Prevention is Better Than a Cure

Condensation is perhaps the most common form of dampness that can appear in your property causing wallpaper to peel, damp patches to appear on walls and a build-up of moisture on your windows. Without addressing the problem, the condensation can create mould growth.

Condensation appears in homes due to a lack of heat and adequate ventilation.   As we spend more time indoors and make our properties more air tight and energy efficient the build-up of moisture and humidity levels increase.

There are some simple steps that can be taken to help prevent this happening.

• Keep your home at an adequate consistent temperature around 20ºC and put heating on to replace warm air that is expelled with the stale air.
• Open windows in the morning of calm days for an hour to allow a purge of fresh air throughout the whole house.
• Keep trickle vents open and do not tape over or seal off designed ventilation.
• Wipe down damp surface in the kitchen and bathroom after cooking and taking a shower.
• In rooms used regularly throughout the day open the window to the ventilated position to remove stale air.

• Dry clothes outdoors where possible.
• If clothes are dried indoors, where possible dry them in a room that has an extractor fan and make sure it is turned on or open the window.
• Move furniture 50mm or so away from walls to allow better air flow behind it.
• Do not overfill wardrobes and cupboards to allow air movement inside them.