Humidity Sensors

[Tina LL]

Just wondering if any almshouses have installed humidity sensors in any of their almshouses (as an early warning for mould and damp problems)? If yes, what model/ types have sensors have you used? Any pros/ cons?

[emmapannell]

Hi Tina – no we haven’t but have looked into doing so, and it’s probably a benefit to landlords of older / problem properties. We were told about these: https://www.airthings.com/en-gb/ and I’d be interested in anyone who has experience of them and the data / usefulness of the data.
And also – Aico: https://www.airthings.com/en-gb/

[Sarah Massey]

Hi Lisa

Our quinquennial reports suggested putting in humidistat fans to continually draw out moist air when needed. Apparantly they are very low power use.
However we have the dilemma that many residents tend to switch off fans at the isolation point to save electricity! We also have installed much higher powered inline type fans particularly in bathrooms which residents will use briefly after a shower and will clear most of the moisture build up.
In units where moisture/condensation has been very problematic we have installed PIV units with the isolator switch in a hard to reach place (eg inside the loft hatch). This has solved any mould issues (provided the original problem is properly cleaned up).

Sarah

[Tina LL]

We have started swapping to humidistat fans- and I dont think they can be turned off at an isolator switch. They are very effective

[Tim Richardson]

Humidity sensors are an interesting idea, as a surveyor specialising in damp issues (amongst other things) I’ve used various types over the years and also had them at home. Whilst it sounds like it could help avert damp issues it’s very subjective. The highest time of humidity is likely to be at about 4am in a cold winter when even the best ventilated home will have windows and doors tightly shut and high daytime temperatures; in these circumstances the warm air can hold a lot of moisture and it will nonsense out at the coldest part of the night. It wouldn’t be unusual for RH to be above 85% in the bedrooms at this time but it’s not necessarily a problem.

Conversely they are unlikely to show anything untoward in summer unless the resident is sealing up all the ventilation anyway.

In short they are a good tool where there is a problem but fitting them everywhere is looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist and unlikely to justify the cost.

Tim Richardson MCIAT MCIOB FSAI MRICS MIFSM TMEI WMSoc Cert

Chartered Architectural Technologist, Chartered Construction Manager, Chartered Building Surveyor, CIAT-Accredited Conservationist
Registered Fire Risk Assessor
Accredited & Certified Legionella Risk Assessor
Accredited Domestic Energy Assessor

[Author]

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