Damp, Mould and Condensation

Damp

Did you know there are different types of damp? Penetrating and rising damp.

Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp could happen if there is an issue with your property that lets water in from the outside, resulting in a wet patch. For example:

Leaking roof
Blocked guttering
Cracks in brickwork

Rising Damp

Rising damp could appear as a ‘tide mark’ on your walls, caused by water getting into your home from the ground.

Some instances of damp can be also caused by condensation.

Mould

Mould is a fungus that usually looks like black spots. In order to grow it produces spores, which can impact your health if inhaled or touched.

Mould thrives in moist conditions, therefore reducing the moisture in your home can help prevent it from growing.

Condensation

Condensation appears when moisture in the air hits a cold surface, such as a window, which creates water droplets.

Condensation tends to be more common in colder homes. Therefore, it is important to try to keep rooms at a steady temperature.

How to reduce condensation

Wipe condensation from your windows using a dry cloth
When cooking or bathing, keep the door closed and open a window or use an extractor fan
Keep lids on saucepans when cooking
If possible, buy a disposable de-humidifier
Dry clothes outside where possible. If not, try to avoid using a radiator and use a well-ventilated room such as the bathroom instead. Shut the door and open a window
Use all tumble dryers in a well-ventilated room and vent outside

Where does moisture come from?

There is always moisture in the air, even if we can't see it. Every day activities produce moisture, such as:

Two people at home for 16 hours - 3 x pints
A bath or shower - 2 x pints
Drying clothes indoors - 9 x pints
Cooking and using a kettle - 6 x pints
Washing dishes - 2 x pints

Ventilation

Ventilating your home can also help to let moisture in your home escape. To ventilate your home:

Open a window for 10-20 minutes a day to let damp air out and fresh air in. This new, dry air also costs less to heat.
If your windows have trickle vents, try to keep them open as it ventilates your home without drastically reducing the heat.
Also, try to keep a gap between furniture and external walls so that the air can flow between them.

Report this to us

If you're a private tenant or a council tenant, you can report problems with damp, mould and condensation here.

Council Tenants Private Tenants

Further information

If you live in a private rented property and your landlord is failing to undertake repairs, please contact the Private Sector Housing team for advice on 01782 232087.

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