Ninety per cent of the time damp and mould in your home happens because of what you’ve been doing.

Here’s some tips on preventing condensation and mould.

What is Condensation?

Moisture is produced in all homes by breathing, cooking and washing. The average home produces 21 pints of water vapour each day!
When warm air comes into contact with a cold surface like a window or when too much vapour is put into the air, the moisture forms droplets of water called condensation. It often happens in warm, wet rooms like your kitchen or bathroom and can be seen as ‘steamed up’ windows or damp patches on walls and ceilings.

Why is it a problem?

Small amounts of condensation can be found in most homes but if it is not dealt with, mould can grow.

What can I do?

Try to get a balance between heat, moisture and ventilation.

In the Kitchen:

• Open windows slightly for ventilation
• Ventilate tumble dryers outside and don’t cook while using one
• Close your internal kitchen door when cooking
• Keep lids on cooking pans
• Use your extractor when cooking
• Only boil kettles and pans for as long as you need to

In the Bathroom:

• Heat the room before taking a bath or shower
• Open a window afterwards
• Add an inch of cold water to the bath before adding the hot

The effects of condensation

Black mould is the most common type but it can appear in many other colours on carpets, clothing and wood. The corners of a room are most affected, as well as behind furniture as air does not circulate as well.

Tips for preventing condensation and mould

• It is best to have heating on for longer periods of time at a lower temperature
• Use draft excluders where possible
• If you dry clothes indoors open a window to allow air to circulate
• Do not drip-dry clothes indoors if possible
• Try not to dry clothes on or in front of radiators
• Do not block air vents
• If condensation forms on windows, wipe it off
• If mould forms, clean it off using a solution of one part bleach to four parts water.