Condensation, damp and mould

Condensation, damp and mould

Experiencing signs of condensation and mould in your home can be concerning. Especially when you’re anxious about what impact this might have on the health and wellbeing of yourself and your family.

We wouldn’t want you to live in these conditions.

We want to you know how seriously we take these cases. If you have concerns about the condensation and mould in your home, please get in touch.

What's the difference?

Condensation

This happens when moisture in the air meets a colder surface, such as a window or a cold wall (like your car on a cold day). It then condenses and becomes water droplets on that surface. This is relatively normal - but important to keep on top of.

Dampness

This happens when there’s too much moisture that becomes difficult to manage - so needs to be looked at further. This is commonly the direct result of condensation, but can also be caused by other issues (e.g. roofing, plumbing leaks and gutters).

Mould

This is a type of fungus. It thrives in moist conditions. It often looks like 'fuzz' or appears to be a stain, smudge or discolouration. The most common moulds are black, green or white.

Tips for preventing damp & mould

A warm, dry home needs a good balance of ventilation, heating, and insulation - known as the golden triangle. If one part is out of sync, it can lead to problems like mould.

Sometimes, fixing just one area is enough, but in other cases, all three may need attention to keep your home healthy.

  • Temperature - Try to keep your home at least 18°C at all times. Avoid yo-yoing your central heating - it's not cost effective. 
  • Timer - Set it to come on for at least 3 hours each time. 
  • Radiators - Avoid drying clothes directly on radiators. If needed, use an airer in the bathroom with the extractor fan switched on.
  • Windows - Opening them for just 10-20 minutes in the morning can help.
  • Extractor fans -  Keep them switched on, especially in kitchen and bathrooms. They cost less than £5 a year to operate. 
  • Control moisture - Use lids on pans when cooking and keep doors closed when showering or cooking to stop moisture spreading.
  • Showering - Keep doors & windows closed and extractor fans on.
  • Trickle vents - Make sure these are open in all rooms unless you have mechanical ventilation installed.
  • Clean as you go - Wipe down surfaces when condensation appears. If you spot mould, clean it early using mould remover or a mix of bicarbonate of soda & vinegar. 
  • Fish tanks - Especially heated, tropical ones must have a secure lid on them to prevent water turning to moisture in your home. 
  • Take photos - If mould or damp gets worse, take clear photos and send them to us. 
  • Leave space - Keep a small gap between furniture and external walls to allow air flow. 
  • Monitor your home - Consider buying a temperature and humidity monitor (available online from around £2) and aim for humidity below 50%. 
  • Greenery - Make sure shrubs, bushes and ivy aren't on the external walls. This can cause cold spots on the wall and make the area more vulnerable to mould. 

If you’ve tried all our tips and are still worried it’s damp in your home, this could be something we need to investigate further. So please get in touch if you’re concerned.

Open Windows & Leave Extractor Fans On (2)

The steps we take when you report damp & mould 

1. Identify

Get in touch with us and we'll talk through your concerns with you and ask you a few questions to see if this is something we can manage ourselves.

2. Appointment

If we think we can manage this ourselves, we will arrange a time for one of our team to come round and help treat the problem. 

3. Specialist visit

If we can't manage it ourselves, we'll arrange an appointment for a specialist (The Dwelling Doctors) to come round to help manage the moisture in your home. 

FAQs

The Dwelling Doctors are a national mould removal and condensation control business. They are experts when it comes to controlling moisture, eliminating mould and making sure your home is safe!

Yes, it can be. It’s often because it’s cold outside and warmer (more humid) inside.

So condensation forms on the inside of your windows. You may also see this from the steam of a shower, or when cooking in your kitchen.

In the winter, when it’s colder outside, moisture can collect on surfaces and become a breeding ground for mould. During this time, it’s really important to ensure fans are switched on. Opening windows for a long time can move the moisture to cold spots in your home. 

Our team have a wealth of knowledge and can offer lots of advice. They can look for patterns of moisture build up in your home to try and diagnose what’s causing the problem, and then offer guidance for next steps.

Some next steps we can take include:

  • Installing an extractor fan.
  • Request a visit to service your home – looking at draught proofing doors and windows, (wherever you feel cold air coming in, warm air will be going out).
  • Check common building issues like broken roof tiles, blocked guttering, or faulty plumbing.
  • Visit your home or arrange a revisit if the issue comes back.
  • Arrange a visit from our specialist the Dwelling Doctors.

When you report damp and mould to us, we will go through the diagnostic questions with you. This will help us to assess whether it might be a building issue.

If it is a building issue and we think we can manage the problem we will arrange a time for one of the team to come round, assess and help treat the problem if they can. If we can’t manage it ourselves, we’ll arrange an appointment for a specialist to investigate. They will assess how we can put this right and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Common building issues could be:

  • Leaks - that come from broken roof tiles, blocked guttering or faulty plumbing.
  • Rising damp - caused by water rising up and into a building from the ground.
  • A poorly insulated building
  • Faulty ventilation or heating system.

If you think you might have a building issue like this, please contact us as soon as you can. This way we can get this sorted before it develops into damp or mould in your home.

Everyday routines such as washing, cooking, drying clothes and even just breathing puts moisture into the air. Some moisture in your home is inevitable. Especially during the winter months.

But, when too much moisture is in the air - it can become tricky to manage, which is why it’s important to ventilate your home as much as possible or investigate where moisture is coming from.

How can I report it?