Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jazzmaster]

My girlfriend has moved into a new apartment. It's her first apartment and she's very happy. I was staying over and noticed a lot of moisture on her window in the morning. I also saw a little black patch on the wall that came off when she wiped it. I reckon the apartment might suffer damp due to poor insulation (it's an old building).
First I'd like to check that there is too much moisture in the air, then (if necessary) I'd like to buy a dehumidifier.
Does anyone know if there are kits to test how much moisture is in the air? If so, where can I buy them and how much do they cost?
If anyone can give any decent advice (outwith the "tell her to move apartment" or "i thought you'd be happy your girlfriend is wet") I'd appreciate it.

[littlelisa]

I had similar problems, which annoyed me as I am in a very new building. I bought a dehumidifier and it has fixed problems for now. The landlord said I should be ventilating more, but screw that, it's winter, and if I need to open my windows for there to not be mold, that's the building's bad construction. I'd rather get a dehumidifier than crack my windows in the winter, and besides, what's his solution in the summer? I'm not sure what to do when I get to vacation and I am not here to run the dehumidifier, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

[Lazio]

[optik404]

Bubble wrap on the windows will help with the condensation and also keep it a bit warmer.

[YTMND]

You are trying to prevent Bob Mould from entering your apartment?

[oatmeal]

*****VERY IMPORTANT*******

I want to alert anyone who might be buying a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers only work in optimal temperatures, no lower than usually 65 F (or around 14-16 C). If the temperature indoors is any lower than that, the dehumidifier will freeze up (frost will build up on the coils).

I had the same dilemma. I would leave my window open slightly but now that it's winter, the air is cold and it's making my room cold. So I thought that I could just open the window AND use a dehumidifier. But that doesn't work. The dehumidifier frosts up. So you can only use it IF you have our ondol heater turned on to warm up the air unless your building is nicely ventilated and indoor temp. is always above 14 degrees naturally on its own.

During the warmer season, you don't have to worry about this. Dehumidfy liberally. But in the winter, the air is too cold it'll cancel the effects. I found that I have to use my ondol heating not to warm me up, but simply for the sake of my clothes to keep them from growing mold or clothes not drying.

I keep a digital humidity/temp reader and these days my indoor humidity is always at 70-90% unless i turn on the heating and then it goes down to 60%.

[jazzmaster]

Thanks for the advice, folks.
I think I'll buy something similar to what Lazio recommended. I'll also stick bubble wrap on the window. If the humidity is still too high I'll buy a dehumidifier and keep an eye out for any frost on the coils.

[wings]

How much does a dehumidifier cost? Any rough estimates?

[spaceman82]

Anywhere from 60,000 (or maybe less?) to a few hundred thousand won for one with a bunch of bells and whistles.

[El Bandito]

You have something against Sugar?

[Weigookin74]

[optik404]

Install a trickle vent if you can. It will help immensely.