Many charming old cottages, built with traditional materials like cob and stone, can be incredibly cozy. However, they often struggle with high internal humidity. This dampness not only creates an unhealthy environment but also significantly impacts heating efficiency, leaving you feeling constantly cold and facing costly energy bills.
Common Causes of Damp
High humidity fosters the growth of mold, fungi, and other microorganisms, posing potential health risks to occupants. Furthermore, it hinders your heating system. Warm air can hold more moisture. As this air cools down (for example, on cold walls), the moisture condenses, forming damp patches.
When you heat a room, the air warms quickly, while the walls, especially thick cob or stone ones, take much longer. This temperature difference causes condensation to form on the cold walls. As the walls slowly warm up, the condensation evaporates. This evaporation process consumes a significant amount of heat energy, effectively cooling the room down instead of warming it up.
Dampness within the walls naturally migrates towards the warmer interior. This ongoing evaporation process further depletes heat energy and can lead to issues like plaster deterioration and salt crystallisation on the walls.
Speak to a Building Surveyor
Before implementing any remedial measures, it's crucial to have your property assessed by an experienced building surveyor, like Muddy Mortars, who specialise in working with historic buildings.
Understanding Dampness and Heating Inefficiency
Understanding the interplay between dampness and heating efficiency is key to creating a warm and comfortable living environment in an old house.
By addressing the root cause of dampness and improving moisture control, you can significantly enhance your home's energy efficiency and reduce those frustratingly high heating bills.
