Posted by
Troy
20 yrs ago
I will be going away for a month in June. My helper will also be taking her holidays at that time. Can I leave an empty house or would humidity play havoc in my absence? Any suggestions to minimize the damage when I am away? Thanks.
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I just left the house for three weeks and it was a huge mistake... My advice TURN ON the AC.
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Todge
20 yrs ago
We have left our aircon on no probs. Even with thypons - any water was gone when we got back (if any came in) and we certainly didn't notice any problems.
The other alternative is to pile all of the stuff you think may be damaged by humidity (clothes etc) into 1 room. Place lots of dry packs in the room and close the door. For a 1 month period this should be ok.
As for the aircon fire danger, what about your fridge - that produces a heap more heat (usually in a more confined space and it's located inside the home.
WDRL > As long as you don't have cheap/dodgy appliances you aircons you should be fine. Our aircons stay on all day every day during summer, we usually leave at least one on, even when we're out.
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Todge
20 yrs ago
It may be a fire hazard, but your fridge does not know whether you are out for the day or away for a month. So we should turn off our fridge when we go to work, and our aircons. As for having a person check on the place, unless they are there, with a fire extinguisher, when the fire starts ... as I doubt any appliance will comply with your wish to combust when someone's there. Yes it is low risk - extremely low risk.
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I can say Shit happens. Always put at least 5% risk.
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crj
20 yrs ago
You could try this - Have the A/C on a timer - if it does not have this function normally (on the remote), you can buy one of those 'timer plugss'.
Alternatively, hire a maid (or a friend of your maid's) to come to the house every day for 4 hours to turn the AC on, water plants, and keep surfaces clean - as well as check the shoes and clothes for mold/mildew.
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I always buy the small disosable dehumidifiers which you can buy from the supermarket they also have ones that you can hang in you wardrobes. They aren't perfect but solves the aircon prob and there are better than nothing. They do do there job though.
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vvv
20 yrs ago
Perhaps you can hire a part-time helper to go to your place every 2 days or so to clear the water in your dehumidifiers. You only have to pay her an hour each time. I assume you have dehumidifiers. When my apartment was empty for 2 months during SARS, I hired a part-time helper to go to my place twice a week. The only problem was the floors in some rooms cracked.
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Troy
20 yrs ago
Thanks everyone for your response.
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D&I
20 yrs ago
WDRL,
May I know how much is your electricity bill to turn on the AC 24 hrs everyday for a month
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weh
20 yrs ago
I am surprised that people have problems with humity damaging their property. I am away 4-5 weeks every july and have no problems. I have small cheap dehumidifiers from Japan Home Centre in every cupboard. I run the aircons intensively for several hours before leaving and locking up. I close all windows, including the small vents in the bathrooms and shut all doors. Once the flat is dry and closed down no moisture can enter and do damage.
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ness
20 yrs ago
weh - i think it depends where you live.... friends of ours went away for the last bank holiday a couple of weeks ago. Left all the dehumidifiers running, and came home three days later to mould on the front door, kitchen chairs, tapestries - the lot!! the dehumidifiers could have only been not working for 48 hours.
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weh
20 yrs ago
I stand by my assertion. Dry the place out. Close it down and mould should not form. It needs a moist environment. If mould is growing then you know the environment is warm and moist - so remove the moisture and keep it out.
Many local friends insist on keeping windows open for 'fresh air'. This also ensures that warm moist air enters the house.
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Silas
20 yrs ago
It may help you to know I tried various ways to
combat mould & fungus problems unduced by
humidity. The simple answer is to leave an
airconditioner on. FORGET any de-humidifiyers.
Their water bucket fills causing an auto switch
off and they generate heat. Leaving an air-con
on 24hrs a day creates a dry, cooler than outside
ambient air temperature which protects clothes,
art work, electronics, paint...everything.
You can leave it on medium and let the thermostat
do the work. Enjoy your trip
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