What to do about condensation and damp in your home
Condensation is caused by water vapour/moisture from inside your house coming into contact with a colder surface, such as a window or wall. It usually occurs during the colder months, in the corners of rooms, north-facing walls and on or near windows. It is also found in areas where there isn't much air circulating, including behind wardrobes and beds. It can then soak into wallpaper, paintwork or even plasterwork and cause black mould.
Condensation and mould growth
Most homes will be affected by condensation at some point, caused by everyday activities such as:
- Cooking
- Washing
- Drying clothes indoors
- Breathing
The amount of condensation in a home depends upon three things:
- How much water vapour is being produced by activities in the house
- How cold or warm the property is
- How much air circulation (ventilation) there is
- Turning up the heating will reduce condensation but it won't sort the problem. You will need to address all three of the points above.
Black mould
Mould spores are invisible to the human eye and are present in our homes and outside. They only become noticeable when they land on a surface and grow.
For mould to thrive it needs:
- Moisture — from condensation
- A suitable surface
- Suitable temperature
- Oxygen
By dealing with the causes of condensation you will deal with the problem of mould. This five-step plan can help reduce the amount of condensation and black mould growth in your home. You need to do the below every day.
- Produce less moisture
- Remove excess moisture
- Ventilate to remove moisture
- Heat your home a little more
- Deal with black mould
For more detailed information refer to our booklet
Other types of dampness
There are three other main types of dampness that could affect your home.
Rising damp
This is caused by water rising from the ground into your home, either through natural brickwork or via a broken damp proof course (DPC). A DPC is a horizontal layer of waterproof material put in the walls of a building just above ground level. It stops moisture rising through the walls.
Rising damp will only affect basements and ground floor rooms and will rise no more than 12 to 24 inches above ground level (300mm to 600mm). It usually leaves a ‘tide mark’ and you may also notice white salts on affected areas. Rising damp will be present all year round but is more noticeable in winter. If left untreated it may cause wall plaster to crumble and paper to lift in the affected area.
Penetrating dampness
This type of dampness is only found on the external walls of the property or in the case of roof leaks, on ceilings. It appears because of a defect outside, like missing pointing, cracked rendering or missing roof tiles that let water in. Penetrating dampness is far more noticeable following a period of rainfall and will normally appear as a well defined ‘damp-patch', that is damp to the touch.
Defective plumbing
Leaks from water and waste pipes, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, are relatively common. They can affect external and internal walls and ceilings. The affected area looks and feels damp and stays damp whatever the weather conditions. Checking the water and waste pipes serving the kitchen and bathroom and the seals around the bath, shower and sinks; plus the external pipework, such as guttering, will help you find the problem.
Black mould will rarely be seen with these other forms of dampness. If you think you have any of these three types of damp please contact us.
What to do about condensation and damp in your home
Condensation is caused by water vapour/moisture from inside your house coming into contact with a colder surface, such as a window or wall. It usually occurs during the colder months, in the corners of rooms, north-facing walls and on or near windows. It is also found in areas where there isn't much air circulating, including behind wardrobes and beds. It can then soak into wallpaper, paintwork or even plasterwork and cause black mould.
Condensation and mould growth
Most homes will be affected by condensation at some point, caused by everyday activities such as:
- Cooking
- Washing
- Drying clothes indoors
- Breathing
The amount of condensation in a home depends upon three things:
- How much water vapour is being produced by activities in the house
- How cold or warm the property is
- How much air circulation (ventilation) there is
- Turning up the heating will reduce condensation but it won't sort the problem. You will need to address all three of the points above.
Black mould
Mould spores are invisible to the human eye and are present in our homes and outside. They only become noticeable when they land on a surface and grow.
For mould to thrive it needs:
- Moisture — from condensation
- A suitable surface
- Suitable temperature
- Oxygen
By dealing with the causes of condensation you will deal with the problem of mould. This five-step plan can help reduce the amount of condensation and black mould growth in your home. You need to do the below every day.
- Produce less moisture
- Remove excess moisture
- Ventilate to remove moisture
- Heat your home a little more
- Deal with black mould
For more detailed information refer to our booklet
Other types of dampness
There are three other main types of dampness that could affect your home.
Rising damp
This is caused by water rising from the ground into your home, either through natural brickwork or via a broken damp proof course (DPC). A DPC is a horizontal layer of waterproof material put in the walls of a building just above ground level. It stops moisture rising through the walls.
Rising damp will only affect basements and ground floor rooms and will rise no more than 12 to 24 inches above ground level (300mm to 600mm). It usually leaves a ‘tide mark’ and you may also notice white salts on affected areas. Rising damp will be present all year round but is more noticeable in winter. If left untreated it may cause wall plaster to crumble and paper to lift in the affected area.
Penetrating dampness
This type of dampness is only found on the external walls of the property or in the case of roof leaks, on ceilings. It appears because of a defect outside, like missing pointing, cracked rendering or missing roof tiles that let water in. Penetrating dampness is far more noticeable following a period of rainfall and will normally appear as a well defined ‘damp-patch', that is damp to the touch.
Defective plumbing
Leaks from water and waste pipes, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, are relatively common. They can affect external and internal walls and ceilings. The affected area looks and feels damp and stays damp whatever the weather conditions. Checking the water and waste pipes serving the kitchen and bathroom and the seals around the bath, shower and sinks; plus the external pipework, such as guttering, will help you find the problem.
Black mould will rarely be seen with these other forms of dampness. If you think you have any of these three types of damp please contact us.