Condensation

Most black mould growth is a result of condensation. Condensation is caused by water vapour or moisture within the home coming into contact with a colder surface, such as a window or wall. It happens mainly during the colder months, whether it’s rainy or dry outside.

Condensation in the home is caused by three things:

• High levels of moisture and water vapour in the air
• Insufficient ventilation or air circulation
• A lack of heating

 

 

How condensation can lead to mould growth

Condensation is usually found in the corners of rooms, on walls that face north, and on or near windows. It can also be found in areas where there’s little ventilation and air circulation, including behind wardrobes and beds, especially when they are pushed up against external walls. The water droplets soak into the wallpaper, paintwork or plaster, in time and without much nutrient, black mould can grow on the surface of the damp areas.

Mould can even grow on clothes, handbags and shoes if they are hung up in wardrobes when still damp or wet, or stored so tightly to prevent air from circulating.

For mould to thrive and survive it needs:

• moisture (from condensation)
• food (such as wallpaper or emulsion paint)
• a suitable temperature
• oxygen

Ordinary daily activities can produce a lot of moisture quite quickly. By dealing with the causes of condensation, you’ll automatically deal with the problem of mould. Act as soon as you spot the problem with damp, or mould or condensation – follow our tips and see if things improve. You don’t need to leave the mould in place for us to see when we inspect your home.

The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce condensation and black mould in your home.

 

Top Tips

  Windows and doors

• Open it  – open the window or use an air vent(trickle vent, pictured). Do not block these vents as they provide necessary air flow. Opening the window slightly avoids draughts and prevents your home from becoming cold. Always do this when using the kitchen or bathroom and close the door to prevent moisture in the air from spreading to other parts of your home. Continue to ventilate the room for a short time after a shower, bath, or cooking, and keep the door closed.
• Wipe it  - wipe the windows and windowsills every morning to remove condensation, especially in the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom.
• Clear clutter  – keep windowsills free of clutter so air can flow freely.
• Curtains  - use thermal or lined curtains and keep them open in the day and closed at night to capture natural heat from the sun and help raise the temperature in your room.

 

Drying clothes 

Always try to dry clothes outside where you can and avoid drying them indoors or on radiators. If you need to dry clothes inside, use a clothes airer in the bathroom with the door closed and keep an extractor fan on or a window open.  Always vent tumble driers to the outside or use a condensing drier.

 

Cooking

Keep lids on your pots and pans when you cook and do not leave kettles boiling. You should also avoid using paraffin or bottled-gas heaters which produce large amounts of water vapour and are very expensive to run.

 

Washing

Close the bathroom door when having a shower or in the bath and always empty the bath or sink when you’ve finished washing so the water can’t evaporate and become condensation.

It is a good idea to run cold water first and then top up with hot water when running a bath as this will reduce the amount of steam it produces.

 

Furniture and room layout

• Move it  - keep furniture away from outside walls, don’t block chimneys, flues or air vents, and avoid overfilling cupboards and wardrobes, so air can flow freely.
• Air it  - open bedroom windows for up to an hour as soon as you get up and throw back the sheets or duvets to air the bed and bedding.

 

Heating

On cold days try to keep indoor temperatures at least 18°C – it’s better to have a low background heat all day rather than heating rooms in short bursts of high heat. Good heating controls on your radiators, room thermostats, and a timer will help control the heating throughout your home and manage costs.

Try using a dehumidifier to extract moisture from the air.

 

Extractor fans

Extractor fans are most found in bathrooms and kitchens to help draw air outside, keeping your air quality fresh. They help reduce the chance of condensation in the home due to everyday activities like cooking and bathing or showering by letting out a steady stream of air and allowing moisture to escape from the room.

If your property has extractor fans fitted, it’s important to leave them switched on.

 

Moisture traps

You can pick up some small and affordable moisture traps to place in specific areas of your property. These small contraptions can collect moisture from the air to limit the risk of damp and mould growth, especially in damp prone areas such as wardrobes.

 

We know the rising cost of living has made many people worried about paying their bills. If you’re worried about money and heating your home, please contact our Housing Support Officers on 0800 833160 or email housingsupport@seh.southend.gov.uk