Information about moist, mould and other climate related issuses in the crawlspace. Dehumidifier and rot.
- Can I do the installation in the crawlspace myself?
Yes and many people do. There are no complicated technical steps and the installation manuals are detailed. You can also send us a lay-out of the crawlspace with cardinal points, measurements of the walls and the placement of ventilators, and then we draw how you should mount the Climacure. If you are uncertain as to whether you want to do the installation yourself you can order installation manuals through the website or by phone.
- How can I see if there is mould or rot in the crawlspace?
Take a look around in the crawlspace with a strong flashlight. Black mould is best seen if you point the light directly at the counter floor. It looks like small black spots. White mould is best seen if you point the light along the counter floor; it looks like white fluff, ranging from a tenth millimetre up to several millimetres. Blue fungus looks like thin goo that covers a larger surface and is usually black, grey, brown or sage-green. The timber has not lost its strength except for right at the surface layer, and that is something you can check with a strong knife. Rot fungi can be anything from streaky white to bright red. All rot fungus attacks break the bearing in the timber which can be easily established using a strong knife. Keep in mind that the wood can be healthy on the surface despite a rot attack inside a beam, and therefore you should press the knife real hard in suspected areas.
- I have had Climacure Crawlspace installed for a month and it is on maximum effect all the time, is there something wrong?
No, the existing moisture must be dried out before it is possible to assess what a normal consumption will be in your crawlspace.
- Is Climacure only operating on the mould risk?
No, Climacure also takes into consideration the risk of rot fungus attack, chemical processes that result in emissions of unhealthy substances, vermin, and moisture movements. Climacure also minimizes the energy consumption by preventing that moisture transport processes into building materials increase under certain conditions.
- Where does the moisture go?
The first thing that occurs when heating the crawlspace is that the relative humidity decreases. That is a relatively quick process and it is due to the fact that warm air can carry more moisture than cold air. It is good to decrease the relative humidity because that is what determines the amount of moisture being absorbed in building materials, which in turn controls the risk of mould and rot attacks. In the long run the crawlspace will dry out, and that is because the heated air that is ventilated out carries more moisture than the air that is ventilated in. It is essentially the same as what makes it dry in the winter time when the heating is on. Spaces that are on average warmer than their surroundings dry out.
- Why is it a bad idea to use a condensation dehumidifier in my crawlspace?
A condensation dehumidifier work best at a temperature higher than 13 degrees. Below this temperature the effect decreases considerably. The condensation dehumidifier also shares the same problem as the desiccant dehumidifier. Movable parts demand more maintenance.
- Will there be better results with a desiccant dehumidifier?
No, but roughly the same. When it comes to preventing mould and rot damages Climacure is a satisfactory replacement for older methods such as desiccant dehumidifiers. In practise Climacure is more often than not even more efficient since it is maintenance free and therefore does not deteriorate over time. In addition, the energy consumption is considerably lower than for a desiccant dehumidifier.
- How much energy does Climacure use in the crawlspace?
The consumption depends on the climate in the crawlspace as well as on the building area. Normal consumption in a crawlspace is 7 kWh per square metre and year. During the first year one should at least double that figure considering that the climate is stabilizing. If you have wet ground walls or lack ground cover, that will also increase the consumption.
