We’ve recently bought a house dating from the 1700’s, it sits hard up against a cliff face with a small air gap, there is very little air movement and the space is generally stagnant and damp. A 5-7 meter section of the house wall is built into the rock. All the house walls are stonework – without a cavity or DPC, internally they are lime plastered.

The house has been empty for about 2 years and pretty damp, particularly where the house is backed up against earth.

Because of the position of the house there is very little natural ventilation and we’re in a Radon effected area. We’re looking at fitting a PIV or HVAC system. Has anyone got any experience of such systems, who did you use and what effect has it had?

Oh, yes, and what did it cost approximately?

Thanks, all help appreciated.

I wouldn’t touch anything until you’ve got it back to being heated and lived in. One assumes that it was built functional and has remained so (it’s still standing) so get some airflow and heat in it and then see what’s to do

For what it’s worth our current project was pretty damp. 70’s bungalow empty 6 years. Once we’d dried it out and sorted the odd gutter it was fine.

For what it’s worth our current project was pretty damp. 70’s bungalow empty 6 years. Once we’d dried it out and sorted the odd gutter it was fine.

Thanks for the feedback,

The house has all the tell-tale signs of having been patched up in the past to address dampness, areas of new plaster and tiling, attempts at putting plastic barriers against the outside walls.

We have a radon monitor ticking away in the house to get an idea of whether there is an issue but our general feeling is that whilst there is upheaval (wiring and plumbing) we might as well investigate fitting a vented air system.

We have a PIV in our loft, wouldnt be without it. However it works on have dry air in the loft space. Do you have a loft?

Anything that circulates the air is going to help though, as would I have thought getting it tanked properly.

Lime plaster is good = let the house breathe.

Whole house will be a pain unless you were already going to gut it. How about continuous ventilation in individual rooms?