black, gray or white. To get rid of mold forever, you need to apply a set of measures, and in addition to the means described below, aimed at combating an already appeared fungus, it is imperative to eliminate the cause of the appearance.

In general, all work to combat mold in the house is reduced to the following list of activities:

clean the affected surface from mold;
treat the surface with an anti-mold agent;
all things heavily damaged by the fungus, throw away;
create normal conditions in the room: good ventilation, normal heating, eliminate all sources of high humidity.

There are a lot of remedies for mold at the moment, each of them is applicable in certain conditions and differs in some features.

Ways to get rid of mold

You can fight mold both with special means, which are sold in sufficient assortment on store shelves, and in folk ways. The latter will be less harmful to the person himself, will be cheaper, and in terms of efficiency they are not always inferior to their professional counterparts.

Method number 1. Antiseptic primer

This is the most proven method that will definitely help in the fight against fungus. In hardware stores, such funds are presented in a wide range: Fongifluid Alpa, Dali, Olympus Stop Mold, Biotol Spray, etc. Their application to the infected surface not only helps to get rid of the fungus, but also prevents its occurrence in the future.

It is very simple to work with such a solution: they are sold either ready-made, or they need to add a well-defined amount of water, as indicated in the instructions. Next, you just need to apply the resulting composition to the required surface, and you're done.

Important: you need to apply an antiseptic primer only on a well-cleaned surface, therefore, all material affected by the fungus must be carefully removed, and if it has eaten deeply, then all layers will need to be cleaned up to brick or concrete slab. Then the primer is evenly applied with a regular paint brush on a dry surface. When the protection layer is dry, you can start finishing: glue wallpaper, paint walls, plaster, etc.

Method number 2. Bleach

Bleach is an easier way to get rid of mold in your home and is a worthy replacement for professional products. Common bleach contains sodium hypochlorite (it is present in many specialty products as an active ingredient), which has a detrimental effect on mold and its spores, so it is a reliable way to get rid of almost all types of mold. However, you cannot use bleach on all surfaces, as they can fade, deteriorate, etc. Bleach is great for glass, tiles, bathtubs, and other non-porous materials, but powerless on drywall, wood, etc. The fact is that the active substance, chlorine, in this case does not penetrate into the material where the mold particles are located, but acts only on the surface. And the water that is part of such a solution is absorbed by porous materials, leading to an even greater development of mold.

Working with bleach can hardly be called safe, as it can corrode the skin of the hands and cause poisoning with toxic vapors. Therefore, it can only be used in a well-ventilated area and wearing rubber protective gloves. The solution is prepared from bleach and water in a ratio of 1:10, applied with a brush and allowed to dry completely. As in the previous case, the previously damaged surface must be cleaned.

The common vinegar everyone has in the kitchen is a weak acid that is poisonous to many types of mold. Its plus is that it does not emit any dangerous fumes, so it is completely safe to use it.

Vinegar is sprayed onto the prepared surface, and then it is wiped with a moistened cloth, after an hour the surface is washed with water and the room is well ventilated. On especially damaged areas, it is better to carry out such a procedure several times at intervals of one week.

Method number 4. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another poison for most types of mold. You can buy a 3% peroxide solution at any pharmacy, for a person its smell is not so harmful, so it is more or less convenient to work with it. It should be applied on a prepared surface that is free of mold, but since peroxide also has a whitening effect, it is better not to apply it to painted surfaces, but choose a different method.

Method number 5. Ammonia

Ammonia is similar in effect to bleach: it does an excellent job of removing mold on hard, non-porous surfaces, but not very effective on porous materials. It does its job well when mold has formed on, for example, tiles or glass.

Ammonia must be mixed with water in a 1: 1 ratio and sprayed onto the contaminated surface, and after an hour, rinse the solution with water and ventilate the room well. It is necessary to work with ammonia very carefully, as its pungent smell can cause dizziness, headaches, etc. Be careful not to try to use it in combination with bleach, as the reaction between the two produces toxic gases.

Method number 6. Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the easiest and safest ways to get rid of mold, and it doesn't harm humans or pets. It is enough to prepare a solution of soda - dissolve a teaspoon in a glass of water - and spray the surface affected by mold with the resulting composition. You can also wipe moldy things, walls, objects with a sponge soaked in this solution. After an hour, the surface must be rinsed with water, but it is not recommended to completely rinse the soda solution from it: soda is not capable of harming the material, but it perfectly protects against reappearance of the fungus.

Borax is a natural material, therefore it cannot harm human health. It is often used in the disinfection of toilets and drains, acts as an effective fungicide, insecticide and herbicide, in general, is a mold inhibitor and a toxin for it.

Before starting work on cleaning from mold, it is recommended to first vacuum the surface with a fine filter so that during the process as few pores as possible fly in the air and enter the respiratory system. The working solution is prepared as follows: 1 glass of borax is diluted in 2.5 liters of water. The borax solution is applied to the surface with a stiff brush, while simultaneously cleaning the fungus itself from walls, objects, floors, etc. it is advisable to walk on the surface with such a solution several times, it is unnecessary to wash off anything, since in the future the borax will become a reliable protector against mold.

