Argyle Housing Group - Understanding Condensation & Damp

The following information is taken direct from the London Borough of Ealing website at www.ealing.gov.uk and is provided for educational purposes only.

Downloadable PDF

The majority of this information is available in a printable PDF document also. If you would like to download and read the PDF version; please click on the following link: Condensation & Damp Flyer.

Condensation

There is always some moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. Condensation forms as tiny drops of water if the air gets colder and cannot hold all the moisture. You notice it when you see your breath on a cold day, or when the mirror mists over when you have a bath.

Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air, such as in corners, or behind wardrobes and cupboards.

Preventing Condensation

Produce less moisture
- when cooking, put lids on saucepans and do not leave kettles boiling
- do not use paraffin and flueless bottled gas heaters as these produce a lot of water vapour
- put wet clothes outside to dry or in a well-ventilated room. Tumble dryers must have an external vent or be a "condensing" type

Ventilate to remove moisture
- in most rooms open a small window or trickle ventilator to help reduce moisture
- in bathrooms and kitchens you need more ventilation. This means opening windows or using a humidistat-controlled electric fan
- keep bathroom and kitchen doors closed to help stop moisture reaching other rooms
- ventilate cupboards and wardrobes, by cutting ventilation slots in the back
- leave 25mm of space between the wall and the floor, for furniture against external walls,  and mount on blocks if required. This will allow air to circulate around it. You do not need to do this for furniture against internal walls
- new window units should have trickle ventilators

Add insulation and draught-proofing
- this is a cost-effective way of cutting your heating bills and the risks of condensation
- when draft-proofing, remember not to block ventilators or chimneys, or to draft-proof rooms where there is condensation or mould

Heat you home a little more
- you could use thermostatically controlled electric heaters in bedrooms to take the chill off the room. This will help prevent condensation and mould growth. It can be left on 24 hours a day, and the thermostat will regulate the temperature and keep costs down

Dampness

A build up of condensation can cause your home to become damp. Damp can also be caused by:
- leaking pipes, wastes or overflows
- blocked gutters
- rising damp due to defective damp-course or because there is no damp-course

Damp can cause:
- mould on walls, furniture, clothes
- wood, such as window frames, doors, floors, to rot
- an increase in respiratory illness
- mites and mould

Treating mould

The first step is to reduce dampness and then treat the mould in your home. Use a fungicidal spray to wipe down walls and window frames to kill and remove mould. Mouldy clothes should be dry-cleaned and affected carpets shampooed.

More information and advice

If you are an Ealing Council tenant, please contact Ealing Homes.

If you are a private sector resident, you may be eligible to receive free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation from Ealing Council.

You may also be entitled to free heating or heating repairs if you are on certain benefits or under exceptional circumstances.

If you are a private tenant aged over 60 or disabled you may also be eligible for a five-year warranty and service package to replace an inefficient boiler. Contact Ealing Council's repairs and adaptations service on (020) 8825 6070 for more details.

Find out more about energy saving tips that could save you money from:

Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Ealing Council, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Rd, London W5 2HL
Tel: (020) 8825 9654
Fax: (020) 8825 6661
Email: environmentalhealth@ealing.gov.uk