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Posts Tagged ‘condensation<’
Apart from letting in light, the windows in our homes play an important role in energy-efficiency factors too. Over time, the seals around the window frames perish, allowing water, air and of course dust into the house. Worn window seals can also lead to fogging inside the double glazing as moisture gets in. Since replacing window seals is a moderately difficult job – rather like working with putty – this may be a job that’s best left to the experts. You can find a window and door fitting expert right here on Mr-Skill.
If you are determined to go ahead yourself, here’s how to go about it: 
- Check the glass carefully for cracks, chips or holes, and look to replacing any sheet where the outer or inner pane seems compromised. Glazing is a specialist job, so rather contact your local glass specialist, or get a handyman quote through Mr-Skill. Handling glass is inherently dangerous and is not a repair for the novice to consider.
- Before replacing rubber seals around your windows, be sure to have the right replacement gaskets (gauge and profile). As you remove the old seal, slide the replacement into the same channel and trim to the correct length.
- Older style windows, such as sash type, are likely to use putty as the anchoring agent. If the glass panes are undamaged and do not need replacing, remove all old putty and sealant around the glass, where it is held in place within the window frame. A putty knife could prove useful for cleaning out the crevices.
- Load a tube of window-glazing sealant into a caulking gun, and trim the nozzle to the required size. Engage the ratchet-mechanism, and then squeeze the trigger to get the desired amount of sealant into the channel around the pane of glass.
- Use a putty knife to neaten up the sealant, and then clear any surplus caulking immediately.
One of our London window and door fitters advises that working with glass on a window frame can be challenging if you have no experience. He certainly would not encourage the DYI angle for any window that requires a ladder or scaffolding in place. Rather use the experts in the field, since they know what they are doing, and will complete the job professionally and quickly too.
Tags: caulking, caulking gun, chips, condensation, cracks, draft, find a window-and-door-fitting expert, fogging, frame, handyman quote, holes, london window and door fitter, sash window, seal, sealant, water, window
Posted in Handyman Services, Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Misting or fogging in double-glazed windows is quite common in older homes where the guarantee has expired. Owners often put up this, because it is a cosmetic problem that they feel is not worth the money to repair. As a London Window Fitting Expert I’m often asked what causes this irritating problem, and I thought others might like to know why too.
 Some condensation is natural in the space between two glass panes, because of the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures. In earlier days this drained naturally away. These days another plan is put in place in the interests of thermal efficiency.
- The moisture-absorption material used instead is known an silica – that’s the same stuff as the tiny white balls found in little bags and shipped with electronic goods.
- This silica is in the separation bars that keep the double-glazing panes apart. You’ll find them right up against the inner window frame. The idea is that the silica absorbs the moisture in winter months, and dries out again in summer.
- Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and sometimes the silica becomes water-logged in less
 than five years. Most double-glazing is guaranteed for ten years though. If you are lucky enough to have the original warranty then you may have a claim.
If you are unable to prove the claim and want your unsightly problem solved, then I suggest you Find a Window Fitter to do this for you. Many people prefer to have a drain hole inserted instead, because this is half the price of a complete Replacement Window Fitting Quote.
The window fitter who contributed this advice is listed on Mr-Skill. Like our other skilled artisans in all UK trades, he has a reputation that goes back for years, and he is registered as required by law too. Please contact us in the event that you require Professional Window Fitting Quotes.
Tags: absorb, cause, claim, condensation, cosmetic, double glazing, find a window fitter, fog, frame, glass, guarantee, hole, home, indoor, insert, log, london window fitting, mist, moisture, money, old, outdoor, pane, price, repair, silica, spacer, summer, temperature, thermal, warranty, waterlog, window, window fitting quote, winter
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
 Giving your air-conditioning unit a regular inspection does not replace a service carried out by a qualified local refrigeration engineer, but there are benefits to ensuring that your air-conditioner remains free from dust, has not developed any leaks and runs smoothly and economically.
None of the advice given below involves removing or replacing parts that would invalidate a warranty on your air-conditioning equipment, however if a leak is detected or there is a non-functioning element, use a local air-conditioning engineer to make appropriate repairs. Do not try to fix the fault yourself.
BEFORE YOU START – Disconnect the air-conditioning unit from all its power sources.
Outside
The condenser is the part of your air-conditioning equipment frequently located outside of the building. It is basically the element which releases the heat that has been removed from inside your property by condensation and evaporation. It should be checked to ensure that the condensers are clean and look in good condition and that the unit it is stored in is not obstructed and has a free passage of air.
The fan inside the condenser coil sucks air in through fins – and also pulls in dirt, leaves and other garden debris which blocks the air-flow and reduces the units´ efficiency. If you live in an area which experiences a lot of tree pollen in the spring, cleaning out the condenser is an essential job to do before using your air-condition system in the summer. If you have access to the fan motor, apply a few drops of specialist electric motor oil (all-purpose oil does not do the job) and check for any signs of wear and tear – If the fan looks at all damaged or rusted, you will need to call a local air-conditioning engineer.
The condensers may be contained in a sealed unit, in which case all you can do is check that there are no visible signs of deterioration. Whilst outside, also check that none of the coolant lines leading to the internal evaporator assembly are damaged.