Method number 8. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most effective natural remedies that are completely harmless to humans. Although this oil is not cheap, it will take very little of it, it has strong antibacterial and antifungal agents.

For one glass of water, you need a teaspoon of tea tree oil. This mixture is added to a spray bottle and applied to the damaged surface, or it is used to apply to a sponge, it will not need to be washed off, since this solution will reliably protect against possible reappearance of the fungus.

The tea tree has its own specific smell, but it is harmless and will disappear after a while. By the way, the prepared solution for fighting mold can be stored for as long as you like, as it does not lose its strength over time and does not deteriorate.

Method number 9. Grapefruit Seed Extract

This product resembles tea tree oil in action, it is also expensive, but it is odorless, disinfecting and deodorizing.

The solution is very simple to prepare: one glass of water requires only 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract. Again, we use a spray for application, and after application we do not wash off the solution, since the longer it contacts the damaged surface, the better, and in the future this solution will protect the walls and floors from the appearance of new mold spots.

Method number 10. Potassium permanganate solution

Ordinary potassium permanganate also has a detrimental effect on mold. The damaged surface can be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate: add a teaspoon of potassium permanganate to 1 liter of water, and spray or wipe the damaged areas with the resulting composition. The solution does not need to be washed off, it will be effective for some time.

Method number 11. Lavender & Rosemary Aromatic Oil

These oils contain substances that are capable of counteracting the development and life of mold, so it is enough to add a few drops of aromatic oil to a glass of water, and then treat the surface: there will be no unpleasant smell of chemicals, these oils are non-toxic for humans, and they kill most types of mold perfectly ...

Method number 12. Stationery glue

Many craftsmen get rid of mold with stationery glue, which is diluted one to one with water. The method is effective in some cases, but it does not cope with all types of mold, and if the affected area is not very large.

Method number 13. Iodine solution and camphor balls

A solution of iodine and camphor balls will only help if you have just found small traces of mold, and you do not want to use more aggressive means of fighting. Therefore, in an infected room, you can place containers with iodine solution or decompose camphor balls.

Method number 14. Lemon acid

To fight the fungus, citric acid or lemon juice is suitable, which have the same properties as vinegar - it is a weak organic acid that negatively affects the development of the fungus. A teaspoon of citric acid is dissolved in a glass of water, and the surface is treated with the resulting solution. This method works great for tiles.

Method number 15. Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar + boric acid

All these components are able to cope with mold at the highest level, and all together give an overall amazing effect. Water should be mixed with peroxide, vinegar and boric acid in a ratio of 4: 2: 2: 1, and then sprayed onto the surface or wipe it off.

Method number 16. Getting rid of for sure

Even if you carried out the fight against the formed mold in accordance with all the instructions, there is still no guarantee that it will not reappear. It is important not only to remove the fungus that has already appeared, but also to eliminate all possible reasons for its reappearance. That is why you need:

reliably insulate an apartment or house;
repair or replace the heating system;
install an air conditioner to dry the air;
establish a ventilation system;
dry clothes not in the room, but on the balcony or purchase a washing machine with a drying function;
use an extractor hood when preparing food;
ventilate all rooms well;
eliminate the leakage of the roof, taps, etc .;
geraniums and violets are an excellent breeding ground for mold, so their presence in an apartment should be limited;
the most risky places from the point of view of the appearance of mold should be regularly wiped clean, sprayed with anti-fungus agents.

How to remove mold odor?

Often, after removing mold from an apartment and then airing it, the smell of rot still does not leave the room. You can fight it with products that absorb odors. So, on the place where the fungus used to be, you can pour soda, and after a few hours remove it with a vacuum cleaner: soda perfectly absorbs odors, so after such a procedure the smell will either disappear or become much weaker.

Charcoal can be used as an odor absorber: briquettes are simply placed in a room with an unpleasant odor, and after a while there will be no trace of it.

Mold in each room has its own characteristics, therefore, the approaches to dealing with it should be slightly different.

Removing mold from walls

At the first signs of mold, you need to act immediately, since after 10-12 months it can reach concrete or brickwork. Therefore, you should remove the damaged finish layer, wet the wall a little so that mold spores do not scatter around the room, and remove the plaster layer, then thoroughly clean off all plaque and thoroughly sweep the room, dry the walls and treat with the selected anti-mold preparation.

If the walls are painted, then the mold spreads more over the area than inside, and after removing the paintwork, you can proceed to the neutralization process, moving from simpler means to the most powerful.

Plasterboard ceilings and walls differ in their structure: they are porous, so it must be borne in mind that mold can develop deeper into the material. In this case, professional tools are suitable.

In wallpaper rooms, the fungus spreads at lightning speed, so in most cases you will have to remove the wallpaper. This can only be avoided in the early stages of mold development.

In this case, a solution of vinegar, ammonia, special formulations, lavender oil, a solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of hydrogen peroxide is ideal for fighting the fungus. But nevertheless, it is unlikely that you will have to avoid dismantling at least part of the wallpaper, since all of the listed tools can slightly change their color, and the likelihood that the mold is already firmly entrenched in the apartment and develops under the wallpaper is high.

