Health & Lifestyle | Posted on November 13th, 2024 | return to news
Preventing damp, mould and condensation
New Forest District Council has some advice for people concerned about condensation in their homes.
Sophie from the authority’s housing team said: “In winter, you might notice more condensation on your windows because of the difference in temperature between inside and outside. If condensation is left, it can cause damp to build and ultimately may cause mould if left. By wiping your windows down each day, and where you have them, opening any trickle vents in your windows, you can stop condensation building as a cheap alternative to putting your heating on.”
Damp and mould are not the same thing.
The presence of damp can cause mould growth, but it is more common for mould to be caused by condensation forming in our homes.
Mould is a fungus that grows from tiny spores that move naturally around the home. Spores need enough moisture and a food source, such as emulsion, wallpaper and wood.
In these conditions spores may grow and spread and appear as the black spots we associate with mould.
When this warm moist air touches a cold surface, such as windows and external walls, and in areas of our homes with little air movement, it can form water droplets called condensation. It is this condensation that can lead to mould growth.
There are four main factors that cause condensation.
Too much moisture in the air; not enough ventilation; cold surfaces; the temperature of your home.
To help prevent cold spots in your home it is important to keep your home heated throughout the day in winter. A minimum internal temperature of 18 degrees Celsius is recommended by The World Health Organisation.
However, try keeping your home between 19-21 degrees Celsius where possible.
Where you may have turned off the heating in rooms you don’t use, set the radiator valve to 1.
This means that there is a little heat to take the chill off external wall and window surfaces.
Close curtains at night to keep the heat in and open them during the day to allow the sun to warm rooms naturally.
Mould will often grow in areas where there is little air movement such as: in cupboards and wardrobes; behind furniture; in corners of rooms.
Ensure you leave gaps for air to flow around furniture and between furniture and walls.
As there is always moisture in the air in our homes, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of moisture present:
Dry clothes outside where you can.
If you need to dry them indoors do so in one room such as the bathroom, on a clothes horse with the door shut and windows open or with the extractor on.
When washing or cooking, keep doors shut and turn extractor fans on.
This prevents steam moving to colder rooms including for around 20 minutes after you finish. The rest of the time leave doors open to allow circulation.
When cooking keep lids on your pans. This not only reduces escape of steam but can also save you money by cooking your food quicker.
Wipe down bathroom tiles, baths and shower screens after use and hang your towels up to dry.
Keep window trickle vents open, and open windows daily for approximately 15-30 minutes a day.
It is important to clean these vents and fans to ensure they can work properly, so routinely vacuum and wipe them down as part of your cleaning routine.
Open curtains and windows in bedrooms first thing in the morning. Then wipe down condensation from window frames and sills with a microfibre cloth.
In addition to this you can use moisture absorbers to help absorb some of the moisture.
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