Inside
Normally, many of the working parts in a modern air-conditioning unit are sealed, however you should be able to access the filters in the evaporating unit (which should be cleaned or replaced periodically) and also be able to Hoover the fins of the internal unit, and the bottom of the cabinet in which the evaporator is contained using a soft brush attachment.
The condensation exit tube should be checked to ensure it is not clogged by sludge or algae. These flexible tubes are easy to pull off and clean, and should be flushed with one part bleach to sixteen parts water. Keep an eye out for any leaking from the tube. If water is escaping from the tube it means that air can get in, and any broken areas of tubing can be fixed with duct tape, or you may want to install a new tube.
BEFORE RESTARTING YOUR AIR-CONDITIONING
If your system has been off for longer than four hours while you have been cleaning it, do not start the system straight away. Compression units require gentle handling and the system should be completely switched off when re-connecting to the power source(s) and allowed to “settle” for 24 hours (Very modern A/c systems do not require this long – check the operating instructions if in doubt).
Even when you switch the thermostat to “off”, you should always wait five minutes before switching it back on allowing the compressor to “decompress”. If you switch it back on too soon, you may stress the motor and all your good work will be wasted.
If you feel that your air-conditioning units could do with a more professional service, please use the Tradesmen´s Directory to find an air-conditioning engineer in London or you can “Post-a-Job” to get the most competitive quote from a local air-conditioning engineer in your neighbourhood.
Tags: air conditioning, air-conditioning engineer, clean filters, condensation, condenser, energy efficiency, environment, evaporation, evaporator, refrigeration engineer
Posted in General Building, Handyman Services, Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
Posted in General Building on Aug 18
 You could be driving this family around in your saloon as well! A bad smell coming from your car air-conditioning should not be ignored as it could indicate health- endangering mould in the ventilation system, states the German technical testing authority TUeV.
“Modern air conditioning systems have the advantage of cleansing the air coming from the outside into the car but that can only work if the filter system is clean and has not become infected with bacteria,” according to TUeV expert Hans-Ulrich Sander. The odour may be noticed particularly in the summer months when motorists turn the air conditioning on full after starting the car and it is a good idea to occasionally switch the system on at different times of the year to blow air through the vents and prevent condensation from building up.
Mould typically develops in humid conditions caused by condensation that has become trapped in the ventilation system and therefore it is recommended to change the filter and check the hoses for leaks at least once a year. According to the TUeV, the optimum temperature in a car should be at least two to three degrees Celsius below the outside temperature – a compromise between the feel-good factor and sensible economics.
In much the same way as a domestic air-conditioning system will not work efficiently when the filters and hoses are blocked with dirt, the air-conditioning system in your car will use less fuel when free of mould and muck – it will smell nicer too!
There are certain measures you can take to get rid of bad odours in your air-conditioning system and prevent the development of health-threatening bacteria and mould. Most motoring shops sell treatments that are sprayed into the ventilation system and pollen filters which cost little more than a tenner.
If you are unsure about how to clean your car ventilation system or change a pollen filter, ask a local handyman in London to help you out. It should not take much more than an hour and he will be able to deal with removing bad smells and harmful bacteria from your car for the sake of your comfort and health.
“Image courtesy of the Lewis Lab at Northeastern University. Image created by Anthony D’Onofrio, William H. Fowle, Eric J. Stewart and Kim Lewis.”
Tags: air conditioning, bacteria, car, climate control, condensation, find a handyman in London, health, temperature, ventilation
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
Posted in General Building on Jul 20
 Condensation is easily recognisable. When you have a hot bath and the bathroom windows steam up or are cooking your dinner and condensation forms on kitchen tiles are typical examples of household condensation. Where it is less noticeable is on porous surfaces such as plasterboard, wall plaster and timber – elements within a property that will absorb moisture and possibly lead to damp patches. As any good builder will confirm, this is more commonly found in rooms which are not used regularly and have poor ventilation or are not frequently heated.
Water vapour produced by bathing or cooking will normally disperse or evaporate when a room is well ventilated (ie when you open a window after cooking). However, when the water vapour finds its way into a room which may be rarely used, it will settle as it cools onto porous surfaces and, when sufficient moisture has accumulated, allows for mould spores to germinate which give off a recognisable musty smell.
Inasmuch as good ventilation or heating will solve the problem, this may involve your local builder extending your existing central heating system into infrequently used rooms, installing new windows with trickle vents to allow water vapour to disperse, or insulating the room to benefit from heat generated in other parts of the home.
Although these are projects which it is conceivable to manage by yourself, taking advantage of the services offered by one of our rated builders will eliminate the possibility of introducing inadequate ventilation and having the problem return. Our tradesmen´s directory has a large number of local builders experienced in remedial action for condensation dampness and will be happy to provide a no-obligation builders quote and organise a home inspection.
There are a number of short term measures you can take to prevent any spread of the problem. Keep any rooms suffering from condensation dampness well ventilated and treat surfaces already suffering from black mould with a biocide wash. Once cleaned and dried, surfaces can be repainted with anti-mould paints, although it is often more cost-effective to add a fungicide to standard emulsion.
Tags: anti-mould paint, condensation, damp proofing, dampness, fungicide, heating, home inspection, mould, replacement windows, ventilation, water vapour
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
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