Removing mold from the bath

In the bathroom, the most vulnerable places are the joints between the plumbing and the wall, treated with a sealant, as well as the seams between the tiles. There very quickly a black plaque appears, which does not wash off - mold.

You need to act in this method according to the old scheme: remove the affected area, i.e. moldy sealant, treat with the selected product, and reapply the sealant. The seams between the tiles are cleaned with a metal scraper, and then a grout with antiseptic properties is used there.

If mold appears on the ceiling, then it is tedious to moisten the area with water and leave for 2-3 hours, then remove the whitewash and plaster, putty all the resulting irregularities. Next, we use a primer, which contains antifungal agents, and after it dries, we apply a penetrating primer. It remains only to sand the surface, and the ceiling is ready for further finishing.

You can also do with applying a solution of whiteness, soda, vinegar or tea tree to the affected area of the ceiling in the bathroom.

We often underestimate the harm that seemingly common mold can do to us. It is extremely dangerous not only for building materials, but also for health, so you need to start fighting with it when it first appears. But at the same time, it is important to eliminate the causes of the appearance of mold in order to get rid of them, otherwise all efforts may be ineffective.

How to get rid of dampness in a room with folk remedies

All about concrete and plaster products

High humidity in the house can be caused by various reasons. Almost every second apartment and private house owner is faced with this phenomenon. Moisture causes mold.

Therefore, it is imperative to fight with excess moisture in the house. The source that causes this phenomenon should be found and appropriate measures taken. It is worth saying that fungus and mold appear in the house precisely because of the high humidity. In addition, dampness worsens the health of all residents living in the house. Therefore, today the Beton-Area.com portal will tell you how to get rid of dampness in the house with folk remedies?

High humidity in the house: how to deal

Why does dampness appear in the house

The reason for the dampness is directly sought on the territory of the house itself. To quickly get rid of dampness in the house, it is necessary to find a place for the accumulation of mold, and only then think about what can be done in such a situation. If a wall facing the street is exposed to increased dampness, then it must be covered with a reliable insulating material. Mold isn't just found in private homes. Mold often occurs in modern apartments. This problem worries very seriously the owners of apartments on the first floor. Typically, in such rooms, mold forms at the bottom of the walls. This is facilitated by a number of unpleasant reasons. This could be:

Poor insulation of the foundation with the wall.
A damp basement in which pipes are constantly leaking.
Poor ventilation.

It is worth saying that it is much easier to eliminate dampness in a private house. After all, you just need to organize proper ventilation or install thermal insulation materials. It is very difficult to combat this phenomenon in apartment buildings. Here, the main reasons for the appearance of this factor are hidden in the first stages of construction. And if the developer misses important points, then the apartment will always bring unpleasant problems to its owners. Moreover, being in this room will adversely affect the health of all household members. People who are constantly in an apartment with high humidity can get sick: asthma, tuberculosis and other more serious diseases.

What methods will help get rid of dampness in a private house

Now it's time to understand what to do with dampness at home and how to get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon in your home. Dampness in the house must be fought without fail.

In this case, you need to use all modern methods.

So, a special product that can be purchased at any supermarket will help get rid of mold and dampness in the house. However, this remedy may seem ineffective if mold is caused by other factors. For example, the use of special tools will be useless if the house has problems with ventilation or ventilation. If the wrong construction of the building was carried out, then the tool also cannot bring the effect. After all, you need to fight the main causes of mold.
Mold on the walls in your home can form due to poor heating. Indeed, block walls are capable of letting in cold. In addition, they are filled with bulky furniture that does not allow heat to pass through. All these reasons contribute to the formation of mold, which for years releases dampness and unpleasant substances into the air of the room. Some people find it very easy to solve such problems with a special tool from the supermarket. However, it is not. This will require drastic methods. Even an air conditioner will not bring the desired effect, which will simply drive damp air around the apartment. But there is no need to despair! After all, if the house is constantly damp, you just need to install plastic windows that will not have partitions. The window will allow natural light to constantly enter the house. In addition, with such an object, you can carry out high-quality and constant airing of the room.
Dealing with mold is very difficult. And this should be remembered by every homeowner with such an unpleasant problem. In this case, it will take not only patience, but also a lot of effort. To make your family nest comfortable and cozy, you need to remove mold and mildew from the walls of the house. For such work, you will need to purchase a high-quality antiseptic that will clean the walls from fungus and make them aesthetic again.
If the walls of the house are covered with wallpaper, then they are removed. In addition, the plaster affected by the fungus is removed. In order not to harm your health, all work must be done in a mask. Before being treated with an antiseptic, the walls must be cleaned of mold and mildew. Only then can they be treated with an antiseptic and creosote. Other compounds are allowed to be used for wall treatment. For example, you can dilute office glue with water in a ratio of 1: 4. It is allowed to process the walls with urea. All of the above products should be applied only to the affected areas of the walls. Before applying, the affected areas on the walls must be heated to 50 degrees. After finishing the work, the walls must be completely dry.

