Sudden condensation on floor

[sierra2469alpha]

Hey friends - our apartment is on the 30th floor, and has large ceramic tiles throughout (apart from the bedrooms). We do not use air con. Over the past two days, every morning there is substantial condensation on the floors (not on the dining table, cabinets, coffee table etc.)

Interestingly, the condensation is only in the main combined living/dining area - not the hallway, kitchen or bedrooms. Note the hallway has the same tiles.

There is usually a bit of air flow as we leave the main door to the balcony ajar.

Ms C has also noticed that the floor in the main area has been colder the past couple of days.

Could it be that our downstairs neighbours are cranking up their air-con, thereby cooling our floor to the point where the dew point is almost reached, causing the condensation from the usual humidity? Personally, I doubt this as it's a brand new build apartment complex, and I'd have thought you couldn't cool the concrete slab to such a temperature.

Apart from being a right royal PITA (think mopping EVERY morning!) I'm concerned that something might be causing it.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Many thanks in advance, Mr P

[durain]

since the building is new, maybe it is drying out. but then again, this is singapore and just about everything will dry out!

ok, next theory... is there any inner walls for pipes, etc? most inner walls are thru from upstairs to downstairs. could it be upstairs having a very small leak?

another theory... downstairs air-con? but cold air goes down. unless the air-con vent is blowing up? possible since it is only happening overnight.

if you leave the main door to the balcony close overnight, do you still get the condensation?

[sierra2469alpha]

Hey Durain - thanks matey...

While it's a new building - it's only about 12 months old.

All apartments in this side of the floor (only 4 apartments per floor this high up) have the main room aircon mounted on the wall, adjacent to the ceiling, in all rooms.

I peered over the balcony and their windows are totally fogged up.

What we're thinking is that the new people (I just found that out) have maybe moved their gear on and forgotten to turn off the aircon.

And Ms C is right, the floor is definitely colder.

We've ruled out water leakages as we have the internal plans for the apartment - and there aren't any water pipes in the relevant areas.

Leaving the door closed will possibly not help, as there will be no flowthrough of air, therefore the air inside our apartment will be cooled at a faster rate by the cold floor, thereby increasing the amount of "dew"?

Some great thoughts of yours, thanks!!!

Mr. P

[QRM]

A project I worked on in Malaysia had the same problem, except it was on the walls.

The room on the other side was a server room and was kept at a constant cold temp 24-7, the stair well was enclosed but open to the outside air, after a few days water was pouring off the wall.

The aircon downstairs must be on full time to be able to cool the slab and keep it cool enough for condensation to form.

Lets hope its not that guy who owns 6 huskies, and keeps his house at arctic temp permanently so the dogs are comfy. ( seriously there are people like that here )

[durain]

if it is air-con, then the vents are defo pointing up, that would be enough to change the ceiling temperature and into the structure.

guessed the company is picking up the taps for the electric bill downstairs.

[sierra2469alpha]

That's what I'm thinking lads!!!

With the floorplans - all the main room a/c is mounted on the wall adjacent to the ceiling. It flows out over the internal ceiling. Judging by the quality of the workmanship (or lack therefof in this place [our apartment]), I don't think they put enough insulation into each ceiling.

I am now suspecting that because the new tenants moved in over the weekend, they turned on the a/c, dumped their stuff, and had to finalise their previous place.

No lights have been on tonight, and the slab is still cold. Ms C has even put some cute little socks on!

Well, tomorrow will be another morning with the mop before having a new house guest, work, and whatever else happens!

Interstingly, Durain, the building manager started talking about the building being slightly over 1 year old and maybe "some contractors will not honour guarantees". I pointed out that with the odd powerboard on the floor here and there, that there is an electrocution hazard.

I, like you, QRM, hope the new people don't own 6 huskies - my dad had a husky - back in one of the coldest places in Australia - the Snowy Mountians. It would be far to cruel to have those up here.

Thanks guys for all your help! It's really appreciated.

Mr. P and Ms. C