Came across this news story today in the online edition of the Skeness Standard and although I feel sorry for the lady concerned this is exactly the sort of issue that we get calls about time and time again each and every day throughout the winter months.  The problem is so familar, outside the weather is too cold to open a window so the windows remain tightly shut.  Washing gets dried indoors, add to that the moisture produced by other activities such as cooking, bathing showering etc and you have a condensation issue that leads to mould problems.  The raeson why the carpets are starting to become affected is because they are organic and like to be in equilibrium with their surroundings.  So if the air is damp, then they absorb moisture from the air and become damp themselves.

What will also be happening is that the flat will be expensive to heat because the air will be full of moisture.  This will push up fuel bills.  Potentially there could also be health issues as well.

On the face of it the story is correct and it is just condensation, which is what we call in this case a lifestyle issue.  The damp is created by the way we live and is at it’s greatest during cold winters.

One option would be to open the windows, the problem there though is the cold air coming in and the warm air going out.  This will push up heating bills which would an issue an on a damp day might not lower teh relative humidity in the flat.

The more cost effective solution would be to use a dehumidifier, this would push down the heating bills, help to dry the laundry and stop the mould from growing.  It really is as simple as that.

If you are in a similar situation and would like some advice then please do call us on 01483 234900 and we will walk you through the solution.

The article is an interesting one and very relevant, so as well as the link above I have copied and pasted the text below.

AN Ingoldmells woman believes the ‘damp’ in her flat is so bad that it is affecting her health.

Gaynor Bangs of Stacey Close, Ingoldmells, claims the walls in one of her bedrooms and kitchen are ‘damp to touch’, covered in mould which has even spread to her carpets and curtains.

“I’m sick of it, it’s all damp, black and wet, I’ve been told It’s my fault because of condensation but it’s more than that, now I’ve been fined for calling someone out from New Linx to look at the problem,” said Gaynor.

The ground floor flat is managed by New Linx Housing Association and Gaynor says she was charged £32.40 including VAT for calling someone out for an unnecessary reason.

“Someone came to look at the damp and they say it’s due to condensation and drying clothes and things indoors, I can’t dry my clothes on a communal washing line because there’s been problems in the past,” added Gaynor.

Now Gaynor, who receives housing benefit for her flat, will have to pay the fine for the call-out.

Jack Whyman for New Linx, said: “I am unable to discuss with you individual cases without written permission. However I can advise that in these circumstances we install humidity and temperature sensors to log the levels of moisture in the home.

“It is not unusual to find that moisture from daily activities such as showering, cooking and drying clothes create condensation which if not ventilated adequately will lead to black mould formation. We do investigate for any structural defects which may contribute, such as poor heating or cold spots due to inadequate insulation and these are rectified.

The tenants are advised on adequate heating and ventilation as well as how to remove the mould. Our policy on unnecessary call-outs is to charge £27 plus VAT.”

Gaynor says that the ‘damp’ is affecting her health as she has recently been to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital and claims that something needs to be done about it soon.

Skegness Standard

Meaco sponsored international kayaker Rachel Cawthorn has headed out to Pozan in Poland this week ahead of the first of three World Cup events in a bid to secure her place on the Team GB Olympic team.

Chris and Michelle first got to know Rachel through their local swimming club Wey Valley where their children swam with Rachel.  About seven years ago Rachel specialised in

Rachel and Chris meet up when Rachel came to the Wey Valley Swimming Club Presentation Evening in December 2011.

kayaking having been talent spotted at school and soon became a regular squad member for Team GB.  Wey Valley members have always followed Rachel’s progress on the world stage and in 2011 Chris and Michelle decided to support her Olympic dream by sponsoring Rachel through Meaco.

Having completed a gruelling winter’s training injury and illness free and winning the domestic sprint trial Rachel is now just three more races away from Olympic selection.

The first is this weekend’s event in Poland to be following by further World Cup events in Germany and Russia.  Inbetween events Rachel will also be competing with her team-mates for a place in the K4 event boat.  Seven team-mates competing for just four places.

As always all of the staff at Meaco wish Rachel well and we will be keeping our fingers croseed for another good result and no new injuries.

Details of the progress of the GB team can be found here.

