As the temperature drops and you kick on your heating have you noticed condensation forming on your walls?
Condensation can be a huge issue when it comes to the health of your home and could even end up costing you money if you have to replace the plaster slabs. The last thing you want to deal with is mould forming on your walls.
What Causes Condensation on Interior Walls?
If there is a large temperature difference from the outside to the inside of your home and you’re lacking insulation, this can cause walls dripping with condensation.
They might not actually drip, you might just find that your wall is moist. In either scenario, going unchecked can lead to bad news.
This is most commonly seen in the winter months when it’s very cold outside, so you’re making the inside very warm. In the summer your home might be about 20 degrees, while the outside temperature is 25 degrees. In the winter your house will be slightly warmer around 22 degrees, but the outside temperature is closer to 5 degrees. This stark difference in temperature is why it is more common in the winter.
The dewpoint, where the condensation will form, is always on the warm side of the structure.
Condensation in the corner of the room is even more prominent because that is typically where insulation is lacking the most.
If you have a home that was insulated with fiberglass when it was installed the contractor likely just pushed the material into the corners to try and make it fit. The problem here is you are left with no insulation coverage, not to mention fiberglass doesn’t create an air seal.
Cold air is going to get through the plaster and blocks. It’s going to transfer through to the plaster slabs and meet that warm interior air. The dewpoint is then formed on the inside of the drywall.
In extreme cases, we have had customers who called us because the condensation that formed actually froze.
In the summer months, you might notice it more because you’ll see mildew spores start to come through near the floor and in the corners. Your lifestyle can actually make this even worse, especially if you boil a lot of water or take long, hot showers without the bathroom fan running.
How to Prevent Condensation on Interior Walls
If you want to prevent condensation on your interior walls, you’re going to need to update your home’s insulation.
Spray foam or external insulation are materials that create an air seal will stop the outdoor temperatures from getting inside.
If you would like to learn more about air sealing your home with insulation give us a call on 04 5450045
Home owner benefits
The insulation in your home can impact many areas of your life.
Save Money
The cost of spray foam insulation is intimidating to the average homeowner, and deservedly so. A lot of people overlook and dismiss the option of spray foam insulation, not knowing all of the facts about this fantastic product and the benefits it can have for your home or business. Like it or not, spray foam insulation outperforms all other types of insulation by outstanding margins and will pay for itself over its lifetime.
A feature that helps spray foam insulation over traditional insulation is the fact that it is 24x less permeable to air infiltration than traditional forms of insulation. Because of this, families and businesses all around Ireland have saved hundreds to thousands of euros each year on their energy bills. In fact, spray foam insulation has been shown to save people an average of 50% or more per year on their energy bills.
Be Healthy
By air sealing your home, you can help block pollutants that can affect your health.
Reduce dangers of respiratory distress – allergies, asthma, and certain chemical sensitivities can be caused by natural airborne irritants.
Minimize pollutants – dust and dirt, mould and moisture, radon, exhaust fumes, and carbon monoxide are reduced by air sealing, to keep your home and air clean.
Protect against mould growth – minimizing the flow of random airborne moisture entering your home help you protect against mould growth that may lead to conditions such as asthma and allergies and cause symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and coughing.
Be Comfortable
Air sealing your home using spray foam insulation creates a cocoon effect, increasing the comfort of your home.
Reduce drafts – a home without spray foam insulation loses enough air each day to fill two blimps.
Avoid hot and cold spots – seal between heated/cooled living spaces and unconditioned spaces such as garages and basements, to maintain even temperatures throughout your home.
Reduce noise – open cell spray foam can help reduce sound from noisy indoor rooms such as media rooms and laundry rooms, outdoor noises such as traffic and playgrounds, and transferred noise such as flushing toilets.
Protect Your Home
You want your home to last a long time – spray foam insulation can help.
Protect against moisture – 99% of the moisture that enters the walls of your home is carried in the air. You can reduce the amount of moisture that gets into your home, and the mould and moisture damage that can come from it, by air sealing it with spray foam insulation.
Keep pests out – spray foam insulation does not provide a source of food for rodents, termites, or other nasty critters. It also doesn’t make for good nests, and as a solid material it’s difficult to pass through, helping protect your home from critters. Structural Integrity – Depending on your application, and the product you choose, can offer extra structural stability to your walls which can’t be achieved using other traditional forms of insulation.