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Consumers count the cost of rising damp
06 June 2004
Poor ventilation can affect people's homes and health. ROB STOCK considers some solutions.
The retching cough volunteer firefighter Sean Smith's asthmatic flatmate developed reflected the seriousness of their home's dampness and mould problems.
Officials estimate as many as four in five houses are affected by damp and mould problems, which worsen each winter. But, by any standard Sean's house in Glen Eden, Auckland, was an extreme case in any season.
"At the time, we did not realise how bad it was for his health," says Sean. "My flatmate was just coughing his lungs out."
The mould was so bad, "we were just clearing it off with our hands. The walls in one room looked like blue cheese."
Clothes in the wardrobe developed a mildew fur, shoes rotted and the air reeked of mould.
The costs of damp often include extra cleaning, replacing rotting shoes and stocking up on products such as Exit Mould, but can also extend to increased sickness. In Sean's home, it was literally eating his walls away.
Sean bought his house in 1999, after it had been moved to the site from further up the road. Although he covered all the bases - LIM report and pre-purchase independent survey - he ended up with a house that soon developed severe rising damp resulting from insufficient drainage.
But while he was fighting his corner in the courts to get $47,000 compensation, Sean got a lucky break. A brief appearance on TV's My House, My Castle raised his plight and in stepped "forced ventilation" specialist Healthaire, run by Curtis and Jessica Dobbie of Westmere in Auckland. They installed their system for free and it has transformed the house, says Sean.
"Four years ago, it smelt mouldy throughout the house. The rising damp is still there but there's no mould any more. It has made me much more comfortable wanting to stay here."
The many systems on the market - such as Healthaire's - take air from the roof space where it has been warmed by the sun and channel it through the house via ceiling vents.
The makers of these systems make many claims and counter-claims.
Paul Facoory, managing director of Condensation Control in Dunedin, says lay people would find it difficult to decide on a product because there's "so much misinformation out there".
Technical whiz Curtis Dobbie, who enjoys a bitter rivalry with Facoory, agrees on that point. "It is hard for people to understand the merits of the systems out there. This is a sales-driven industry."
The industry is unregulated and claims made come under no scrutiny.
"I have contacted the consumer protection people, but they say they are too busy to investigate," says Dobbie. "It is absolutely pathetic."
And in a fragmented industry, there are a lot of names in the market to choose between including DVS, HRV and Avon. Internet searches under Drivaire, Clean-aire, Airmax, and Wiess will also throw up results.
There are two types of system: forced-air ventilation and heat-recovery. A recent Consumer magazine report showed prices varied from around $1200 up to more than $4000, though costs varied according to the size of the home.
Comparisons of the systems are not easy. Consumer did not recommend any specific brand or make, as the systems should be tailor-made for each home. But suppliers agree consumers can level the playing field.
They say no one should sign a contract for a system without having a money-back clause. It is not uncommon for firms to offer a "three winter months" guarantee. If the homeowner is not happy with the results during three winter months, the supplier will readjust it and, if the customer is still not satisfied, take it out.
Though they take their system away, they will only seal the ceiling vents rather than remove them. Another system can then be put in and the homeowner has not lost out.
In comparing systems, homeowners should:
* Ask for references from the company. Someone in your area may have had a system fitted. Ask around among friends.
* Find out if the system is powerful enough for your house: Consumer says ideally you should change all the air in your house or room every hour. The manufacturers rate their products by the floor area of the house, assuming the room height is the standard 2.4 metres. That gives an indication of suitability. You can also check the system's airflow and work out how often it will turn over the air in your home. If you can't do it yourself, get the salesman to help you crunch the numbers. Then check it out with a friend.
* Decide the level of filter you need. Each system has a filter to keep out dust, depending on the amount of dust in, for example, the roof space. Fibre-glass requires a filter to take out particles of one micron. Also check how often the filter needs replacing. If you live by a busy road, the size of the filter is even more important.
* Get a guarantee. Ask for how long the firm will back its system. Three years should be a minimum. Five is common.
* Ask how much the system will cost to run. This is hard to verify.
* Make a note of the salesman's claims. Some claim to be able to eliminate condensation. A careful note will make it easier to argue your case if the system lets you down.
* Check whether the system contains "in-line" heating. Does your property need it?
* How noisy is the system? It may bother you at night.
Tips for a drier home include:
* Ensure the floor is well-ventilated and that walls are properly sealed. Polythene put over damp ground can help prevent rising damp.
* Install a range-hood, a bathroom extractor fan, and don't use unflued gas heaters.
* Dehumidifiers will help. Consumer rates the Delonghi range as best performer. The costs are around $1000 to purchase plus $1 a day to run.
