All about preventing condensation - UK.COM
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All about preventing condensation
All homes can be affected by condensation and it
can cause mould, damage to clothes, furnishings and
Why does it happen?
decoration, and leave a musty smell. There are three main causes Total moisture produced in
of condensation: your home in one day
Condensation and the problems it causes can sometimes
= up to 21 pints!
be mistaken for damp. Damp usually leaves a tidemark excess moisture produced
and dependent on the cause would need treatment to the by everyday activities Preventing condensation
structure of the building to eliminate it. is about getting the right
inadequate ventilation
balance between insulation,
This guide gives helpful advice on how you can treat insufficient heating. heating, moisture and
condensation and mould in your home.
Cooking, drying clothes, ventilation.
showering and even breathing
What is condensation? all add to moisture in the air.
There is always moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. You might be surprised to learn
When the air gets colder, it cannot hold all the moisture and how much moisture everyday
tiny drops of water appear – this is called condensation. activities can produce.
You may notice condensation Condensation mainly forms in Cooking and boiling a
when you see your breath on cold rooms when there is little kettle = 6 pints
a cold day or when the mirror movement of air and often Having a bath or
mists over when you have leads to black mould growth shower = 2 pints
a bath. forming on walls, furniture,
curtains and clothes. Washing clothes = 1 pint
Condensation happens
more in rooms where there is Drying clothes = 9 pints
a lot of moisture, such as in Using a paraffin or bottled
bathrooms and kitchens and gas heater = 3 pints
in rooms occupied by a lot
of people.
“Condensation
and the problems
it causes can be
mistaken for damp.”
-2- -3-Ventilate your home Allow air to circulate around
Ways you can tackle the problem furniture and in cupboards
Open windows to allow
There are some easy steps that you can take to reduce or by making sure they are
excess moisture to escape
prevent condensation in your home. not over-filled and there is
when you are cooking
or washing. space between furniture
Reduce moisture Avoid using bottled gas
and the wall.
When cooking or bathing, or paraffin heaters as they Use an extractor fan if you
close kitchen and bathroom produce a lot of moisture. have one; they are cheap Leave a small window
doors to prevent steam to run and quickly remove downstairs and a small
When filling your bath, run
spreading into colder moisture from a room. window upstairs slightly
the cold water first and
rooms. open for about 30 minutes
then add hot water as If you have to dry clothes
each day. They should
Cover boiling pans when this will reduce the steam inside, do so in a small room
be on opposite sides of
cooking. produced by 90%. with the windows open.
the house or diagonally
Dry clothes outside where Every morning wipe off Do not block wall vents, opposite if you live in a flat.
possible, rather than on moisture that has formed especially where there At the same time, open all
radiators. overnight on your windows are gas and heating the inside doors to allow
and window sills. appliances as they need drier air to circulate.
Make sure your tumble
Cover fish tanks to stop a supply of oxygen to
dryer is correctly vented
water evaporating into work effectively and allow
to the outside (unless it is a
the air. potentially dangerous
condensing dryer) – there
gases, such as carbon
are DIY kits available to
monoxide, to escape.
do this.
“Dry clothes
outside where possible
rather than on radiators.”
-4- -5-Keep your home warm Keep a constant level of
What you should do if you find mould
Maintain a low heat when heat throughout your home,
ideally between 17°C and in your house?
the weather is cold or
wet – this is more effective 21°C. Heating one room Do not disturb mould by prevent mould recurring.
than short bursts of high to a high temperature and brushing or vacuuming it as Please note that fungicidal
heat. Warm air holds more leaving other rooms cold this will release spores into paint will not be effective if
moisture than cooler air, makes condensation worse the atmosphere. you later wallpaper over it
so cool air is more likely to in the un-heated rooms and with ordinary wallpaper
Mould is a living organism
cause condensation. works out cheaper than or paints.
that has to be killed to get
constantly heating a cold
rid of it. To do this, wipe After removing the mould,
home to the temperature
down affected areas with do what you can to reduce
you want.
a fungicidal wash – this excess moisture in your
can be bought from DIY or home as this will prevent
hardware stores. Choose new mould forming.
one which carries a Health
Clothes affected by mould
and Safety Executive
should be dry cleaned and
approved number and
affected carpets should be
make sure you follow the
“Keep a constant manufacturer’s instructions.
shampooed.
level of heat Do not use bleach or washing
up liquid to remove mould.
throughout your
After the fungicidal wash
home.” treatment, re-decorate
using a good quality
fungicidal paint to help
-6- -7-Other types of damp you might Contact us
come across Find us online Visit us
Rising damp Plumbing faults, such as Find out more about our Our offices are open from
This is usually prevented by leaking pipes services, report a repair or 9am to 5pm, Monday to
a damp proof course in the These usually appear as access your account online Friday. Our office locations
walls. When a damp proof spreading brown stains or 24 hours a day, seven days are shown below.
course fails, damp wall plaster droplets of water dripping a week.
100 Hatherton Street
can usually be seen as a from a ceiling. They can whg.uk.com
Walsall WS1 1AB
distinct tide mark above the cause significant damage,
skirting board. so any suspected leaking Email us Beechwood House
pipework should be reported New Road
Penetrating damp enquiries@whgrp.co.uk
to the customer services team Willenhall WV13 2BG
This is caused by a problem on 0300 555 6666 as soon Call us
with the structure of the as possible.
building which allows 0300 555 6666
rainwater to get through the Our Customer Contact
walls, roof, windows or doors. Centre is open 8am to
8pm Monday to Friday and
Getting Help 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Emergency repairs can be
If you experience a problem seen no obvious improvement
reported 24 hours a day,
with mould growth in your in the situation or you suspect
seven days a week.
home, you must follow the another cause of damp,
advice in this guide to ensure please contact us on
Calls are charged at local
condensation is not forming 0300 555 6666 and ask for a
rates, including from mobiles.
as a result of your lifestyle. If damp survey to be arranged.
you have followed this advice
for several weeks and have
-8- -9-Please contact us if you would like this information in another
language, in Braille, large print or audio.
- 10 - - 11 -100 Hatherton Street
Walsall WS1 1AB
Tel 0300 555 6666
whg.uk.com
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