Singaporeans experience hot and humid weather because the island country is geographically located near the equator. The temperature range in Singapore would go to 20°C-32°C with occasional torrential rains. Moreover, the temperature in highly urbanized and dense areas in Singapore is much hotter since buildings, like HDBs, and other structures only absorb the heat coming out from the sun. For this reason, the majority of Singaporean residents own an air-conditioning system to address the unbearable intense heat.
But, one particular incident gained public attention when a 64-year-old Singaporean retiree, named Mr. Huang, installed not just one or two air-conditioners but NINE air-conditioners plus two condensing units in his HDB flat that cost him $13,000 just for its installation.
Based on a news article, Mr. Huang, who just recently moved into his new HDB flat, told the reporter that he wanted to live comfortably, which is why he bought and used so many air-conditioners. He added that he believes that living in a cold environment would strengthen his immune system. Mr. Huang further explained that he had to sell his home and move to the HDB flat after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.
Little did he know that his actions caused discomfort to the lives of his neighbours who are living in the same establishment. Just like in the case of Mr. Liu Zhiyun. He complained that Mr. Huang’s nine-air conditioners caused his flooring to become so cold and that water condensation started to manifest. His wife tried to manage the situation by mopping it almost three times a day but her efforts are useless since the water condensation keeps on re-emerging back again. In one unfortunate instance, Mr. Liu almost slipped because he didn’t notice the cold wet floor. He’s also worried about the unwanted moulds that were growing in some parts of his flat. He feared that there was a high probability that the materials in his flat would deteriorate over time due to the water condensation.
Mr. Liu, along with his fellow neighbours who are also affected by water condensation, asks the assistance of the authorities to settle the situation once and for all. Mr. Huang agreed that he would have to use two of his air-conditioners to appease his neighbours.
Now, this case raised awareness among Singaporeans on how they could protect their property against water condensation. Also, what could be the possible risks of water condensation to their establishments?
What Is Water Condensation?
Water condensation is a natural phenomenon, where water vapour turns into a liquid state. It is a vital process of the water cycle. There are two possible ways why water condensation occurs. One is that the air cools to its dew point. The other one is when the water vapour reached the point of saturation and it could no longer hold the water.
To relate this natural phenomenon to Mr. Liu’s case, the cold water in his flooring is the result of water condensation. The cold air coming from Mr. Huang’s nine air-conditioners came into contact with Mr. Liu’s flooring. In this case, the water vapour started to accumulate and created a pool of cold water on his flooring.
Risks of Water Condensation
While water condensation is a natural process that occurs all the time, it can raise certain issues. Water condensation can encourage mould growth, which can cause health problems. It might create yellow discolouration that can detract from the aesthetic appearance of the establishment’s interior. It can also lead to accidents such as slipping. Finally, the worst-case situation would most likely be the deterioration and cracking of the establishment.
Mould grows in wet environments. It may grow on many different surfaces in your home, including the kitchen, ceiling, and flooring. Some moulds have a strong odour, while others may be harmful to your health. It is capable of causing allergies, irritants, and other poisons. When exposed to it, a person is at risk of suffering mild to severe health repercussions.
- Yellow stains
If you’ve ever noticed yellow streaks on the ceiling or walls after the water has condensed, you might be wondering why. While the exact explanation is unknown, it is thought that the yellow hue is caused by a reaction between the water and the objects it comes into touch with. This may happen with both natural and man-made materials, and it is more likely to happen in humid locations. While yellow stains are ugly, they are typically harmless and may be cleaned with little cleaning chemicals or you may call a professional to remove them.
- Risk of slipping
In some rare circumstances, you might accidentally slip on your wet floor because you didn’t notice the condensed water vapour. You may use a cleaning material to absorb the unwanted water on your floor but this is only a band-aid solution because you must pin-point what is the root cause of this situation.
- Cracked walls or flooring
The building up of water could gradually dissolve the establishment’s materials like the concrete. As a result, it will create cracks in its walls or flooring. In one of the worst-case scenarios, if the cracks are left unattended, the water condensation would continue to affect other parts of your establishment and can cause even more cracks to your walls or flooring that would eventually impose a potentially big risk of collapse of your establishment.
M3M: Prevent Water Condensation
Water condensation is an unpredictable situation that you’ll never know when it will arise. It may seem like a small issue but if you leave it unattended for a very long time it could be the source of many potential risks that may impose a threat not only to your health but may greatly cause deterioration to your establishment.
But if you’re still figuring out what’s causing water condensation in your establishment. Then, you may need to seek the expertise of other people. In Singapore, many companies provide competitive waterproofing services and quality construction materials. M3 Multi Service PTE LTD is one of those companies that is also known for their professional approach when they deal with their client’s challenges.
M3M provides on-site consulting to examine your establishment’s present state. It improves data collection and gives its clients a variety of choices for dealing with the problem at hand. Furthermore, the organization maintains its commitment to exceeding its client’s expectations.
In addition, M3M specializes in waterproofing services as they apply innovative methods of waterproofing like nano waterproofing and crystalline waterproofing. This would diminish and prevent unwanted moisture from building up of moisture inside and outside of your establishment. In the long run, it would be beneficial for you because this will strengthen the establishment’s materials while preventing the possibility of leakage.
M3M has proven to its clientele throughout the years that they continue to reinvent its ideas and approaches for tackling the challenges on its job.
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