Extractor fans
The first line of defence. A bathroom or kitchen fan should be powerful enough for the room, ducted to outside and left running long enough after a shower or cooking. A weak or blocked fan undoes everything else.
Bathroom mould guideCHOOSING THE RIGHT FIX
PIV OR DEHUMIDIFIER
FOR CUMBRIAN HOMES?
Fighting condensation every winter? Extractor fans, dehumidifiers and PIV all help, but in different ways. Here’s which does what, and when you need more than one.
Arrange a free surveyThree tools,
three jobs.
Condensation comes from moisture we all produce: breathing, cooking, showers and drying clothes. Controlling it means removing moisture at the source and making sure the rest of the house can get rid of what’s left.
Dehumidifiers
Good for one room, a quick fix or drying washing indoors. They need emptying, take up floor space and can be noisy. Compressor and desiccant models typically use considerably more electricity than a PIV fan on its normal setting.
PIV
Treats the whole house continuously from a unit in the loft. It suits homes where condensation shows up in several rooms every winter and the occupants want something that just works.
Is PIV worth it?Which one
suits you?
A dehumidifier suits
- Condensation or mould in just one room
- Drying washing indoors in winter
- A short-term fix while the cause is sorted
- A flat or home without a loft
PIV suits
- Condensation in several rooms every winter
- Mould that returns despite good habits
- People who don’t want to empty tanks or remember to switch things on
- Homes with a loft and a landing ceiling for the diffuser
How we
advise.
Check the basics
We test whether extractor fans are pulling their weight, look at trickle vents and talk about how the house is used day to day.
Find any other damp
Leaks, penetrating damp and rising damp look similar to condensation. We rule them out, because no ventilation fixes water getting in.
Recommend what fits
Sometimes the answer is a better fan and some new habits. Sometimes it’s PIV. We’ll tell you which, and why.
Condensation advice
across north & west Cumbria.
Send your postcode to confirm availability, including nearby towns and villages.
Check availabilityCarlisle & the north
Carlisle, Brampton, Longtown, Wigton
West Cumbria & the coast
Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Silloth, Aspatria, Egremont, Cleator Moor
Penrith & the northern Lakes
Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth
PIV or dehumidifier?
FAQs.
Can I use a dehumidifier and PIV together?
Yes, although once PIV is working well most people find they no longer need the dehumidifier, except perhaps for drying washing.
Does a dehumidifier stop mould?
In the room it’s running in, it reduces the moisture mould needs. It doesn’t help the rest of the house, and existing mould still needs treating.
What about MVHR?
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery suits new or very airtight homes and is usually designed in during a build or major renovation. For most existing Cumbrian homes, PIV is far simpler to add.
Will opening windows do the same job?
Opening windows helps, especially after showers and in the morning, but it lets heat out in winter and only works while they’re open.
Which is cheapest to run?
It depends on the models and settings. A PIV fan on its normal setting typically uses much less electricity than a dehumidifier, but a PIV heater uses more when it runs.
Do I need a survey to decide?
It helps, because the cause matters. Our surveys are free, and we’ll tell you if a simple change is all you need.
YOUR HOME. A CLEARER WAY FORWARD.
BOOK YOUR FREE
SURVEY OR QUOTE.
Damp, ventilation or plastering. Tell us what you need and arrange a free, no-obligation survey or quotation.
