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Repairs and Maintenance
Keeping your Home free from Damp and Mould
Damp can cause mould on walls and furniture and make timber window frames rot. Damp housing encourages the growth of mould and mites and can increase the risk of respiratory illness. Some damp is caused by condensation. The information below explains how condensation forms and how you can keep it to a minimum, so reducing the risk of dampness and mould growth.
What is Condensation?
There is always some moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. If the air gets colder, it cannot hold all the moisutre and tiny drops of water appear. This is condensation. Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather, whether it is raining or dry. It appears on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air such as in corners, on or near windows, in or behind wardrobes and cupboards. It often forms on north-facing walls.
Is it Condensation?
Condensation is not the only cause of damp. It can also come from:
leaking pipes, wastes or overflows
rain seeping thorugh the roof where a tile or slate is missing, spilling from a blocked gutter, penetrating round window frames, or leaking through a cracked pipe
rising damp due to defective damp-course or because there is no damp-course
These causes of damp often leave a 'tidemark'. Damp caused by condensation does not leave a tidemark.
How to avoid Condensation
There are three things you can do to avoid condensation:
Some words of warning!
Do not block permanent ventilators.
Do not completely block chimneys. Instead, leave a hole about two bricks in size and fit a louvered grille over it.
Do not draughtproof rooms where there is condensation or mould.
Do not draughtproof a room where there is a cooker or a fuel burning heater, for example, a gas fire.
Do not draughtproof windows in the bathroom and kitchen.
First steps against mould
First treat any mould you may already have in your home. If you deal with the basic problem of condensation, moulds should not reappear.
To kill and remove mould, wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash which carries a Health and Safety Exectuive 'approval number'. Follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Dry-clean mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets. Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems.
After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould recurring. Note that this paint is not effective if overlaid with ordinary paints or wallpaper.
The only lasting way of avoiding severe mould is to eliminate dampness.
Last updated 11.07.05
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