Wardrobes & condensation

[tetris]

Hi All.

 

I'd really appreciate your thoughts on wardrobes and their apparent affinity to attract condensation.

 

In my old house I've had a few stand-alone Ikea units against external walls (Mid 1970s cavity walls). Despite the house not having any damp problems to note, I was surprised to find patches of mould behind the wardrobes when removing them. Two corner units leaning against 2 external walls were the worst).

 

In the new house (with damp issues that are yet to be fully diagnosed & resolved) I've got corner built-in wardrobes & I found thin ~2mm sheets of styrofoam glued to the inside of the external walls - potentially suggesting that previous occupants had condensation & mould issues there.

 

Is there a "proper" way to put in a wardrobe against an external wall, either built-in or stand-alone Ikea-type unit? Leave a void and plug PC-style fans into the sides to ensure circulation sounds a bit extreme? 🤔

 

Thank you.

[Nickfromwales]

5 hours ago, tetris said:

Hi All.

 

I'd really appreciate your thoughts on wardrobes and their apparent affinity to attract condensation.

 

In my old house I've had a few stand-alone Ikea units against external walls (Mid 1970s cavity walls). Despite the house not having any damp problems to note, I was surprised to find patches of mould behind the wardrobes when removing them. Two corner units leaning against 2 external walls were the worst).

 

In the new house (with damp issues that are yet to be fully diagnosed & resolved) I've got corner built-in wardrobes & I found thin ~2mm sheets of styrofoam glued to the inside of the external walls - potentially suggesting that previous occupants had condensation & mould issues there.

 

Is there a "proper" way to put in a wardrobe against an external wall, either built-in or stand-alone Ikea-type unit? Leave a void and plug PC-style fans into the sides to ensure circulation sounds a bit extreme? 🤔

 

Thank you.

Airflow is paramount. Convection should be fine; air can get in the bottom (under the plinths) and out the top, in equal quantities.
 

The thin styrofoam / EPS wallpaper stuff is a very good addition to this, which I’ve used myself with surprisingly good results, as it stops the very cold wall from having such a temperature differential to the internal (room) temp and humidity. 
 

If moisture can’t cool down it can’t then condense.

[JohnMo]

16 hours ago, tetris said:

Hi All.

 

I'd really appreciate your thoughts on wardrobes and their apparent affinity to attract condensation.

 

In my old house I've had a few stand-alone Ikea units against external walls (Mid 1970s cavity walls). Despite the house not having any damp problems to note, I was surprised to find patches of mould behind the wardrobes when removing them. Two corner units leaning against 2 external walls were the worst).

 

In the new house (with damp issues that are yet to be fully diagnosed & resolved) I've got corner built-in wardrobes & I found thin ~2mm sheets of styrofoam glued to the inside of the external walls - potentially suggesting that previous occupants had condensation & mould issues there.

 

Is there a "proper" way to put in a wardrobe against an external wall, either built-in or stand-alone Ikea-type unit? Leave a void and plug PC-style fans into the sides to ensure circulation sounds a bit extreme? 🤔

 

Thank you.

No insulation means walls become cold with limited air movement, cold walls equals damp walls when you have very limited air movement caused by adding some furniture in close proximity to the wall.

 

Adding some insulation leads to less cold walls, less damp, no mould

 

A bigger air gap allows more ventilation, leading to less issues.

 

Or just insulate the external walls, no mould less need for heating win, win. May not be a small task but as maybe doing loads anyway a good addition.