Keep your home healthy and safe Damp and mould

Mould grows in places with too much moisture, often caused by condensation. It tends to appear in colder areas like windows, corners and edges of rooms, especially on outside walls. It can also grow in cupboards and wardrobes, on clothes or bags, especially if things are stored while still damp or tightly packed.

There are three main ways you can help reduce the risk of condensation and mould in your home:

Avoid adding moisture to the air: 

• Wipe condensation from windows and sills in the morning
• Cover pans while cooking, turn down the heat once things are boiling and don’t leave kettles boiling
• Dry clothes in one room on an airer or clothes horse, with the door closed and a window slightly open. If it’s too cold to open a window, try drying clothes in a room with an extractor fan, like the bathroom, and keep the door closed. Don’t dry them on radiators
• If you use a tumble dryer, make sure the outlet pipe goes through an outside wall, not a window. Condenser dryers are usually the best option, as they don’t need a vent
• Run cold water first when taking a bath, to reduce steam

Helping air flow through your home: 

• Don’t turn off extractor fans or close trickle vents, these are the small vents usually found at the top of your windows
• Leave a small gap between furniture and the walls, and between furniture and radiators
• Open windows a little each day where possible, or opening two windows on different sides of your home for about 30 minutes is even better
• When showering or bathing, keep the extractor fan on or open the
• Use your cooker hood or fan while cooking. Or, open a window and keep the kitchen door closed to stop steam spreading through your home

Keep your home warm in the right way:

• Use your thermostat to keep your home at a steady temperature. Between 18 and 21°C is ideal
• Use low radiator settings in rooms you don’t use often
• Keep heating on low in kitchens and bathrooms to help manage moisture

Condensation is just one type of damp. There are others too:

Rising Damp

Usually appears low down on ground floor walls or solid floors. You might notice black and grey mould patches spreading upwards from the floor. See the photo below for an example of rising damp.

Penetrating Damp

You may see this around windows, doors or guttering. It can appear as dark damp patches, mould or peeling paint in those areas. The photo below shows an example of penetrating damp around a window frame.

Get in touch with us straight away if you’ve noticed any signs of mould, have black mould in your home, or are worried about how bad it’s getting. Just fill in the form below. We’ll work with you to find the cause and fix it.

You should also look out for:

• Leaks in the roof, gutter or pipes
• Missing roof tiles or damaged flat roof coverings
• Rotten windowsills
• Blocked guttering or blocked or missing air bricks
• Crumbling or cracked brickwork or chimneys

If it’s just a small patch of mould, you can often deal with it yourself and stop it getting worse.

Do:

• Always wear protective gloves
• Use a mould remover, fungicidal wash or domestic cleaning product. Follow the instructions carefully
• White vinegar mixed with water can also work well
• Clean and dry nearby surfaces after treating the area

Don’t:

• Don’t use bleach, it can make things worse
• Don’t use washing up liquid, it’s not strong enough
• Don’t brush or vacuum mould, this can spread spores

If the mould keeps coming back or it feels like too much to manage, just complete the form below. We’re here to help.