THE MAIN CAUSES OF CONDENSATION IN YOUR HOME

Cooking, drying clothes, showering – even breathing – add to the moisture in the air. If this moisture is allowed to build up it can cause damp. This can increase the risk of respiratory illness and cause black mould growth on walls, ceilings, furniture and clothing.

In this blog, we’ll get right into why this happens and how you can treat condensation to stop damp and mould forming.

PREVENTING CONDENSATION

• Wipe down surfaces.
• Heat your property daily at least a few hours in the wintertime.
• Ventilate your property when you bathe, are cooking or using your dryer.
• Fish tanks, aquariums and other tanks that release condensation need a cover.
• Dry clothes outside.
• Make sure there is room around your walls to be ventilated to prevent mould growth.
• Consider a dehumidifier either the bags/tubs in cold spots like leaving one on your windowsill or invest in an electric dehumidifier for cold more affected areas.

TREATING MOULD

• Wipe down mould with a fungicidal wash regularly. If walls and ceilings are discoloured paint with damp proof paint and re-decorate based on the paint colour of your walls when you moved in.
• *Mildewed clothes should be dry cleaned and any affected carpets shampooed.
• Make sure you wear protective gear like a face mask and gloves, when dealing with any mould spores.

WHAT YOU SHOULD CHECK AND REPORT

• Check extractor fans are working.
• Report damp and mould to your agent.
• Report blown windows.

WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO

• Dry clothes on your radiator.
• Clean mould with any bleaching products.
• Leave mould /damp to affect your property further so it spreads and takes a lot of work to treat.
• If you have followed the advice given, then you should notice a considerable improvement within four to six weeks. If the problem persists it may be due to another cause of damp. There are four main causes:
• Condensation, as previously discussed.
• Rising damp – This is rare as the damp proof course prevents this but can usually be seen as a tide mark rising from above the skirt board.
• Penetrating damp is due to the fabic of the building allow water through, windows, doors, roof and walls.
• Plumbing faults or broken leaking pipes: Rising damp and penetrating damp can usually be identified in the early stages. A leaking pipe can be more difficult.