It goes without saying that damp and condensation can cause a multitude of problems in your home, both of which are caused by an unwanted build-up of moisture.
As well as damaging the structure of the home itself, it can also affect your health if it is not fixed, and mould starts to grow.
How does moisture form in your home?
There are a number of ways in which moisture can build up and affect your home, including:
- Through cooking, showering/bathing, drying clothes, from pets and house plants, and even through breathing.
- Ground water rising through walls and floors if the damp proof course is failing.
- Leaks from failed appliances, plumbing issues and badly sealed baths and showers.
- Rain seeping through a leaking roof or wall, poorly fitted doors and blocked or damaged guttering.
Some cases, such as rain water seeping into your home, will require professional intervention. A trained professional can come in and advise you, while also putting a plan in place to fix the issue.
How to manage condensation in your home
Condensation only becomes a big issue if it is not cleared up quickly and is allowed to fester and develop into damp or mould, or to a point where it starts to cause damage.
Mould tends to show itself in the form of small black spots in areas of the house that are colder, such as behind furniture or exposed corners.
The best thing to do is to clean the affected area straight away to help reduce any threat to your health, but you’ll need to make sure to properly fix the underlying damp in the area too so that the problem doesn’t come back.
After checking for any major leaks or damp, you can take the following actions to help reduce the amount of condensation in your home:
- Keep any lids on kitchen pans when cooking foods like pasta.
- Dry your clothes outside rather than inside if the weather allows.
- Ventilate your home by opening windows so that moisture in the air can find its way out.
- Use an extractor fan (if you have one) while cooking, showering or bathing.
- Leave gaps between your furniture and the walls, so that air can properly circulate around the room.
- Don’t install any draught proofing products in a room that has an existing condensation problem.
- Avoid having any cold spots in your rooms, if at all possible, such as if there’s a gap between your wall insulation and your loft insulation.
Can insulation help reduce damp and condensation?
Good quality insulation is very important in combating condensation issues and damp. This is because condensation is formed when moisture hits a cold surface, and with proper insulation installed, walls and floors will not be as cold.
If you do not have the right protection already installed, then you can ask for the opinion of a professional to see if solid external wall insulation will be right for you. It is worth it in the long run, thanks to savings on energy bills and CO2 emissions.