How to get rid of dampness in the apartment and in the house? This question will be relevant at any time. It was said above that this process is difficult and painstaking. In addition, after removing mold in the room, it is necessary to create special conditions that will prevent the formation of mold and increased dampness.

High humidity in the house: methods of struggle, causes

So, sunlight and fresh air will help prevent the appearance of mold and dampness in the apartment. In addition, you need to not force all the walls in the room with furniture. Some plants can increase humidity in rooms. Therefore, it is necessary to remove from the room where there is high humidity: geranium and violet. If a normal level of humidity is observed in the dwelling, then mold and mildew can be forgotten for a long time. Experts do not recommend drying damp laundry in an apartment or house. In addition, dry building mixtures must be purchased for repairs.

Insulation of facades with insulation or foam can give a good effect. Dampness in an apartment is quite common. Therefore, everyone should know how to get rid of this phenomenon. In a room with high humidity, there should be normal air circulation.

Therefore, it is better to keep the interior doors open. But the doors to the kitchen should be closed during cooking. In this case, it is recommended to use an extractor hood and vents to ventilate the kitchen.

For high-quality ventilation of the bathroom and toilet, you need to equip good ventilation. There is no need to invent something new and look for expensive solutions.

To maintain good health and well-being, it is imperative to remove from the rooms: mold, fungus and high humidity. In addition, you need to monitor the condition of your home and prevent this problem from appearing. For example, if an apartment or house is equipped with low-quality heating, then you need to purchase a heating convector that will dry the walls with warm air. During wet cleaning, you should wipe the floor well and monitor the condition of the walls, on which the appearance of the fungus has already been recorded.

If all methods to combat the fungus have already been tried, if there is no good result, or there is no time at all to deal with such problems, you need to contact a special company that will send competent employees to deal with this problem.

A problem such as high humidity in the house is quite common. If you do not fight it, this leads to health problems, damage to property and buildings. Why is high humidity dangerous? Why is the house getting damp? How to deal with the problem and eliminate its consequences (mold)? The answers to these and other questions will be discussed below.

Dampness in the house is manifested by condensation on the window panes and mirrors, dampness of things, musty smell, wet spots on the wallpaper and under the ceiling. If you do nothing, mold will grow in the room.

Dampness and mold in the house threaten:

decreased immunity;
destruction of supporting structures;
chronic colds;
failure of electrical appliances;
allergies;
the appearance of stains on furniture and wallpaper;
asthma, etc.

High humidity

Causes of high humidity in the house

You can cope with dampness in the house only by determining the cause of its occurrence. Natural causes (washing, wet cleaning, cooking, steam generation in the bathroom, etc.) lead to an increase in humidity. When breathing, one person releases up to 4 liters of fluid per day. These factors do not always lead to the appearance of dampness, most often the reasons for high humidity are others.

Helpful advice. To find the source of dampness, you need to fix the glass against the wall at night. It must be pressed tightly against the plane of the wall. If no condensation has formed on the glass by morning, the cause of dampness inside the room.

The humidity in the house rises due to:

hanging wet linen indoors;
lack of a ventilation system or irregularities in its operation;
plastering and finishing works;
insufficient;
raising the level of groundwater;
lack of outdoor;
leaks in construction pits;
defective;
uneven distribution of heat in the house;
freezing walls;
indoor plants;
leaking roof, roof overhang defects;
walls cluttered with furniture;
damage either;
irregular or excessive ventilation;
improper operation of the heating system;
incorrect installation of double-glazed windows, their defects, high tightness;
problems with and;
the proximity of the sump;
the pool located on the ground floor;
damaged or clogged drain;
aquariums.

How to lower the humidity level in your home

To eliminate dampness, use a special, drugs and folk remedies. Thanks to them, it is possible to significantly lower it, but these are temporary measures. To completely get rid of dampness and prevent its reappearance, it is necessary to eliminate the causes.

How to determine humidity

You can dry the air using:

Chemicals (Cerisite stop moisture, Stop dampness, Drypet skit, Torrbollen, etc.). They act on the principle of a sorbent. Sold in hardware and online stores. They are mainly produced on the basis of calcium chloride.
Air dryers.
- Air conditioners with dehumidification function.
- Heating devices (floor heating system, heaters, etc.).
- Home remedies (salt, rice, etc.). They are placed in the corners of the room.

There are four types of dehumidifiers:

compressor rooms (can dry large rooms, but take up a lot of space, noisy);
with thermoelectric converters (quieter, but much lower power);
adsorptive (the stronger the sorbent absorbs moisture, the lower its efficiency becomes);
rotary (combine the functions of adsorption and compressor equipment).

Note! Do not get too carried away with the fight against dampness. Reduced humidity levels are also harmful. Its optimal indicator is 45%. Humidity below 30% and above 60% is a violation. You can measure accurate data using a hygrometer.

Measuring moisture with a device

Humidity due to poor ventilation

Very often the reason for dampness is poor performance of the ventilation system or its complete absence. Once this problem has been eliminated, the humidity level can be significantly reduced.

The ventilation cannot work properly due to:

obstruction;
poor sealing;
improperly equipped exit over the roof;
insufficient cross-sectional area of the ventilation duct.

