Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Expat & Property Owners Q and A Forum => Topic started by: kelvinmc on June 12, 2011, 17:17:04 PM
-
We have had our apartment in Calis about 3 years now and were over there in Oct/Nov last year and left the place spotless, never had any problems with damp as the apartment is only 3 or 4 years old.
Our friends were the first over this year last week in May first week in June. When they arrived most of the furniture was covered in like a damp mould the bedding was much the same. Of course they sorted it out and enjoyed their 2 weeks holiday but it left us feeling embarrassed.
We coming over this week so can look ourselves but may not see anything because our friends had the apartment thoroughly cleaned
Is this unusual, as this has not happened to us before when we have been out at the beginning of the season in the previous 2 years? Was this a colder winter in Calis? and is there anything that can be done to prevent this in the future?
-
This happened to me in 2009. I came over in early May, house was ok, got jobs done, cleaned, spent a pleasant week "opening up shop". Came back 4 weeks later and everywhere was covered in circular moulds, just like someone had used a round paint brush with black dust on it and dabbed it over the furniture, especially the backs, under the bed, everywhere, everything smelt musty. I spent a hectic week washing and wiping down everything in the entire house! I could not believe what had happened in 4 weeks. Apparently there had been a storm when I left followed by a heat wave. I have very efficient double glazing and it was a combination of all this being sealed in apparently. All hail ventilation! Incidentally the air con units can be set to dehumidify if you are unlucky enough to have this problem again.
Carol
-
Yes I was going to say something similar to Carpete. Changes from extremely wet to extremely hot seem to cause most problems rather than cold. Most houses leave a little bathroom window or similar open to have a little ventilation - you can get a little metalwork grill added to prevent it from being a security risk. Also check your windows, some have the facility to have a little open vent in them.
-
We have had similar problems though not on the other two postings scale. I have taken clothes out of the wardrobe and they have had mould on them and some of my shoes and also stuff in the bedside drawers, when I pack up on my last day I try to remember to open the bedside drawers and wardrobe doors and leave them open just a bit. :)
-
Thanks that sounds like the key - ventilation
-
We had this same problem one year and it was the ventilation. We now keep a small window open.
-
Also leave all internal doors open so air can circulate round the villa/apartment. Seems last thing people do before they leave is have a shower and then close all the internal doors.In this hot climate this causesa an internal humid atmosphere, good breeding ground for mould.
-
Agree with all the above. When we left in Sept. 2010 we also pulled all the furniture a few inches away from the walls where possible, opened all drawers and cupboards a few inches and left 2 secured loo windows on a safety catch. Thankfully, this year "no problem!".
-
How about a solar powered de-humidifier. I'd love to know how well these work if anybody has any experience of them.
http://www.dampfreehomes.com/default.asp
-
Today in Asda I bought these containers (hubby found them a while back in the car aisle) they are plastic and sealed with all these white round things in them sat on a layer of plastic, they are £1 each and they say dehumidifier on the container we have one on our wardrobe in Uk and gradually the white thingeys are going and the container is filling with water, so it must be working, I have bought three today to take to Turkey with me on my next trip.If anyone wants more details I will try to explain them a bit better you cant go wrong at £1 each if they only help a bit:D
-
Sounds interesting and worth a go for that price .... so i look in the car aisle in Asda?
-
We have a hypermarket Asda by us which is massive, there is a car aisle oil car cleaning stuff etc, at the end of that aisle was household bits for £1, depending on how big your local Asda is I suppose as to whether they stock them or not,they have either pink or yellow lids and a cardboard sleeve around it saying dehumidifer, hope this helps 8)
-
They are available in any good caravan accesory shop too, they get used when peeps shut up their vans for the winter.
(I've got a great solution for this coming winter, let me rent your apartment for 6 months, that'll keep it well & truly ventilated, seperate request on this forum for more details.)
-
quote:
How about a solar powered de-humidifier. I'd love to know how well these work if anybody has any experience of them
The link is to solar powered fans. They are not dehumidiers.Cross flow ventilation by the various simple methods described solves the problem in the large majority of cases.
-
The £1.00 de-humidifiers pots worked for us,we were surprised at the ammount of water they collected
The Badgers 8)
-
Has anyone had the solarventi system installed? Is it effective? Local supplier?
-
We had a damp problem and Engin from who looks after our maintenance suggested we leave the small bathroom windows open and also leave all interior doors open so there is air circulating around the place. We did get insect overs over the little windows so just air would come in. Plus he pays the place visits to check everything out. Seemed to have done the trick.
-
quote:
Has anyone had the solarventi system installed?
As Jacqui says simple measures which create cross flow ventilation solves the problem in the large majority of cases without having to use mechanical fans.
-
Jacqui - I'm sure they will be but just can you confirm that no-one can get in the bathroom windows.
-
The £1.00 de-humidifiers are available on ebay for £1.98 including postage, if they're not in your local Asda. Have ordered a pack of 4 for £5.99, post free. :)
-
quote:
Originally posted by Highlander
Jacqui - I'm sure they will be but just can you confirm that no-one can get in the bathroom windows.
No, one can get in throught the windows, they are really tiny about 12" square and have bars on then anyway.:D
-
Thought so jacqui - thanks for confirming.
-
They are good Julie as Badger said it is amazing to see how much water they collect. :D
-
We fitted a small air vent under both bedroom windows when we were last over. Hopefully with all the interior doors left open it will have helped a little this year.
-
quote:
They are good Julie as Badger said it is amazing to see how much water they collect
They work well when the air inside the property has more moisture than that outside.The problem when the balance reverses is that unless the apartment/house is sealed moisture in the air will be drawn in from the outside to replace that taken out by the dehumidifier as "nature balances the books" which will then be absorbed by the dehumidier in an ongoing cycle. Only when the outside Rh drops will this cease.
-
One of our neighbours suggested leaving little plates of salt in each room, which is what we have always done. Works a treat! The salt soaks up any humidity in the air and is always rock hard when we next visit and has to be prised from the dish! (Didn't really help in our recent flood though! :o )
-
When we closed our apartment up in October we too placed bowls of salt in each room to soak up the humidity. Should work a treat. Will find out in April. Rayza :)
-
They will certainly absorb moisture but whether you will stop mould growth will depend on whether you have allowed the air to circulate.
-
I have mould problems mainly on walls and ceilings facing north. This year when repainting I 'll have a layer of anti-mould paint applied before the actual paint. ( küf önleyici boya - anti küf boya ).