Keeping heating off = damp

[whoops!]

So I’m currently at 200 a month for gas and electric.
3 bed 4 of us
I haven’t even put my heating on yet.
I’m noticing patches of damp especially on the outside walls, and LOTS of condensation on the windows in the morning.
Is it going to be better to have the heating on ALL the time say 16-17c or 21c for an hour in the morning and night?
we’re pretty comfortable so far but I’m thinking damage from damp will cost me more to fix than putting the heating on? Help!

 

[EmilyChambers]

So I’m currently at 200 a month for gas and electric.
3 bed 4 of us
I haven’t even put my heating on yet.
I’m noticing patches of damp especially on the outside walls, and LOTS of condensation on the windows in the morning.
Is it going to be better to have the heating on ALL the time say 16-17c or 21c for an hour in the morning and night?
we’re pretty comfortable so far but I’m thinking damage from damp will cost me more to fix than putting the heating on? Help!

Our thermostat is set at 17 so if the house temp drops below that, it heats it back up to 19 then goes off.

Someone I work with puts there heating on for an hour in the morning and 1 hour at night and she has to literally towel dry her walls every day. Her husband is convinced they cant afford to leave it on.

Our first bill under the new energy rises has come in at £245 for gas and electric from £130. 3 bed semi with two adults and 1 teen

 

[whoops!]

Our thermostat is set at 17 so if the house temp drops below that, it heats it back up to 19 then goes off.

Someone I work with puts there heating on for an hour in the morning and 1 hour at night and she has to literally towel dry her walls every day. Her husband is convinced they cant afford to leave it on.

Our first bill under the new energy rises has come in at £245 for gas and electric from £130. 3 bed semi with two adults and 1 teen

Is that a month!

I feel like, on one hand, I can’t really afford it and on the other hand, I’m just going to have to, they’re never going to stop the prices to what they were before so I’m just going to have to find the money for it.

 

[EmilyChambers]

Is that a month!

I feel like, on one hand, I can’t really afford it and on the other hand, I’m just going to have to, they’re never going to stop the prices to what they were before so I’m just going to have to find the money for it.

Yeah a month and with the £60 discount thing from the Gov.

Can you get a dehumidifier? They are cheap to run and you can move it round to the rooms which are the biggest problem and are good to run in the room where you dry your washing.

Also wipe the windows as soon as you wake up and keep your windows open a notch to keep air circulating.

 

[Yel]

It's not the damage to the house you need to worry about, it's the damage to people's health from the mould!

Being careful with water vapour in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry drying with airing and a desiccant dehumidifier (that works at low temps unlike others) is the answer.

 

[gummy-bear]

We went on hols for 10 days a few weeks ago and I turned all the heating off, came back to a patch of damp by our front door I’m now putting it on at a low heat for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening as I can’t be arsed for more damp - can cost an arm and a leg to sort if it gets out of control! X

 

[candyland_]

I’m just sucking up the cost to be honest. Even a couple of short bursts a day is better than nothing at all.

 

[Telly Fanatic]

Mrs Hinch said putting a saucer of salt next to every window in your house stops condensation

 

[Jane Tee]

A dehumidifier works wonders. It also warms up the room a bit. Is economical too.

 

[Souffle]

I left my heating off a few years ago. Came home to burst pipes and a completely flooded house. It’s probably not cold enough for that yet but you should always have it set to a minimum (mines currently 16c at night, 18c in the day)

 

[ploddertoo]

I have read there are certain house plants that are good for damp rooms as they absorb the moisture, maybe worth checking out

 

[Blair-Waldorf]

My windows are all soaking wet every morning and my thermostat is set to 18 (I have a small child and a newborn). I live in a new build house so I honestly don’t know what is causing it. I bought a window vac but it takes ages. I have to wipe my windows with towels every morning. Sorry to jump in is a dehumidifier the answer?

 

[Jane Tee]

My windows are all soaking wet every morning and my thermostat is set to 18 (I have a small child and a newborn). I live in a new build house so I honestly don’t know what is causing it. I bought a window vac but it takes ages. I have to wipe my windows with towels every morning. Sorry to jump in but does anyone have a similar issue? Is a dehumidifier the answer?

A dehumidifier most definately. Leave it on . You'll be amazed how much water they collect. I couldnt be without mine.

 

[Telly Fanatic]

The rooms in our house that don't get used doors closed never get condensation it's just the rooms with us breathing that get about a inch of condensation each morning now as it's freezing ( I'm in Scotland) that get it even with heating on and off at 22 ..think I will try the Mrs Hinch tip lol

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Is it going to be better to have the heating on ALL the time say 16-17c or 21c for an hour in the morning and night?

I would really like people thoughts on this too. I've been doing little blasts at high temp morning for getting up, tea time when the kids get home.
We live in an area of high vegetation, I always open all the windows first thing, have a dehumidifier, little pound land damp traps in rooms with 2 exterior walls, use a window vac, it's endless but works as we've suffered no damp.
I think half the problem now is that myself and husband and hybrid working so the house is never actually empty, always someone living and breathing in it.
I'm going to try having the heating on low level all day today and see the difference in both condensation and cost. It's already driving me mad though as I can hear when it clicks in. Not sure if ours is overly loud or I've just tuned in to it .

 

[Blair-Waldorf]

A dehumidifier most definately. Leave it on . You'll be amazed how much water they collect. I couldnt be without mine.

I ordered one last night where do you have it? Or do you swap it round each room on a rotation

 

[Jane Tee]

I ordered one last night where do you have it? Or do you swap it round each room on a rotation

I swap it round. I should buy another.
In my case it was life changing having a dehumidifier. I spent so much time mopping window sills and cleaning damp. I do none of that now as not needed.
If you can afford to, keep it on until you get clear windows in the morning.

 

[Blair-Waldorf]

I swap it round. I should buy another.
In my case it was life changing having a dehumidifier. I spent so much time mopping window sills and cleaning damp. I do none of that now as not needed.
If you can afford to, keep it on until you get clear windows in the morning.

Great Thank you! Xx

 

[Jane Tee]

I would really like people thoughts on this too. I've been doing little blasts at high temp morning for getting up, tea time when the kids get home.
We live in an area of high vegetation, I always open all the windows first thing, have a dehumidifier, little pound land damp traps in rooms with 2 exterior walls, use a window vac, it's endless but works as we've suffered no damp.
I think half the problem now is that myself and husband and hybrid working so the house is never actually empty, always someone living and breathing in it.
I'm going to try having the heating on low level all day today and see the difference in both condensation and cost. It's already driving me mad though as I can hear when it clicks in. Not sure if ours is overly loud or I've just tuned in to it .

Do you leave the dehumidifier on constant?
I do.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Do you leave the dehumidifier on constant?
I do.

I do. A bit like you I could do with another as I mainly have it in the porch where it's most needed and move it to the spare room when drying on the airer in there (as per advice from the lovely folk on discontent ).

Just older homes I guess. I actually remember my grandmother having a bowl of water near the coal fire to put water into the air. Might unblock a chimney .