Condensation water on the wall - What measures should be taken?

Hello everyone,

After renovating the old building, I have a problem with moisture on an exterior wall – the wall is actually partially wet in a corner on the inside (i.e. in this corner, depending on the environmental conditions, wipeable moisture forms). I have done some measurements according to my capabilities (i.e. temperature and humidity room vs. moisture level of the wall) and assume the following:

- The wall is poorly insulated, the moisture is caused by condensation

The problem did not exist in summer, I noticed it for the first time about 1 month ago, the wall is also really cold.

Certainly, it would be best to get an expert and insulate the wall now, but I cannot afford that at the moment.

My question:

Does it make sense to do the following:

- Set up a dehumidifier in the affected area
- Direct an infrared lamp specifically at this area and then try out how often and how long it needs to be irradiated

The goal is to get through the winter, next year we can look into it again. Does anyone have experience in this direction?

Thanks!

MFJ

What was the original state? What did you change? The problem obviously didn’t exist before? At first glance, it sounds like you made things worse.

- The wall is poorly insulated, the moisture is caused by condensation

This is quite common in old buildings, especially when windows have been replaced (and thus made more airtight). Is the wall insulated at all?

The problem did not exist in summer, I noticed it for the first time about a month ago, the wall is really cold.

Moisture and warm air simply condense on cold surfaces.

Does it make sense to do the following:
- Place a dehumidifier in the affected area
- Aim an infrared lamp specifically at this area and then try out how often and how long it needs to be irradiated

You will achieve some effect with this. In addition, please heat properly overall and ventilate frequently by opening windows briefly but widely.

Damp walls are neither common nor normal in old buildings. Something was done wrong during the renovation. Presumably, something on the building envelope was sealed, but not everything. This, in turn, is a common mistake in old building renovations. Heating and ventilating are of course important, but wipeable moisture is by no means normal and has a cause. Dehumidifiers are definitely not wrong as first aid.

Damp walls are neither common nor normal in old buildings. Something was done wrong during the renovation.

That's exactly what I mean. Often made airtight with new windows.

Heating, ventilating, and keeping as much as possible free from furniture so that the warm air can reach [Inhalte in eckigen Klammern].