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.
If you would like to view this information in a different language please use the translate function at the top of this page.
Other important information/documents
Problems with a privately-rented home
Tackling Damp and Mould Booklet - Find it. Fix it
Damp, mould and condensation videos (YouTube)