Frederick Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 I have thought that my place might benefit from a dehumidifier left ticking over having just opened up the place after the 1st winter ( Nr La Tranche ).....they dont appear to be expensive to run... automatically switch on and off .....and put out warm dry air ..anybody leave one running while away.?...are they an advantage to keep running all winter ?....or a waste of time ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 No but we do leave our VMC on all the time, keeps the place well aired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 The only problem is that they do produce water and lots of it. You need somewhere for the water to drain away otherwise you're stuffed (or at least damp) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 The ones I have looked at have fittings for a hose to drain outlet .....and they seem to have settings for what is considered to be "normal humidity" and anything other than that ....they will kick in and prevent dampness.....I noticed I had a door that would not shut properly until I had had some heaters running for a few days . and I was thinking it would stop this swelling ...the Vendee has been a bit cold for there down to minus 5 and had a lot of rain over the winter .I have means of disposing of the water from via the hose so thats not a problem I was just wondering if without heating on over winter I was expecting too much from a dehumidifier . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 So have you got or looked into fitting a VMC system. Keeps the air circulating through the place all the time and we don't and you shouldn't have problems with damp with this on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Please MissWhat is a VMC?John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 ventilation mécanique contrôlée It sucks, in a good way. Sorry I am not technical and will let those who are far better than me at explaining, explain. ps they have them in Castorama and I'm sure in all the other brico stores. pps we have had an expensive one, but bought a cheapish one last time and it works perfectly well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 If you get a dehumidifier and leave it on for an extended time be very careful about the level you set it at. If set too dry you can do significant damage to a property. They are quite powerful things and will start to dry wood, etc. out. I am told this can cause cracking, etc. Check with an expert (and not the trainee assistant in comet).Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I have had a number of dehumidifiers over the years, but in my opinion no electrical equipment should be permanently left on unsupervised. Whilst, dehumidifiers do have settings to turn of when the humidity reaches the prescribed level, in the winter months when damp is at its highest it is unlikely that the machine will ever turn off if it is correctly set to do a good job. Although, they are relatively cheap to run the cost will add up over the winter months. The final point depending on the number of damp rooms and their sizes you will need to allow for at least one dehumidifier per area, otherwise the whole exercise would be a waste of time other than to keep EDF in profit.Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 No do not have a VMC ...I looked at climatic control equipment and they appeared to have a pipe that has to be put through a wall to draw air in from outside ...so would be a big bit of kit permenantly fixed against a wall.....put me off as dont feel happy about going through such a thick outside wall ...(dont know whats in the middle of it in the way of stone ) and was looking more to the idea of somthing I could move about the house when needed ..one in the kitchen ...hose outlet down the sink .....another other end of the house in a bedroom where some long outlet hose could be run into and down the shower and then leave all the internal doors open... I have used an industrial size dehumidifier after an extension build in the UK that worked fine and dried the place out ....I have no experiance of using the small domestic ones that have now appeared in the shops that are quoted as taking 10 ltrs of water a day out of the air if on constant setting !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 Thanks Baz.........I was already begining to think I would be asking too much from them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie15 Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Horses for courses. We leave 3 dehumidifiers on over winter . We have them rigged up so that they drain permanently . We have used them this way for several years and they are excellent. We also have the system TU refers to in another house and that's really good too.[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maude Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Hi,I would forget the electri refidgeration types of de-humidifier.Apart from the cost of leaving them runningand any attendant problems,we have had excellent results from the crystal type moisture absorbers,obtainable from just about any store or supermarket in France.This was yet another panic purchase when we first arrived in our house,september,and by feb,all the beams etc were coated in mold growth in our empty annexe.the de-humidifier is still very usefull though,but only after showering etc.We have no chance in fitting a VMC.The cost of the re renovation would make this a complete waste of money-wasted enough already! Maude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 I did not have any mould problems on beams thank goodness and only a little patch on a wall in the corner so it sounds like my first experience of locking up a house for six months has not been a bad one........I will get a couple of dehumidifiers and just keep them handy to use if required I think......thank you everyone for your posts......most appreciated .....hope you all have a good year . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 FrederickI have sent you a PM giving much the same advice as Maude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I read an article the other day about a bad fire started by an unattended dehumidifier. Apparently, this was not an isolated incident and the advice given was not to leave dehumidifiers on boats and in second homes running unattended during the winter months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeb Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 When we first bought our cottage we had a major problem with damp in the back room - ugh, dark and dank (this was before living here permenantly, renovating and installing heating, VMCs etc). We used a dehumidifier when here but, on leaving the place, we locked the shutters but left the window and internal door open in that particular room which allowed the air to circulate. It seemed to work and could be a cheap, safe option if you have good shutters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Thanks Zeb............I have decided to get a couple to take down and they will be handy should I need them when opened up again. I have family heading down next month they can take one with them ......I now dont really think I have much of a problem and a day or two with them on after opening up should make a difference ......thanks for the input . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Good point .......Now think one not left on while away but used on opening up the option ....Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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