Information for Dealing with Condensation and Mould Growth
If your home is damp or you find patches of mould on walls, furniture or clothes, condensation may be the cause. The following advice will help you solve the problem:
WHY ARE YOU GETTING CONDENSATION?
Air can only hold a certain amount of water vapour – The warmer it is the more it can hold. If it is cooled by contact with a cold surface such as a mirror, window, cold wall, behind or inside a wardrobe, the water vapour will turn into water droplets of condensation. So the warmer you keep your home the less likely you are to get condensation.
WHEN IS IT A PROBLEM?
Every home gets condensation at some time – usually when lots of moisture and steam are being produced, for instance at bath times or when the main meal is being cooked or when clothes are being washed and dried.
It is quite normal to find your bedroom windows misted up in the morning after a cold night. There is not much you can do to stop this.
HOW DO YOU RECOGNISE CONDENSATION?
Does it leave a tidemark? If so then it is not condensation and the source should be traced as either penetrating damp from the outside walls or windows or rising damp – (rising damp only shows on ground floors)
HOW TO MINIMISE CONDENSATION
Ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture and often very quickly.
· Cover boiling pans.
· Avoid portable gas or kerosene heaters as these produce large amounts of moisture when used.
· Dry washing outdoors or in the bathroom with the window open or fan on and always keep the door closed.
· Vent tumble dryers with proper venting kits.
Keep a window or vent open when the room is in use.
If condensation happens, dry off with a cloth to quickly soak up excess moisture. When condensation happens, open a window and close the door to the room.
Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening windows and using fans, if fitted. Doors should be kept closed.
Do not completely draught proof kitchen and bathroom windows.
Do not overfill wardrobes and cupboards as this prevents airflow. Site furniture against internal partitions whenever possible.
· Heat the home at low levels for longer periods rather than high levels for shorter periods of time to prevent cold surfaces appearing in the home.
· Heat the home even when there is no-one there.
· Check that insulation and sensible draught proofing is installed.
If you clean the mould and don’t fix the condensation, then the mould will just re-appear.
· Try to prevent condensation occurring.
· Mould on washable surfaces can be removed with a fungicidal solution readily available from stores or a weak solution of household bleach.
· Fabrics can be washed but might not always remove the staining.
· Avoid fitting carpets in bathrooms.
· Clean tiled areas to showers frequently to prevent mould growth.
