Damp, mould and condensation

Damp

Too much moisture and condensation in your home can lead to damp and mouldy conditions. Damp and mould could occur on walls, ceilings and behind furniture.

Rising damp

Rising damp from the ground can be a problem and is usually where a damp course is defective. This can be identified by a white tidemark on the walls. If you have rising damp in the property, you will need to contact a professional or your landlord to rectify the issue.

Penetrating damp

This is caused by moisture coming into the house via leaking or cracked pipework, a damaged roof, blocked guttering, gaps around window frames, and cracked or defective rendering and brickwork.    All of these problems that can be remedied by again contacting a professional or your landlord.  You may also be able to do some of the work yourself.

Condensation

Condensation occurs when moist air comes into contact with a colder surface like a wall, window, mirror etc. The air can’t hold the moisture and tiny drops of water appear.  It also occurs in places the air is still, like the corners of rooms, behind furniture or inside wardrobes.

Warm homes suffer less from condensation.  Make sure you have plenty of insulation in the loft and cavity walls.  Windows and doors should be draught proofed and secondary glazing installed if you only have single.

You can reduce condensation in the home by producing less moisture. 

• Cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling.
• Avoid using paraffin and portable bottled gas heaters as these heaters produce a lot of moisture in the air.
• Do not dry washing on radiators.  Instead, dry washing outdoors on a line, or put in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or a fan on.
• Make sure tumble dryers are vented to the outside.

Let the moist air out and the fresh air in.

• Extractor fans are an effective way of getting rid of moist air and steam.  If you don’t have any it is a good idea to get them installed in your kitchen and bathroom.
• Stop moist air getting into other rooms by keeping doors closed and windows open.

Wipe down any condensation forming on windows and sills every morning.  It may be worth investing in a dehumidifier if the problem is particularly bad.

How to avoid damp and condensation in your property:

Although difficult to completely stop condensation, there are a number of things you can do to reduce it:

Heating and insulation

• Make sure there is adequate heating and insulation in your home.
• Keep the temperature in the living room between 19-22°C in living rooms, kitchen and bathrooms, and 16-20°C in bedrooms.
• When away from home, avoid allowing the temperatures to go under 15°C.
• Do not heat up cold bedrooms in the evening by opening the door to heated rooms. The warm air will condense onto the cold walls of the bedroom.
• Good insulation of a building creates warmer walls and ceilings, which prevents condensation and inhibits mould.
• Airtight windows and buildings require more active ventilation

Ventilation

• Keep a small window open when someone is in the room and open the trickle ventilators if you have them.
• Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening the windows wider, or better still, use an extractor fan if one is fitted.
• Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use, even if your kitchen and bathroom has an extractor fan. This will help prevent moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms, which are often colder and more likely to get condensation.
• Do not block air-brick vents or ventilators.
• Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes and avoid putting too many things in them as this stops the air circulating.
• Cut a ventilation slot in the back of each shelf or use slatted shelves.
• Where possible, position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.
• Be wary of draughtproofing rooms with mould problems, or windows in rooms prone to mould like kitchens and bathrooms.
• Let fresh air circulate to avoid mould forming where air is still.  Make sure there is a gap between furniture and walls and try and give wardrobes and cupboards a good airing at times.

Mould

Damp, cold homes encourage the growth of mould.

It is important to know that mould will only grow on damp surfaces and in most cases this is a direct result of condensation.  It will colonise in areas that are cooler or have little air movement e.g. behind furniture but will also affect soft materials such as clothes, sofa’s and carpets.

Condensation will typically cause black spotted mould to form on cold surfaces, typically in corners on or near windows.

Dealing with mould

If you already have mould on walls and ceilings you need to clean it off properly.  A two step process is a good idea:

1. Clean off any mould  with a spray containing bleach.  This will help get rid of staining that persistent mould can leave behind.  Leave it to dry overnight.  2. Then spray with a fungicidal wash carrying a Health and Safety Executive approval number and allow to dry.

Dry-clean any mildewed clothes.

Shampoo carpets and soft furnishings.

After treating walls, redecorate with a good quality fungicidal paint to prevent mould recurring.

The long term solution to eliminate mould is to eliminate dampness.  Remember, a balance is needed between insulation, moisture and ventilation.  You may need to experiment and persevere until the problem is solved, it may take time.

There are various grants, loans and discount schemes which may apply to you. You may even be able to get free insulation and a new heating system if you are on certain government benefits or have long term health conditions.

If you are a tenant, your landlord may be entitled to heating and insulation grants.