To restore normal ventilation, you need to invite a specialist. He will examine the system and determine the cause of the problem.

The clogged system must be cleaned:

remove the grill;
rinse it with detergent;
remove dirt from the walls with a scraper;
vacuum the channel;
rinse it with a damp cloth (as far as the hand can reach);
put the ventilation grill in place.

Clogged ventilation shaft

At high humidity, you can use a forced ventilation system: reversible, exhaust or supply. It is installed in the ventilation duct. When there is no ventilation at all in the house, you need to make a through hole in the wall and install a recuperator in it. From the inside and outside, it must be closed with bars.

Another reason for dampness is the incorrect installation of the glass unit. If mold appears on the window slopes, you need to level them and foam the cracks again. To prevent condensation from settling on the glass, do not overload the window sills. This prevents the warm air from circulating normally. Too large window sills lead to the same consequences. To fix this, you need to drill holes in them.

Important! Fans, hoods and air conditioners must be cleaned regularly. Otherwise, the appliance itself will become a source of bacteria and mold.

Too sealed windows are also the reason for the increase in humidity. How to lower the humidity level in this case? You can solve the problem of dampness with a window pressure ventilator, a hydraulically controlled ventilation valve or a ventilation fan. You can simply remove the rubber seal over the top of the window frame. You do not need to do this with all the double-glazed windows at once: first, process one window, then (if it does not help) the next, so continue until the result is obtained.

The moisture source is under the floor

If there is no ventilation in the subfield, it is necessary to equip it. Waterproofing walls and floors, sealing gaps and cracks can significantly reduce the level of humidity at home. For this, waterproofing plaster is used.

Dampness in the cellar may appear due to leaks in the construction pits. To fix the problem, you need to seal it with waterproof clay (clay castle).

Foundation drainage device

A change in the level of groundwater leads to the appearance of dampness in the house. To solve this problem, you need to properly organize the drainage system.

Another reason is poor foundation waterproofing.

In this case, vertical waterproofing is required:

coating waterproofing;
penetrating compounds;
vertical lining of the foundation with waterproofing.

Note! The service life of waterproofing materials is not infinite. In an old building, it may be out of order.

The reason for dampness is the roof and walls

Conventional heating methods help warm the air in your home. They are not able to warm up the walls. Condensation forms on cold surfaces. This increases the humidity in the room.

You can fix the situation with:

heating convector;
infrared heater;
increasing the footage of the heating system;
arrangement of underfloor heating;
heat and waterproofing walls.

Note! Do not apply acidic finishing materials to the affected surfaces. Mold spores thrive in this environment. It is better to give preference to formulations with a neutral or alkaline reaction.

When dampness "comes" from above, wet stains appear on the wallpaper, mold spots on the ceiling and under it. This is caused by holes in the roof, damaged gutters. won't help here. The water will soak into the walls and still enter the house.

You need to do the work from the side of the attic. To eliminate the causes, it must be examined. Then, if necessary, carry out waterproofing, restoration work. It is necessary to carefully handle cracks, cracks and joints. Clogged gutters can be unclogged with a garden hose.

What to do if the cause of dampness indoors

Installing a heated towel rail in the bathroom

When high humidity in the house is not associated with poor ventilation, violation of building technologies, it is much easier to cope with it. You just need to follow certain recommendations.

To prevent the humidity level in the house from increasing, you need to:

during the daytime (especially in summer), keep the curtains open;
do not put unfinished laundry in the closet;
check the integrity of water and sewer pipes, eliminate defects;
reduce the level of humidity in the kitchen with a hood;
carry out 5-minute end-to-end ventilation 3 times a day;
during cooking, reduce the heat so that the dishes can be tightly closed with a lid;
if it is impossible to dry clothes outside the house, let things drain over the bathroom, then hang them closer to the hood;
keep the interior doors open in the house;
on the doors of wet rooms, install ventilation openings from below (from 200 sq. cm.);
do not put furniture close to walls;
during wet cleaning in the house, it is good to wring out the rag;
do not keep buckets and bath full for a long time;
reduce the number of flowers in the house, reduce the frequency and volume of watering.

Helpful advice! Installing a heated towel rail will help reduce the level of humidity in the bathroom. It can be electric, water, combined.

How to deal with the companion of dampness - mold

How to deal with mold

The lesion is formed due to high humidity. To prevent its appearance, you need to understand why dampness has appeared in the house. Only by eliminating the cause can you completely get rid of the mold.

Defeats in the house are fought with the help of various formulations:

mold removers:
antiseptic primer;
3% hydrogen peroxide solution;
soda solution (1 tsp. per 200 ml of water);
alcohol;
urea solution (temperature 50 degrees);
10% bleach solution, etc.

Important! Hydrogen peroxide and bleach can lighten the surface. They must be used with care. It is possible to use the products on painted surfaces, but only after checking the fastness of the coloring pigments (in a small area).

The surface must be prepared before processing. The wall needs to be cleaned of wallpaper and plaster. Then dry it thoroughly with a heater. After that, you can proceed to surface treatment. Anti-mold agents should be applied to the affected area. Then dry the wall thoroughly.

