What is condensation?
It’s when the cold air cannot hold all the moisture and drops of water start to appear. Often, in the cold weather, homes are not sufficiently heated and ventilated so water vapour and condensation can build up. It usually forms on cold surfaces and places where there is little or no movement of air. Other factors include poor ventilation and insulation.
If untreated, a lot of condensation can lead to:
- The growth of damp and mould on walls and furniture.
- Mildew on clothes and other fabrics.
- The rotting of timber.
Damp and mould can damage properties and cause health problems.
Working with you
As your landlord, we need to work with our residents to deal with damp and mould to make the situation manageable. If you experience condensation in your home, we are committed to working with you to resolve it.
Steps We Can Both Take
We’ve listed a number of steps you can take to help reduce the problems. We have also included action we can take if the problem becomes serious.
| What You Can Do | What We Can Do |
| Keep lids on saucepans | Check your home for causes of damp and moisture |
| Avoid drying clothes indoors. If you must dry clothes indoors, try to put them in the bathroom with the door closed & the window open or fan on | Arrange a visit from one of our Tenancy Sustainment Officers, who can provide you with advice & assistance with reducing your energy bills and check if you qualify for winter fuel benefits |
| Do not dry clothes on radiators | Top up your loft insulation where needed |
| Vent tumble driers outside (not necessarily for condensing models) | Ensure you have cavity wall insulation where it can be fitted |
| Open windows or make sure the extractor fan is on to let out the air when you have been bathing, showering, washing or cooking | Fit or upgrade fans in kitchens and bathrooms when needed |
| Keep your kitchen & bathroom doors closed to stop warm, moist air travelling to other rooms in the home | Fit air bricks or vents in rooms where air circulation needs to improve |
| Wipe down the inside of windows (daily if necessary) if they become wet with condensation | Repair any leaks coming through or around window frames |
| Don’t put furniture & belongings too close to cold walls so the air can circulate. Ideally place them against internal walls with a 2-3 inch gap for the air to circulate | Service your boiler to make sure it’s running safely & efficiently. This service is automatically carried out each year |
| Do not overfill wardrobes & cupboards as it stops the air from circulating | Repair gutters & water pipes if leaking |
| Use cooker hoods & extractor fans wherever fitted | Clear blocked gutters |
| When running a bath, run cold water into the bath first | Clear & repair blocked or broken drains |
| If using a shower, only use it for as long as you need to | Repair or replace defective damp proof courses |
| Do not place furniture or belongings in front of radiators as this will stop them heating the room efficiently | Repair leaking roofs |
| Make sure nothing is resting against your outside wall, such as lean-to or bags of soil. This can cause moisture to by-pass the damp course | Repair cracks & holes in walls (including damaged render) that are large enough to allow water in |
| Use a recommended mould wash/cleaner where needed (this will have a Health & Safety Executive approval number). Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines & keep away from children & pets | Repair or replace rubber gaskets on draughty UPVC windows & doors. |
| Heat all the rooms at a low level even if they are not being used. This will keep your home warmer & cost you less. Do not heat your home on a high setting for short periods of time | Ease & adjust wooden windows & doors |
| Heat your hall at 18°C & 21°C in your living room (up to 23°C if you have young children or are a pensioner). Keep the rest of the house at 16°C when you’re in | Where you are not sure, we’ll give you advice on how to use your heating controls. |
Extra steps you can take:
- Draught proof wooden windows & doors.
- Do not use LPG (Calor Gas) or paraffin heaters or try to heat the kitchen with your gas cooker (they produce a lot of moisture).
- If you need extra heat, use electric heaters, (e.g. panel heaters) on a low setting.
- When redecorating kitchens & bathrooms, use an anti-mould paint especially for these areas.
- Don’t decorate over walls or ceilings with normal paints or wallpapers if they’ve already been decorated with fungicidal paint.
What To Do Next
If you take these steps but mould and damp remains in your home, please call our Repairs Team on 01372 814 000. There could be many possible causes for the problem. We may have to carry out works to your home to eliminate it, which could take more than one visit.
Our Tenancy Sustainment Officers can provide you with help and support to reduce your energy bills. For more information, please send us a message through your My Rosebery account.