]]> http://blog.meaco.com/2012/05/17/meaco-sponsored-rachel-cawthorn-takes-final-steps-towards-olympic-selection/feed/ 0 http://blog.meaco.com/2012/05/17/meaco-dehumidifier-distributor-in-switzerland/ http://blog.meaco.com/2012/05/17/meaco-dehumidifier-distributor-in-switzerland/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 11:21:25 +0000 Chris Michael http://blog.meaco.com/?p=478 Continue reading →]]>

Meaco dehumidifiers are available across the whole of Europe and in South Africa and I thought that it was about time that we introduced them all via the Meaco blog, so, for no other reason than the fact that they emailed me today, we will start with Switzerland.

Our distributor in Switzerland is Ecofort who have two websites www.ecofort.ch and www.meaco.ch. The company is run by Robert Aeschbacher Mark Tugendlieb and like ourselves they specialise in dehumidifiers which gives us confidence that they will be giving Meaco customers the correct advice and they will be able to look after customers should they experience any issues.

Robert and Mark have a huge amount of energy which is infectious which makes them a pleasure to work with I always enjoy our meetings (the fact that this means travelling to beautiful Switzerland might have something to do with that!).

Ecofort are based in the small town of Nidau which is a pretty lakeside location in the centre of Switzerland just outside of Biel.

Ecofort have a fantastic showroom, the largest that I have ever come across. It is actually an old restaurant, so it is probably the only dehumidifier showroom with it’s own bar in the middle!

The Ecofort showroom featuring the Meaco 40L, the Meaco DD8L and the Meaco 10L

The Meaco DD8L and the Meaco 20L have gone down very well in Switzerland and I know that the boys are delighted with how the sales have increased so sharply and we have exciting plans to build on that in the second half of 2012.  Ecofort are already very good at digital communications and their website is full of images and videos and they have all of the angles on Google covered.  We will concentrate more with them on the traditional media and ways of getting our message across in Switzerland to the sort of people who us dehumidifiers on a daily basis.  For example caravan owners, classic car enthusiasts, boat owners and people living in apartments.  As well as this we will look at more traditional Swiss applications like drying clothes after a day’s outdoors activity, skiing for example.

During my last visit Robert interviewed me, the reseult has created much amusement in the Meaco office, you can see for yourselves below. 

I can see Ecofort and Meaco working successfully together for many years to come, which is fine by me because that will mean many more trips to Nidau for pizza overlooking the lake!

Sales of dehumidifiers peak during the winter when the outside air temperature drops and people see condensation on their windows and for those that are really unlucky mould growing on outside walls. Sales drop off as the weather warms up and surface temperatures follow. In other countries though sales of dehumidifiers tend to start when spring comes because, as we have found this year in the U.K., the old adage about April showers really does ring true.

In many European countries the use of basements is a lot more commonplace and as the

Mould is most likely on outside walls and often in corners

rain falls the underground water table increases and water migrates its way through into the basements. Anything that is being stored in the basements will be ruined without a good dehumidifier. Hence sales of dehumidifiers increasing in the spring and summer months.

It is actually easier in winter to keep your house dry than it is during the more humid summer months. In the winter the air is cold and damp but when it comes into the house our central heating system warms the air up and this dries the air at the same time. If you increase the relative humidity in your house by drying washing, cooking vegetables etc then you can get rid of the moisture laden air by opening windows. Not much fun when the air coming in is freezing cold but it is possible and the physics of it works.

The problem is that mould grows around 68%rh and at the moment the outdoor relative humidity is very often much higher than that and it will remain so throughout large parts of the summer. But at this time of year we do not tend to have our heating on and therefore the air that comes into the house when we open the windows to ventilate will be laden with moisture and is more likely to cause mould growth than the air that comes in during the winter.

This is why using your dehumidifier throughout the spring and summer; even if you have the window open is a good idea.

In the summer months using a dehumidifier is also useful to take away the sticky feeling that comes on warm, damp days typical of July and August.

So don’t be surprised if the black spots of mould are growing faster now that spring has arrived, but don’t worry the solution is close at hand……………….a dehumidifier!