Dampness and mold in your home are hazardous to your health. They lead to the destruction of building structures, damage to property. The humidity in the house can rise due to various factors. If the problem arises as a result of vital activity, dehumidifiers will help. In other cases, it is required to find out the causes of high humidity in the house and eliminate them. Otherwise, the problem will keep coming back again and again.

Causes of high humidity

mistakes of builders even at the stage of building a house;
illegal interference with the integrity of the channels of your vertical neighbors;
failure of parts of the system due to the old age of the house.

Attention! On the ground floors of apartment buildings or in private houses, dampness may appear due to flooding of the basement by a burst of water supply, groundwater or poor thermal insulation between the wall and the foundation. Mold forms at the bottom of the wall.

Step 1. Fighting fungal plaque

Attention! The resulting dark coating due to dampness may not immediately be seen. But a pungent moldy smell will immediately give away the problem.

During the cleaning process, it is important not only to clean, but also to disinfect all surfaces where there is a fungus. Use any suitable means:

chlorine bleach and other chemicals;
vinegar;
hydrogen peroxide;
soda;
ammonia;
tea tree oil, etc.

Attention! Wear gloves and a mask with all types of anti-damp and fungus cleansing agents.

Advice. For the effective action of the disinfectant, heat the cleaned walls to +50 ° C.

Step 2. Finding and eliminating the root cause of dampness

Diagnosing the problem is the key to getting rid of the dampness. Take the glass, press it against the wall and fix it in this position. After 2-3 hours, clean up and check the surface:

dry - a source of humidity inside the room;
wet - dampness penetrates from the outside.

In the second case, it's easier to figure it out. Your task is to reduce the temperature drop from which the walls suffer from dampness. There are two ways to do this. Better to use them in combination.

Thermal insulation of the wall. Cover it with breathable insulation. Today, many people choose external insulation, but experts advise first of all to carry out work inside.
Check and, if necessary, upgrade the heating system. Perhaps it is cluttered or not powerful enough to warm up and protect certain corners of the house from dampness.

Advice. Large-sized furniture often causes the formation of harmful plaque if it interferes with the normal ventilation of the wall adjacent to the street. Take care of the rearrangement.

Folk ways to get rid of dampness due to poor ventilation:

Place bags of sugar or salt.
Place small containers of potassium chloride in the corners.
Heat and lean bricks against the wall. Repeat until the surface is free of moisture. Use 1 brick no more than 3-4 times, then it should dry out.
Treat the wall in 2-3 layers with a decoction of laundry soap (bring 100 g / l to a boil and cool). After drying, apply the following solution with a brush: 100 g of alum per 6 liters of water.

Attention! Do not use sprays or other antifungal agents, or air conditioner to dry your home.

You can get rid of dampness only by accurately determining its cause. Once the fungus and moisture have been removed, do not forget about further prevention.

How to deal with dampness in a room: video

Since a dwelling with an overestimated moisture rate is not a favorable place for a person to live, it becomes more relevant how to remove moisture in an apartment.

The modern way of life, for almost everyone, contributes to an increase in the level of humidity inside the premises in which they live.

To understand this, it is enough to give a simple example: previously, people took a bath about once every 5-7 days.

Today, daily showering is the norm for the common man.

Some people play sports or go to the gym, as a result of which they constantly sweat.

In addition to the developed habit of taking a shower every day, or even having to wash clothes, and some even take care of pets.

The main sources of the appearance of humidity in the room include:

respiratory process of the human body
daily bathing procedures
laundry care, including drying, washing and ironing
influence of the external atmosphere
cooking in the kitchen

In any case, all these everyday moments cannot be avoided, so you will have to deal with excessive humidity in the.

Potential effects of dampness

The most favorable place for the reproduction of microflora is a room with a high indicator of air humidity. This could be a bathroom or a basement. Humidity in a room often contributes to the appearance of a chronic disease in a person who lives here.

Most often, children suffer, since the child's body is not yet formed, and the immunity is not fully strengthened. Old people also suffer from living in such rooms, since the protective and other functions of the body weaken with age.

Residents of houses that are made of bricks most often complain about the problem of high humidity in the room. In turn, panel residents complain about the lack of the required level of moisture inside. Dry air also negatively affects human health, as a result of which he can get sick.

If the room has a high level of humidity, you should immediately address the problem, since replacing several household items is much cheaper than spending money on treatment.

In addition to the possible harm to human health, the increased level of humidity creates an uncomfortable state of being inside.

Often, due to an overestimated indicator of dampness, an unpleasant smell and a feeling of coolness are formed inside the dwelling or any other room. In a damp room, food quickly deteriorates, including even vegetables and fruits.

In such premises, mold and harmful microflora often form. Dampness is one of the most unpleasant phenomena that can ruin the whole comfort of living or being inside a building. If this problem is detected, it is worth immediately taking measures corresponding to the elimination of dampness.

The reasons for the appearance of dampness in the apartment

Before starting the process of eliminating the problem, it is worth identifying the root cause of the accumulation of damp air inside.

