andiane Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hello, listAlthough I have been reading this forum for a couple of years, this is the first time I have posted, so I hope I am doing it right !We have a holiday home in 17, and are able to get over 4 or 5 times a year. Our problem is that even using those big tablets in baskets we still have quite a damp atmosphere when we open up the house. This manifests as mould on the bedframe and on things like the breadboard.I am sure that it should be possible to buy something that uses solar power to 'air' the house, or even run a low power heater to help solve this problem? Does anyone know of such a device?I am hoping that someone can make a suggestion as in spite of quite a lot of research on the internet I have been unable to find anything. I suspect that in France there are likely to be more solar things available for obvious reasons.Hopeful, andiane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Am sick of finding everything "green" in the wrong sense of the word when we go over! So I have resorted to leaving heaters on on timers to see if that makes a difference! I will let you know if it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I can imagine how irritating this must be!I may be wrong but I think the answer is ventilation rather then heating. I'm sure someone will be along soon to put me right! I think that when you heat up the air it increases it's capacity to hold moisture, so that may partially help, but it will still condense on those cold surfaces such as outside walls. What you really need is to get rid of the water-laden air. Perhaps an extractor working on a timer would be more efficient (and cheaper) than a heater?Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I'm sure the answer is a VMC (mandatory in modern properties). I have never seen a damp house with one running.As to whether one could use solar power to run it, I don't know - probably not, because they are about 60W and must run 24/7 - the power installation would be very expensive, even if the VMC was not.If you are worried about leaving your mains on when you are not there (ask your insurance company whether they actually want it turned off), then you could arrange a second tableau with a supply to the VMC (and your freezer, perhaps). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Electrolux used to makle a solar-powered extractor fan for caravans-perhaps something of this sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex H Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Like this perhaps?http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLAR-POWERED-FAN-VENTILATOR_W0QQitemZ140145152646QQihZ004QQcategoryZ122909QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 [quote user="Tandem_Pilot"]Like this perhaps?http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLAR-POWERED-FAN-VENTILATOR_W0QQitemZ140145152646QQihZ004QQcategoryZ122909QQcmdZViewItem That does look very interesting. We have the same problem. The house was vacant for over a year before we bought it and it had loads of those wispy spiders. So when we left it the first time I closed off the four vents that are around the house on the exterior walls thinking it would keep the spiders at bay. Well, when we returned a few months later there weren't many spiders but the house was very damp, so much so that some of the walls were actually wet.From then on I leave the vents open and the house is much dryer on our return. But I would like to have more ventilation and the one that Tandem Pilot has shown does look interesting. Is it possible to fit it into a stone wall? It is hard to see in the photo but I assume behind the solar panels there are openings for the air to escape. If this would work it does sound very effective and there would be no worry about leaving the electrics on.[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 [quote user="Tandem_Pilot"]Like this perhaps?[/quote]I'd suggestthat the OP blows 20 quid and tries one.However, it gives no indication of the capabilities if the thing, so I'd ask myself a) does it have storage so that it will work 24Hrs? b) how many would you need to ventilate a house? The most you are going to get out of solar panel that size is about 1W - implying that you would need over 50 to replace a VMC?A VMC costs about 50€ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I just did a search and found this solar powered vmc. It isn't very attractive and perhaps it is the same as the one that Tandem Pilot found, it is hard to tell but this one has a little demo with it. I wonder if this one could be put into the walls.http://www.nouveauxobjets.com/solarvent.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Could be put in a window;our place in France has two vents-one from the kitchen,one from the bathroom upto the roof-no forced ventilation but keeps the place bone dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Speaking of kitchen and bathroom ventilation, these look wonderful. I have seen them used to bring in the natural light into a room but didn't realise they had models that offered ventilation as well. I don't know what the costs are but will definitely look into it when we have our two upstairs bathrooms done even though there are windows. Click on the photo to see how they work and the design.http://www.sola-vent.com/?gclid=COrbybWZ7Y0CFQFRMAodihPsug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 A disadvantage with some of these solar vents is air coming in and going out thro' the same vent-only ventilates within a few feet of the vent;it would be better if just extract-this would set up an airflow thro' the property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 My brother, who lives near Bordeaux, has a VMC fitted throughout the house, not a solar powered one, just electric. He doesn't run it 24/7 just when he feels it necessary, and his house is lovely and dry, but, of course, he lives there all the time. ( lucky sod ) which I think is the answer! Anything to get the OH out there soonest!