Damp & Condensation
It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between damp and condensation. Both can cause structural damage and mould growth if left untreated.
Damp is caused by water seeping into your home because the protection provided by the roof, walls, windows or floor has failed or been compromised in some way.
Condensation occurs when warm moist air reaches a cold surface such as walls, windows or furniture. If moist air is allowed to form on cold surfaces for some time, and left untreated, it will develop into a black spot mould growth.
FAQs
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If you notice any indication of dampness or mould, please get in touch with us by either sending an email or calling us at 0333 355 9000.
Our team will come to assess the situation and clean the affected areas. Additionally, we will investigate the root cause of the issue to prevent further occurrences of dampness and mould.
Determining the cause of dampness and mould can be challenging, but we have several options to explore, including:
Increasing ventilation by adding extra extractor fans to help eliminate moisture
Installing mechanical ventilation systems to automatically remove any moisture
Conducting specialised treatment work to address any problem areas
Arranging for an inspection of your home's damp-proof course (DPC) and fixing it if it's inadequate
Installing a device to locate the source of dampness so we can determine the best way to handle it.
Your home could be included in our decarbonisation schedule. This programme could cover a number of years and we are prioritising those properties where additional insulation will have the most benefit.
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The accumulation of excess moisture and condensation in homes can result from everyday activities such as cooking, bathing, and washing and drying clothes. An average household of five people can add up to 5.5 litres of moisture to their indoor atmosphere every day. If this moisture cannot escape, it will settle on colder surfaces and cause condensation, which is visible as dew on windows and can make walls feel damp to the touch. This type of environment provides ideal conditions for mould growth.
High levels of humidity and inadequate ventilation can exacerbate the issue of excess moisture. When there is too much moisture in the air, water vapour needs a way to escape or a colder surface to land on. Poor ventilation is a common problem, as we often fail to ventilate our homes enough to allow water vapour to escape. It's crucial to improve ventilation by opening windows frequently or using trickle vents on newer UPVC windows.
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If you observe watermarks on your wall or ceiling, please reach out to us through email or call us at 0333 355 9000.
The presence of water or damp patches on your walls or ceilings may be a result of a leak in your roof, water infiltration from the outside wall, or a malfunctioning damp-proof course (DPC). To identify the root cause of the damp patches and prevent further damage and mould growth, one of our surveyors will need to inspect the site. We will work to address the issue and ensure that it is resolved.
Tips for Reducing the Amount of Moisture in Your Home
If you are cooking, keep the kitchen door closed and try to keep lids on pans whenever possible to prevent steam from escaping to other rooms.
Keep air bricks or vents free from blockages and open any trickle vents on windows.
Open bedroom windows in the morning for a short time when you get out of bed to change the moisture content in the air.
Don’t place furniture against external walls and allow a bit of space to allow air to circulate behind any furniture.
When using the bathroom keep the door closed and ensure that the extractor fan is on to prevent moist air and steam from reaching other rooms.
When drying clothes, it helps to keep doors closed to prevent moist air from reaching other rooms and to open any windows.
After Our Visit
To address the issue of excess moisture and prevent dampness and mould, there are several steps that we could take:
Increase ventilation to the property by installing extra extractor fans that facilitate the escape of moisture.
Install mechanical ventilation systems that automatically remove any excess moisture.
Consider specialized mould treatment in severe cases.
Schedule a check of your home's damp-proof membrane (DPC) and arrange for repairs if necessary.
In some cases, we may fit a device that can identify the source of the excess moisture and suggest the most effective course of action to resolve the problem.
Moisture in Your Home
Here are a few examples of how much moisture can be produced in a day:
2 Pints | Having a bath or a shower
3 Pints | Two people active for one day
6 Pints | Boiling a kettle and cooking food
9 Pints | Drying clothes
Damp Diagnosis
Do I have a condensation issue?
If you have any of the below, it might be worth looking at condensation damp treatment:
Streaming windows
Damp patches on walls, especially behind furniture and in corners
Wallpaper that is starting to peel off
Black dots on window frames · Mould growth (usually black mould) starting to appear
Soft furnishings and fabrics become prone to mould and mildew
Treatment
Requires repair to roof, flashing, chimney etc., may be decorated or area of plasterboard removed and refitted, skimmed and painted depending on severity.
Do I have a penetrating damp?
Common signs of penetrating damp include:
Blotchy patches on internal walls
Plaster and paint deterioration, blistering, the appearance of stains and salts
Rotting skirting boards or timber
Excessive moss growth on external walls
Moisture entering the brick (known as spalling) causes surface damage
Damp staining on external walls
Wet and crumbly plaster
Treatment
Can be caused by poor pointing, water running down the wall from a defective gutter or down pipe etc. Once the cause is treated and drying time allowed will require hacking off and board and skim or replaster with repair plaster.
Do I have structural or rising damp?
If any of the following sounds familiar, you may need rising damp treatment:
Damp patches that start at the base of a wall and gradually move upwards, in a vertical fashion
Skirting boards or plaster that is damp or rotting
Floor coverings, such as tiles, vinyl or carpet, that are wet and lifting
Peeling paint or wallpaper
The appearance of a white, powdery salt-like substance on a wall
Yellow or brown tide marks or staining on a wall
Generally not over 1m higher than the floor level
Treatment
Moisture soaks up the wall from below damp proof course, requires hacking off, installation of plastic isolation membrane so separate wall from plaster, replaster and skim.