The main reasons for the accumulation of dampness inside a building include:

Lack of ventilation in the room. Even if ventilation is present, it should be checked for proper functioning and quality of operation.
Moisture may appear due to the heating of the apartment by the neighbors upstairs. Often, this problem is difficult to identify, since a neighbor who lives above an apartment with high humidity may not be aware of the breakdown of his plumbing. It is always necessary to check if this is the main reason for orphanhood in the home.
If the building has unsealed seams between the walls, moisture can also appear inside the building.
If the basement of a multi-storey building is flooded, then the moisture will rise upward, as a result of which it will create dampness. Before removing moisture in an apartment on the ground floor, you should make sure that the flooded basement is the main source of moisture.
Improper positioning of kitchen appliances can cause dampness.

To fix the problem, you always need to find the source of the dampness. The easiest way to detect increased moisture levels is to lean a mirror or piece of glass against the surface.

If after a few minutes drops of water appear on the surface of the glass or mirror, it means that there is an increased level of dampness in a separate room or a whole room. If the glass turns out to be clean, you should not rejoice ahead of time, since moisture can only be stored in the walls of the building.

How to get rid of dampness

As mentioned above, if a problem is detected, it is worthwhile to immediately eliminate it, since the influence of a humid environment can negatively affect the human body.

The most common methods for eliminating humidity in a room include:

Installation of a dehumidifier, which can be purchased at any supermarket of electronic and household appliances. The price of a dehumidifier directly depends on its model and capacity. In any case, to fix the problem, you must purchase a similar unit. When buying, it is worth considering the fact that the higher the power indicator of the device, the faster the dampness in a particular building will be eliminated. On the market for similar products, devices with built-in moisture control sensors are offered c. If the moisture indicator on the dehumidifier sensor drops, the device automatically changes the heating temperature. Thus, the device will not dry out the air, but will keep a stable rate of temperature and humidity inside the room or building. Note that these models consume more electricity than standard, simple dehumidifiers that do not have a control sensor.
Installing a radiator, if not. If there are radiators in the building, then it is worth using them. A damp room needs to be warmed up from time to time. When radiators emit heat, all part of the unfavorable microflora, including fungi, can disappear, and the apartment can dry well. Based on the advice of experts, the room needs to be heated not too much, but often.

How to prevent excessive moisture

Indoor plants absorb moisture. That is why it is worth getting plants, if there are none yet. Flowers on the windowsill, in addition to their aesthetic function, perfectly absorb the dampness that is in the building.

Indoor flowers or other plants minimize any chances of increased moisture levels. For example, tropical plants absorb huge amounts of water, so placing such a plant in the bathroom or bedroom would be the right decision.

Cacti are the most powerful plants in terms of absorption capacity.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that these plants are not very decorative, many do not want to put them at home either.

When choosing a plant for a room, kitchen or bathroom, you should first study the characteristics of various plants.

If the above problem is identified, the main source of the released moisture should be urgently identified. And only after discovering the problem, the owner of the house should choose the ideal way of regulating the microclimate that suits him personally and, accordingly, reducing the level of moisture inside the building.

How to get rid of dampness in an apartment or house - in the video:

Dampness in rooms is fraught with unpleasant odors, black spots and mildew on the walls and in the corners. The moist warm air is an incubator for bacteria and microscopic fungi that cause various life-threatening diseases: tuberculosis, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, skin inflammation and suppuration. Dampness must be removed from the room using various methods.

Isolation of a source of dampness

If dampness enters the wall from the soil in the form of groundwater, the room is difficult and sometimes impossible to drain. A similar situation occurs with poor-quality waterproofing of the foundation. The way out of the situation will be a drainage system installed on the territory adjacent to the building. If this is not possible, the damp wall is insulated by covering it with a layer of waterproof material:

roll bitumen;
mastics;
penetrating penetrating mixtures based on polyurethane resins.

The latter method is preferable. Under the bitumen layer, the wall continues to dampen and collapse. Penetrating mixtures penetrate the pores, making concrete and bricks waterproof.

Damp cellars

On the ground floors there is an elevated humidity appears due to flooding of basements premises . The ZhEK should deal with the elimination of gusts of pipes, but the owners of apartments on the lower floors can also participate in improving the microclimate by carrying out additional waterproofing of the floors:

floor slabs are cleaned of dirt and concrete layers;
close up cracks;
equalize and prime the surface with bituminous or any other moisture-repellent mastic.

The insulation should cover the floor and partly the walls, rising vertically on them by 10-20 cm.

Convenient to use neutral sealants:

Penetron is a construction mixture made of cement and quartz sand, which is suitable for waterproofing reinforced concrete and concrete surfaces.
Waterplag is a product made of aluminate cement, sand and active chemical additives. It is used to quickly eliminate leaks in concrete, brick and stone surfaces.

Premises on the ground floors require additional heat sources. They can be:

Sun rays;
split systems;
electric floor heating systems;
household electric heaters.

Additional sources are used in the spring and autumn, as the humidity in the basements increases dramatically at this time of the year. The heat quickly drives the dampness out of the room.

Dehumidification methods

The fight against dampness is successful in addressing the root cause. Dehumidification will take a long time if the source of the problem is removed.