Meaco are one of Rachel Cawthorn’s sponsors and we try and keep a close eye on her progress and our fingers crossed that she does not pick up any injuries or ilnesses.  Although Rachel performed fantastically well over the past few years she has to impress the selectors this year to earn the right to take part in the Olympics.  Stage one of that process were the National Regatta spints earlier in April where she came first in the K1 over 200m and 500m.

All seems to be going to plan and we just now have a nervous wait for more news as the GB squad are put through more race offs before the final team is announced.

Good luck Rachel!

From all of the staff at Meaco.

Have you ever asked the question how to find the right dehumidifier? If so then ask no more as here at Meaco we are specialists in providing high quality dehumidifier equipment.

What are Dehumidifiers?

Dehumidifiers are the perfect piece of equipment to reduce the level of humidity which is in the air, this is important as it will reduce the likelihood of damp damage occurring in buildings which in turn creates mold and mildew.

These are ideal for all types of properties and especially for the likes of flats where they may not be proper ventilation available in certain rooms.

We offer a range of dehumidifiers, such as -

• Meaco 10L Small Home Dehumidifier – As the name suggests this is great for small homes and flats.
• Meaco DD8L Dehumidifier – This is ideal for people who own a boat which suffers from damp.
• Meaco 20L Dehumidifier – This is excellent for people who own a larger home.
• Meaco 40L Commercial Dehumidifier – If you have damp issues in your business then this is the choice for you.

That’s why if you’ve ever needed to ask how to find the right dehumidifier? The answer lies right here at Meaco where we have the corrct dehumidifier for any type of premises.

If you are looking for a dehumidifier then please feel free to call us on 01483 234900 and we look forward to assisting you.

Do I need a Dehumidifier?

If you have asked yourself the question “Do I need a dehumidifier?” then you may have taken a look around your home and noticed spots of excessive humidity. Perhaps you have noticed mould spores close to older style unventilated windows, damp stains on walls and floors, excessively creaky wooden floors or have suffered from a small flood recently, then a dehumidifier may help you to solve such issues.

It is important to treat and repair the cause of any damp and humidity quickly before it damages your home further. Following repair and correction of damp and humid issues, a dehumidifier will help to dry the air and restore your home to how it should be – free from damp, fungus and mould spores that can can also cause health issues. If humidity is an issue it can only get worse if the problem is not rectified and treated, and even if you don’t have related allergies now, leaving the issue can cause allergens which can be removed completely by using a dehumidifier.

The expert team at Meaco  have an impressive catalogue of dehumidifiers that can help your home to recover from the issues we have mentioned, and will help you and your family to breath better in your own home.

Visit their website to find out more, or call the team for help and advice on choosing the right dehumidifier for your home, free call on 0500 418 458 or local call on 01483 234900.

Advice for buying dehumidifiers

Their comprehensive website has become a valuable resource for many customers and if you are looking for advice on buying dehumidifiers then it is an excellent place to start. When buying a dehumidifier they recommend firstly looking at the space you have available and how big an area you will need to dry.  They give customers an idea of the building size for example a flat and then suggest the model of dehumidifier that would be most suitable. Their experts also remind you to take into account the temperature of the room as that too can affect the model you end up choosing.  A comprehensive buying guide can be found here.

For comprehensive advice on choosing your next dehumidifier visit the Meaco website or call on 0500 418458 and get their expert’s point of view.

Air Purifiers

Now that we are approaching the hay fever season, you will be interested to know that air purifiers can help clear the air in your home or office. Removing over 99% of the airborne dust and particles from the air, an air purifier works efficiently to help ease the symptoms of hay fever.

With pollen and allergens being almost invisible to the human eye, it can be impossible to see the particles that surround you. If you have wondered why you, in your home, or your colleagues are suffering from hay fever it may be because as windows and doors are opened, the particles enter the property and surround you. As you breathe them in you don’t notice until your hay fever begins to affect your breathing.

Almost 25% of the UK population will suffer from an allergy of some type and figures are rising as children begin to suffer more too. Although it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is in the air that you are allergic to, if you have hay fever you are most likely allergic to the pollen in the air.

Air purifiers have filters that can be regularly changed. Protect yourself today and see the impressive range of air purifiers at the main Meaco website. You can find advice on the website too, and the team of experts will gladly answer your questions and help you to identify the best air purifier to purchase. You can call for free on 0500 418458 or 01483 234 900.