Damp in a property can lead to the growth of mildew and mould (and the mites that feed on them) on walls and furniture. Not only does this looks unpleasant, with the potential to cause damage to wallpaper, wall surfaces, window frames and furniture, but it can also affect the health of the householder, especially those prone to asthma.
Cornwall is surrounded by the sea and so has high levels of humidity that can make damp and mould worse, so it is important to deal with these issues as quickly as possible and not allow mould to get a hold.
What is condensation?
Condensation is a common source of mould problems and may be caused by a lack of adequate heating and/or suitable ventilation, and excessive moisture in the air.
Air contains a certain amount of water and the warmer the air, the more water it can hold When the warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, the temperature of the air drops, which means it cannot hold as much water and deposits this onto cold surfaces. We then see this as condensation.
Where you may find condensation
cold surfaces: mirrors,
single glazed windows and metal framed windows
kitchens and bathrooms
the walls of unheated rooms
cold corners in rooms
behind wardrobes, cupboards and furniture where the air doesn't move much.
How to avoid condensation and prevent mildew and mould growth
Reduce the amount of moisture in the air
In bathrooms, kitchens and other rooms that produce heavy amounts of moisture, ventilation can be achieved by opening windows or using extractor fans and keeping internal doors shut.
Reducing
moisture in the air
ventilation within the home.
Provide adequate Increase the heating to raise the temperature of the air and cold surfaces.
Insulate the building to raise the temperature of cold walls.
Ventilation
Adequate ventilation in the right places will help reduce condensation, but the right balance needs to be found Opening a window and letting too much cold air into a room could reduce the temperature of walls and make the condensation problem worse.
Background ventilation can be hi d b i lli i b i ks
Washing, bathing, cooking and breathing all produce moisture and these activities are unavoidable, but there are some practical ways to reduce the amount of moisture in the air:
Dry clothes on a line outside whenever possible. Remember, if you put clothes to dry on a radiator, the moisture goes into the air, so you need to think about venting it out of the room.
Tumble dryers should be vented to the outside.
Keep lids on saucepans when cooking.
Avoid using portable bottled gas (butane) and paraffin heaters. A lot of water vapour is released into the room as the gas burns.
Open a window if you’re creating steam while cooking and make sure that doors to adjoining rooms are closed.
Hygrometers are used to measure the humidity or moisture content of the surrounding air. They are readily available to purchase online and can be a useful way to identify areas in a property where there is high humidity, which could lead to mould growth.