06 June 2004
Poor ventilation can affect people's homes and health. ROB STOCK considers some solutions.
The retching cough volunteer firefighter Sean Smith's asthmatic flatmate developed reflected the seriousness of their home's dampness and mould problems.
Officials estimate as many as four in five houses are affected by damp and mould problems, which worsen each winter. But, by any standard Sean's house in Glen Eden, Auckland, was an extreme case in any season.
"At the time, we did not realise how bad it was for his health," says Sean. "My flatmate was just coughing his lungs out."
The mould was so bad, "we were just clearing it off with our hands. The walls in one room looked like blue cheese."
Clothes in the wardrobe developed a mildew fur, shoes rotted and the air reeked of mould.
The costs of damp often include extra cleaning, replacing rotting shoes and stocking up on products such as Exit Mould, but can also extend to increased sickness. In Sean's home, it was literally eating his walls away.
Sean bought his house in 1999, after it had been moved to the site from further up the road. Although he covered all the bases - LIM report and pre-purchase independent survey - he ended up with a house that soon developed severe rising damp resulting from insufficient drainage.
But while he was fighting his corner in the courts to get $47,000 compensation, Sean got a lucky break. A brief appearance on TV's My House, My Castle raised his plight and in stepped "forced ventilation" specialist Healthaire, run by Curtis and Jessica Dobbie of Westmere in Auckland. They installed their system for free and it has transformed the house, says Sean.
"Four years ago, it smelt mouldy throughout the house. The rising damp is still there but there's no mould any more. It has made me much more comfortable wanting to stay here."
The many systems on the market - such as Healthaire's - take air from the roof space where it has been warmed by the sun and channel it through the house via ceiling vents.
The makers of these systems make many claims and counter-claims.
Paul Facoory, managing director of Condensation Control in Dunedin, says lay people would find it difficult to decide on a product because there's "so much misinformation out there".
Technical whiz Curtis Dobbie, who enjoys a bitter rivalry with Facoory, agrees on that point. "It is hard for people to understand the merits of the systems out there. This is a sales-driven industry."
The industry is unregulated and claims made come under no scrutiny.
"I have contacted the consumer protection people, but they say they are too busy to investigate," says Dobbie. "It is absolutely pathetic."
And in a fragmented industry, there are a lot of names in the market to choose between including DVS, HRV and Avon. Internet searches under Drivaire, Clean-aire, Airmax, and Wiess will also throw up results.
There are two types of system: forced-air ventilation and heat-recovery. A recent Consumer magazine report showed prices varied from around $1200 up to more than $4000, though costs varied according to the size of the home.
Comparisons of the systems are not easy. Consumer did not recommend any specific brand or make, as the systems should be tailor-made for each home. But suppliers agree consumers can level the playing field.
They say no one should sign a contract for a system without having a money-back clause. It is not uncommon for firms to offer a "three winter months" guarantee. If the homeowner is not happy with the results during three winter months, the supplier will readjust it and, if the customer is still not satisfied, take it out.
Though they take their system away, they will only seal the ceiling vents rather than remove them. Another system can then be put in and the homeowner has not lost out.
In comparing systems, homeowners should:
* Ask for references from the company. Someone in your area may have had a system fitted. Ask around among friends.
* Find out if the system is powerful enough for your house: Consumer says ideally you should change all the air in your house or room every hour. The manufacturers rate their products by the floor area of the house, assuming the room height is the standard 2.4 metres. That gives an indication of suitability. You can also check the system's airflow and work out how often it will turn over the air in your home. If you can't do it yourself, get the salesman to help you crunch the numbers. Then check it out with a friend.
* Decide the level of filter you need. Each system has a filter to keep out dust, depending on the amount of dust in, for example, the roof space. Fibre-glass requires a filter to take out particles of one micron. Also check how often the filter needs replacing. If you live by a busy road, the size of the filter is even more important.
* Get a guarantee. Ask for how long the firm will back its system. Three years should be a minimum. Five is common.
* Ask how much the system will cost to run. This is hard to verify.
* Make a note of the salesman's claims. Some claim to be able to eliminate condensation. A careful note will make it easier to argue your case if the system lets you down.
* Check whether the system contains "in-line" heating. Does your property need it?
* How noisy is the system? It may bother you at night.
Tips for a drier home include:
* Ensure the floor is well-ventilated and that walls are properly sealed. Polythene put over damp ground can help prevent rising damp.
* Install a range-hood, a bathroom extractor fan, and don't use unflued gas heaters.
* Dehumidifiers will help. Consumer rates the Delonghi range as best performer. The costs are around $1000 to purchase plus $1 a day to run.
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