For example, if the wall becomes damp due to defects in the pipes adjacent to it or as a result of careless use of water (flooding), then to eliminate humidity in the room, it is enough to restore the integrity and tightness of the water distribution system.

How to maintain normal air humidity in the apartment?

Alpine vents

Apartments on the upper floors are most often damp due to external reasons. Humidity appears as a result of insufficient wall insulation, poor-quality processing of inter-panel seams, poor waterproofing of the roof, low efficiency of central heating batteries.

Ventilation of apartments located on the fifth floors of the Khrushchev buildings provides for the supply of fresh air through the cracks in the window frames, and then its removal through the ventilation shafts. Most of the residents eventually replace the old wooden frames with plastic double-glazed windows, which obstruct the flow of outdoor air. Also, ventilation on the last floors of five-story buildings does not work efficiently enough, since the lower levels "pull" the main air flow in the mines. As a result, mold in the corners and water on the windowsills have become commonplace for apartments located under the roof.

Alpine vents help to solve the problem of insufficient ventilation in Khrushchev and other panel houses. Holes for these structures are punched in the outer walls. The valves provide fresh air that flows through the room and is removed through the ventilation shaft, taking in moisture.

Alpine window device

Alpine window - view from the room

Electric dryers

In rooms with poor ventilation, dampness appears even for ordinary household reasons. Drying your laundry every day, a large number of aquariums or plants, frequent cooking or showering can increase the amount of water vapor in the air to a concentration that is unacceptable for your home.

For this reason, it is necessary to revise the way of life. Linen should be dried not in rooms, but on balconies, verandas, loggias, attics. An extractor hood installed above the stove will eliminate fumes from boiling pots and kettles. An electric heated towel rail for the bathroom will help fight moisture in this room.

It is most reliable to eliminate high humidity in an apartment not with your own hands, but to purchase a special dehumidifier with an automatic mode of operation. This type of climatic technology successfully copes with the elimination of humidity in apartments, quickly regulating the air condition. Household dehumidifiers are economical and compact, quiet and safe to operate.

Household electric dehumidifier

The principle of operation of the device is as follows:

the fan sucks in room air inside the device;
it passes through the evaporator and cools below the dew point, while the water vapor condenses and flows into the tank;
air is passed through a condenser, heated and returned to the room.

It has a higher temperature than the original, therefore it is undesirable to use the device in hot weather. In the warm season, another method of dehumidification is used - airing.

Airing

Airing in dry, sunny weather helps to get rid of minor dampness and is a good prevention of its occurrence. There are sanitary standards for this procedure for various institutions, including preschool and educational institutions.

Residential rooms ventilate before going to bed and after waking up, opening window or vents for 10-30 minutes. In the bathroom (if it has a window), the doors are pre-closed so that the dampness does not spread to other rooms. The apartment is ventilated after prolonged cooking, showering, and washing. If the room is to dry the laundry, the door to it must be tightly closed, and the window must be thrown open.

Additional heating

Heating devices raise the temperature and dry the air at the same time. This function is performed by central heating batteries. If the power of the radiators is not enough, additional heat sources are installed. They will reduce the relative humidity of the air. At the same time, water vapor will not leave the room without ventilation, but the dampness will become less noticeable.

For heating with dehumidification, the following heaters are used:

infrared;
oil;
convector;
fan heaters.

There are heaters that can actually remove moisture from the air by breaking it down into oxygen and hydrogen atoms. In ordinary household conditions, it is impossible to achieve such an effect, since a temperature above +2000 degrees Celsius is required. It is typical for special carbide heating elements. In apartments, cottages and summer cottages, such high temperatures are fire hazardous, so they can only be used in an industrial environment.

Folk ways

In summer, the wallpaper is removed from the moldy walls and processed as follows:

500 g of laundry soap is dissolved in 5 liters of water.
Boil, allow to cool.
The solution is evenly coated on the wall using a brush.
Allow to dry.
Repeat until the solution is no longer absorbed.
A different composition is prepared - 100 g of alum is diluted in 6 liters of water.
Cover the wall once.

There is a way to eliminate dampness in a private house with stove heating. To do this, new bricks are heated, laid on fire-resistant supports near a damp wall. The operation is repeated until the dampness disappears. Bricks cease to absorb moisture after 10-15 incandescences, then they are replaced with new ones. The old ones are used as fireproof stands. Hot bricks should not be left overnight to avoid a fire. There should be no flammable objects near them. The method is not used in houses with wooden walls: from a bar, logs or boards.

Table salt absorbs moisture well from the air. To drain the room, any open vessel with a substance is placed in a damp corner. From time to time, the damp salt is dried in an oven, crushed and used again as a moisture trap. Instead, you can use other folk remedies: calcium chloride (sprinkled with ice on roads), quicklime, charcoal.

Mold on the wall of a damp room is removed as follows:

the surface is well dried;
one part of salicylic acid is dissolved in 200 parts of alcohol and diluted with a little water;
the mixture is smeared with mold spots.

Salicylic acid and alcohol will prevent the fungus from multiplying in the old place, but it can appear on another wall if you do not take measures to drain the entire living space.