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andiane Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 Many thanks everyone for your thoughts on our problem. I agree that maybe better ventilation would help. I think part of the problem is a shower room without any windows. We fitted an extractor fan last autumn, but I don't think it is helping much, as we turn off the power when we are not there. The extractor on ebay looked interesting, we could install it in a hall way which connects to the shower room - I wonder how big an area it would effect?Will have a think about this and see what OH says.andiane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andiane Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 I have been trying to work it out, but failed - what is a VMC, please ? !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarksinfrance Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Many houses suffer from damp conditions, I would certainly advise against leaving heaters on and house shut up for long periods, as the warm moist air will have nowhere to go, and as you are probably aware moisture and heat = mould, and lots of it. I have several clients, who have (or had) this problem, and if you have shutters on your windows there is a very simple, and free solution. If you have roller shutters, leave them about an inch (2.5cms) from touching the cills, and using a couple of small screws and wire(or hook and eye) leave the windows slightly ajar so that will allow air to circulate. If you have the shutters that fold, usually they already have ventillation slats, if not, drill some neat holes, and again fix your windows in a slightly open position. For all those that think leaving your roller shutters slightly open is a huge risk, try to lift them from the outside, to make sure they cant be raised in your absence. If they can be raised from the outside, fix them in place just before you leave.One clients house was so bad, that they were considering selling it, so used this method, and now, the house is perfectly dry every time they come out, as they say, its a totally different house, and they don't spend the first 2 days cleaning the mould.Hope this helps you and maybe others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 [quote user="andiane"]I have been trying to work it out, but failed - what is a VMC, please ? !![/quote]All you need to know about VMC: http://www.leroymerlin.fr/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 [quote user="andiane"]I have been trying to work it out, but failed - what is a VMC, please ? !![/quote]Ventilation Mécanique Contrôlée - a fan in a box with several inlets, that you would normally run to the kitchen, bathrooms and shower room (although they usually have enough inlets to allow you to cover the living rooms, too). Slow-moving (but twin-speed, sometimes automatic on a humidity sensor) fan that outlets through a 125mm hose to somewhere outside, usually through the roof. They are normally installed in the attic space.Mandatory on new builds (and they must run 24/7) they are the best way of keeping any property dry. Mandatory on any properties with gaz de ville and common sense where you have bottled gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 "Many thanks everyone for your thoughts on our problem. I agree that maybe better ventilation would help. I think part of the problem is a shower room without any windows. We fitted an extractor fan last autumn, but I don't think it is helping much, as we turn off the power when we are not there."andianeI have to agree with Nick T and suggest a VMC is the best solution. We too have a shower room with no window and since fitting the VMC and leaving it on 24/7 even when we are not there I have to say that it works a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 How easy are they to fit retrospectively? If at all possible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 JoI think it will depend on space and access. I am sure Nick T or one of the technical people on here would be able to tell you.Our VMC was fitted retrospectively luck was on our side and they were able to put the VMC in the loft space above the shower room and access it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosie Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 HiI have followed this post with interest as we too have the same problems. Can anyone tell me how much the running costs are to keep the VMC going 24/7.Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 [quote user="bosie"]HiI have followed this post with interest as we too have the same problems. Can anyone tell me how much the running costs are to keep the VMC going 24/7.Thanks in advance[/quote]Assuming that you have one of about 40W, then (at about 11c/KWh), about 11c/day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 [quote user="Jo"]How easy are they to fit retrospectively? If at all possible![/quote]As BN says, it all depends on access. Most of the ones I have fitted have been done in renovations, it is not usually too onerous a task, especially if you have a loft. The most difficult bit is fitting the outlet, which tends to be 125mm in diameter and must go outside.Inlet pipes in ceilings are dead easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Thanks NickI knew you would come up with the answers [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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