Off Topic PIV units

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

Anybody have one of these units in their loft to prevent condensation / damp issues in the house ? I’ve just had a guy round and nearly a grand to have fitted but he assures me they definitely work and will guarantee it in writing , etc. I’m just a natural pessimist about things working so would be Interested if anybody could back it up

 

[Asterix]

Flat/pitched roof? Slate, rosemaries, concrete tiles?

I would try roof vents first.

Bathroom extractors also

 

[TwoWrights]

Turned ours off years ago, draughty bleedin' things.

 

[Mr Hatem]

Anybody have one of these units in their loft to prevent condensation / damp issues in the house ? I’ve just had a guy round and nearly a grand to have fitted but he assures me they definitely work and will guarantee it in writing , etc. I’m just a natural pessimist about things working so would be Interested if anybody could back it up

Did he quote you to tarmac your drive too?

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

Did he quote you to tarmac your drive too?

No because I don’t have a problem with my drive you tit

 

[FER ARK]

Anybody have one of these units in their loft to prevent condensation / damp issues in the house ? I’ve just had a guy round and nearly a grand to have fitted but he assures me they definitely work and will guarantee it in writing , etc. I’m just a natural pessimist about things working so would be Interested if anybody could back it up

Did you get him round because you are suffering with damp in your house?

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

Did you get him round because you are suffering with damp in your house?

Yeah , it’s condensation rather then rising damp , in main bedroom and loft, it’s a lack of ventilation problem as it all clears up as soon as windows open , just looking for more permanent solution , whenever I have heating on and forget to open bedroom window get a pool of water on my bedroom wall . I’d pay this money if it definitely works , I’m just sceptical , I also don’t get how it works when it is basically taking air out the cold loft and filtering it round the house, if I have my heating on it sounds as if they will be fighting against each other

 

[SW3 Chelsea Tiger]

Yeah , it’s condensation rather then rising damp , in main bedroom and loft, it’s a lack of ventilation problem as it all clears up as soon as windows open , just looking for more permanent solution , whenever I have heating on and forget to open bedroom window get a pool of water on my bedroom wall . I’d pay this money if it definitely works , I’m just sceptical , I also don’t get how it works when it is basically taking air out the cold loft and filtering it round the house, if I have my heating on it sounds as if they will be fighting against each other

A few roof vents will do the job & will be a fraction of the cost.
It doesn’t sound like the problem is serious enough to warrant a mechanical solution, just increase the ventilation

 

[FER ARK]

Yeah , it’s condensation rather then rising damp , in main bedroom and loft, it’s a lack of ventilation problem as it all clears up as soon as windows open , just looking for more permanent solution , whenever I have heating on and forget to open bedroom window get a pool of water on my bedroom wall . I’d pay this money if it definitely works , I’m just sceptical , I also don’t get how it works when it is basically taking air out the cold loft and filtering it round the house, if I have my heating on it sounds as if they will be fighting against each other

Is there an air Brick in the room ( mostly older houses, but they get boarded up) modern double glazed windows usually have a vent on them. Don’t know if you could fit a vent retrospectively. Just think they could be cheaper solutions.

 

[tigre]

Had a similar problem of damp in a loft of elderly relative's bungalow
It was worse in winter.
Had a roofer round. In less than an hour he had removed some of the concrete tiles and replaced them with ventilation tiles.
Renewed the insulation
The damp problem solved

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

A few roof vents will do the job & will be a fraction of the cost.
It doesn’t sound like the problem is serious enough to warrant a mechanical solution, just increase the ventilation

This is where I’m thick as pig **** with anytbing practical , I can see the roof vents helping with the loft issue , but what about the bedroom? There are no brick / wall vents in here or in the windows . It’s open window or nothing

 

[SW3 Chelsea Tiger]

This is where I’m thick as pig **** with anytbing practical , I can see the roof vents helping with the loft issue , but what about the bedroom? There are no brick / wall vents in here or in the windows . It’s open window or nothing

Does it have trickle vents at the top edge of the window? Long / narrow sliding things.

Open them, problem gone within 1 week

 

[brownbagtiger]

We've got a condensation problem too upstairs (mainly due to poor bathroom ventilation). We run a dehumidifier on the landing, set it at 50% and empty the tank every day, job's a good un. No mould or damp issues since using one, and hell of a lot cheaper than installing a PIV. This is the one we use - can recommend the company, great customer service. https://www.meaco.com/products/meacodry-abc-range-12l-dehumidifier

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

Does it have trickle vents at the top edge of the window? Long / narrow sliding things.

Open them, problem gone within 1 week

No , quite an old house . Might look at getting some quotes for these things see how they compare to the PIV unit

 

[SW3 Chelsea Tiger]

No , quite an old house . Might look at getting some quotes for these things see how they compare to the PIV unit

Or buy a dehumidifier as a temp fix, about £100 from screw fix or £5-10 per day to hire one

 

[Help!]

Anybody have one of these units in their loft to prevent condensation / damp issues in the house ? I’ve just had a guy round and nearly a grand to have fitted but he assures me they definitely work and will guarantee it in writing , etc. I’m just a natural pessimist about things working so would be Interested if anybody could back it up

Yes, fitted 12 years ago when we first moved in to a damp Victorian cottage. Cost nowhere near a grand though - if I remember rightly it was about £160 + VAT to buy, I did the mechanical fitting and I got one of my mates to do the electrics for a couple of pints + materials.

It's worked well and as a long term fix it's been massively cheaper to run than a dehumidifier, though I'd agree with others that improving your ventilation is a much better solution if it's practical (which it wasn't for us).

EDIT - just checked and ours is a Nuaire Drimaster if that’s any help.

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

Yes, fitted 12 years ago when we first moved in to a damp Victorian cottage. Cost nowhere near a grand though - if I remember rightly it was about £160 + VAT to buy, I did the mechanical fitting and I got one of my mates to do the electrics for a couple of pints + materials.

It's worked well and as a long term fix it's been massively cheaper to run than a dehumidifier, though I'd agree with others that improving your ventilation is a much better solution if it's practical (which it wasn't for us).

EDIT - just checked and ours is a Nuaire Drimaster if that’s any help.

That’s the unit he quoted me , they seem to be about 400 to buy so he seems to be having my pants down on installation as will only take him 2 hours he said , other option is to get some more quotes for this and weigh everything up , cheers

 

[StCloudTiger]

No , quite an old house . Might look at getting some quotes for these things see how they compare to the PIV unit

If you do not have and use fans in all bathrooms and kitchens, then this should be your priority. Baths, showers and boiling veg, add huge amount of water vapour to your house. This creates massive condensation problems. Get the vapour out at its sourse.

 

[Help!]

That’s the unit he quoted me , they seem to be about 400 to buy so he seems to be having my pants down on installation as will only take him 2 hours he said , other option is to get some more quotes for this and weigh everything up , cheers

No worries. If I remember rightly they were about £250 retail when we got ours, but my leccy mate got it trade for me. I’d say 2 hours fitting is about right all-in. It’s sufficiently low power that you can run an extension off the lighting circuit so that’s really straightforward, and the worst bit of the mechanical fitting just involves cutting a circular hole in your ceiling. The main unit hangs from a hook in the loft, which screws straight into a roof beam and might even have come with it.

 

[DJBlackandamberarmy(No4)]

If you do not have and use fans in all bathrooms and kitchens, then this should be your priority. Baths, showers and boiling veg, add huge amount of water vapour to your house. This creates massive condensation problems. Get the vapour out at its sourse.

The Mrs drying the washing on the radiators is another issue!