Heating ad ventilation problem

[Blue Fox]

Hello all,

Did a job a while back round a ground floor flat with economy 7 where none of it was working, found the previous tenant had taken the fuses out of the c/u for the economy 7. Replaced those and all working but while there noticed there was a fused spur 3/4 way up the wall in the kitchen and another in the hall way leading to the kitchen, I'm pretty sure these are for more storage heaters as there are none in the kitchen or hallway only in the living room and both bedrooms. Anyway got a call today to say the heaters are all fine now but now getting lots of condensation in the kitchen and can I put an extractor fan in there to get rid of the condensation but I think the problem is the lack of a heater in there just wanted to know what you guys think as I think an extractor fan will just mae the room colder comapred to the rest of the flat. Any opinions much appreciated.

 

[M107]

So long as the extractor has a shuttered vent it should make no difference to the room temp...well none you'd notice.

I speak from experience as my kitchen was allways cold due to a breeze through the extractor..now after 4 years I have just this week (when off sick) put a shuttered vent on outside & Mrs 107 thinks I am fantastic again..............as shes warm in the mornings when getting the wheatabix ready :^O

 

[Blue Fox]

Thanks for the reply M107, but do you think it would actually make a major difference to the condensation problem or would a heater in there be better, don't want to fit the extractor fan and then get called back as its made no difference because it really needed a heater!

 

[AAAMUSEMENTS]

Hello all,Did a job a while back round a ground floor flat with economy 7 where none of it was working, found the previous tenant had taken the fuses out of the c/u for the economy 7. Replaced those and all working but while there noticed there was a fused spur 3/4 way up the wall in the kitchen and another in the hall way leading to the kitchen, I'm pretty sure these are for more storage heaters as there are none in the kitchen or hallway only in the living room and both bedrooms. Anyway got a call today to say the heaters are all fine now but now getting lots of condensation in the kitchen and can I put an extractor fan in there to get rid of the condensation but I think the problem is the lack of a heater in there just wanted to know what you guys think as I think an extractor fan will just mae the room colder comapred to the rest of the flat. Any opinions much appreciated.

You are certainly not far wrong, to seriously tackle condensation they need both ventilation AND heating.

An extractor fan on it's own will reduce the problem, but will not remove it.

 

[ian932]

Condensation is a mine field and if not dealt with can lead to black mould.

If there is no natural ventilation in the kitchen then I would fit a humidistat extractor.

The landlord should also make sure the tenant is not doing daft things like drying washing in front of radiators etc, life style is the biggest cause of condensation in our homes these days.

If you fit the right louver then you should not get any draft.

 

[Blue Fox]

Thanks for the replies so far, I did the heating about 3 weeks ago and all was well in kitchen then except tennant said kitchen gets very cold at night. But at the time tanant had just had a baby a week before and so I expect is drying washing in the kitchen and stuff like that and according to landlord there is now mould in the kitchen!

 

[Tooold]

I have fitted a few fans in this situation but always made sure there is a vent for airflow through the area, isnt always 100% but everyone says it is much better. It always seems to be the cheapest option as well.

 

[M107]

Thanks for the reply M107, but do you think it would actually make a major difference to the condensation problem or would a heater in there be better, don't want to fit the extractor fan and then get called back as its made no difference because it really needed a heater!

Idealy you'd want both. The only heating I have in my kitchen is a 400w slimline panel heater like this;

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Heating_Index/Slim_Heat/index.html

The extractor I have is a humidistat O/T one switched via the pelmet lighting.