Humidity in a room: why and what to do?

Peeling paint or peeling wallpaper, mold on the walls, persistent fogging on the window, unpleasant odor and difficulty breathing… these symptoms are evidence of excess humidity in your room. However, be aware that there are concrete solutions to get rid of it. What causes dampness in a bedroom and how do you get rid of it? We will explain everything to you !

Why is there humidity in a room?

Humidity in a bedroom can cause many inconveniences in everyday life. However, it is necessary to understand the different causes that can explain this high humidity in your room.

The condensation

Condensation is one of the most common causes of dampness in a bedroom. This occurs when moisture in the room, or warm air, meets a cold surface (like a window). The appearance of humidity and condensation in a room can be linked to the use of certain appliances, the proximity or presence of a bathroom in your room and your breathing (mainly during the night)

A lack of aeration and ventilation accentuates the humidity in your room and can, in the long term, cause considerable damage to the room (stains, mold on the walls and windows, etc.)

👉 This article might interest you: Fog on double glazing: how to remove humidity?

Water infiltration / leak

The presence of an infiltration or a water leak can explain the humidity in your room. Indeed, a damaged water pipe can cause the humidity level and gradually deteriorate the walls of your room. In addition, finding the source of the leak can be a real headache given the number of pipes and drains in your home.

In addition to being unsightly, a water leak can have serious consequences on your home!

Then, it is possible that the humidity is caused by elements of the housing in contact with the outside such as your facade , your roof or your windows . If these elements are damaged or are not sufficiently sealed, water coming from outside may infiltrate your home and cause significant damage, especially in the event of heavy rainfall.

The presence of capillary rise

It is also possible that the presence of capillary rise causes humidity in your room. Resulting from the interaction between the water in the ground and your walls, capillary rise is characterized by damp spots and mold , as well as the progressive degradation of your walls.

Capillary rise is a major source of humidity for a room and can have harmful consequences for your energy consumption , the structure of your home and also for your health .

Do you suspect there is a leak in your home? Call on one of our craftsmen to detect and repair it!
>> I request an intervention

What are the solutions to avoid humidity in a bedroom?

Now that you know the causes of humidity in your room, it is now time to see the existing solutions to remedy this problem and find a healthy room.

Ventilate and heat your room sufficiently

First of all, one of the simplest solutions is to ventilate and heat your room sufficiently. To ventilate your room well, we advise you to open the windows of your room 3 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes so that the stale air is expelled and the humidity level in your room drops effectively.

👉 This article might interest you: How to properly ventilate your home in winter without cooling it?

Then, it will be important that your room maintains an ambient temperature of at least 19° , which will limit the humidity present in the air. You should also know that electric radiators of the radiant type or those with inertia are effective alternatives for heating and limiting humidity in a room.

We also recommend that you do not dry your laundry in your room to avoid humidity.

Buy a dehumidifier / humidity absorber

To effectively reduce the humidity level in your room, you can purchase an air dehumidifier or a humidity absorber, which are devices that will allow you to recover the humidity present in the room . .

Electric air dehumidifiers come in different sizes and for all tastes!

You should know that there are different types of dehumidifiers such as chemical humidity absorbers , electric air dehumidifiers (condensation and absorption) and it is even possible to make one yourself using coal, clay or coarse salt.

Repair water leaks

If a water leak is the cause of your moisture problems, you’ll need to fix it quickly . The first step will be to detect precisely where the leak is to avoid ripping open your home too much.

The detection and repair of a leak requires the use of tools and materials adapted to solve this problem. This is why we invite you to go through a professional who will be able to find the source of the leak more quickly and consolidate it in record time.

Treat your interior and exterior walls

In the event of capillary rise or water infiltration from the outside, you will then have to treat either the walls of your room or the exterior walls in contact with it.

If the interior walls of your room are affected by capillary rise, you will need to inject your walls to stop this phenomenon. Grouting involves drilling holes at the base of wet walls and injecting a water repellent product into them to prevent water from the floor from coming up into the walls of your bedroom. Otherwise, it is possible to make a groove in the walls to put waterproofing membranes, but this will require demolition work.

On the other hand, if your exterior walls have sealing problems, it will be possible to treat the cracks and holes with the help of waterproofing the facade. However, your facade must be in good condition and clean to be able to carry out this operation.

Need help repainting your walls or installing new wallpaper? Contact MesDépanneurs.fr for your work!
>> I make an estimate

Improve the insulation of your home

Finally, if you find that the humidity in your room is due to a lack of insulation in your home, it may then be worthwhile to proceed with thermal insulation to reduce the ambient humidity. Indeed, it is possible, in the event of a humidity problem, to carry out small works such as the installation of new windows (double or triple glazing) for your room or to paint your walls with anti-humidity paints .

Then, if your room has a bathroom, it may be a good idea to install a VMC there to filter stale air and reduce the humidity in your room.

👍 If installing a VMC in a bedroom is not the most appropriate solution, you can however install ventilation grilles on your windows so that they can ventilate naturally.

Finally, if these solutions are not sufficient, we advise you to insulate certain parts of your home such as the interior and exterior walls , the roof , the attic and even the floor. Know that there are many aids for energy renovation to allow you to finance your work.

👉 This article might interest you: Energy renovation work: what aid in 2023?

What are the harmful effects of humidity in a bedroom?

It’s important not to take moisture problems in your bedroom lightly. Indeed, sleeping in a damp room can have harmful consequences for you and your home:

Various health problems: a room that is too humid promotes the appearance of mold and fungus. These release various spores and particles that can cause allergies and respiratory problems like asthma.
Structural damage to your home: in addition to mold stains and the appearance of unsavory fungi, humidity can cause the deterioration of your home with the peeling of the paint, the rotting of your joinery or even masonry and the plaster which is gradually damaged.

Is your electric heater playing tricks on you? Call an experienced heating engineer to fix it!
>> I make an estimate

In summary, humidity in the bedroom is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors such as condensation , water leaks or seepage , and even capillary rise . Note, however, that this problem is not insurmountable and can be solved in several ways. For example, start ventilating the room more regularly and buy a dehumidifier. If the cause is more serious, such as a leak, infiltration or capillary rise, we recommend that you contact a professional who can help you effectively. Finally, if the humidity persists, insulating your home will solve the problem in depth.