How to Control Condensation Are my damp symptoms caused by The following steps can be taken to reduce and condensation? control your condensation problem: Not all dampness is caused by condensation, sometimes dampness can be as a result of: Raise the • Leaking internal or external pipes The best way to heat your home is through • Roof leaks caused by broken, missing or steady background heating left on throughout faulty tiles, guttering or chimney flashings the day. This is because warmer air can hold • Rising damp because of a defective damp more moisture, and as the temperature of the proof course or faulty rendering, mortar structure increases, the possibility of joints or blocked cavities. condensation forming on surfaces is reduced. It • Dampness of this nature will often result in is the repeated fluctuation of room a ‘tide mark’ and can occur at any time of that allows mould to appear, as each time the the year. room cools down, the moisture in the air settles onto the cold surfaces, which in turn never get If you think that your home is suffering from one a chance to dry out fully. of the above defects please phone Mears on 0800 1830044. • Try to heat the whole house rather than just one room. Remember, as the surface temperatures of the property are increased, the likelihood of Other useful contacts: condensation forming is reduced. The Home Energy Advice Line: 0800 043 2815 Cleaning the mould Once the steps listed have been taken, you should find that the condensation problems Alternative Formats: reduce, however, any existing mould will not If you require this document in disappear. It will need to be washed off and another format or language treated with a fungicidal wash, which is please contact us. generally available in supermarkets and DIY stores, or you could use diluted bleach. It is Tel: (01827) 709709 or email important that you follow the manufacturer’s [email protected] instructions for important health and safety information that will enable you to use the Tamworth Borough Council products safely. Marmion House, Lichfied Street, Tamworth, Staffs. B79 7BZ www.tamworth.gov.uk

(10/14) 1738 • Ensure that tumble dryers are properly What causes condensation? How much moisture can be produced vented to the outside. There are 3 main causes of in your home in a day? • Dry clothes outside or where this is not condensation: 2 people active for 1 day 3 pints possible, in the bathroom with the door • Too much moisture production in closed and windows open or extractor fan on. your home Cooking and 6 pints • Do you have a tropical fish tank that regularly a kettle • Insufficient ventilation requires topping up with ? The water • Cool temperatures. Having a bath or shower 2 pints that has evaporated from the tank has Washing clothes 1 pint added to the moisture level of the air within Everyday activities such as bathing and your home. You could consider fitting a lid. showering, cooking, boiling the kettle, drying Drying clothes 9 pints clothes indoors, topping up fish tanks etc Increase ventilation add moisture to the existing moisture already Using a paraffin or 3 pints bottled heater Increasing ventilation will prevent moisture laden present in the air. Moisture is added to the air air from being trapped in your home. Actions by just breathing alone. Total amount of moisture 24 pints that can be taken could be as simple as produced in your home opening a window. If you have trickle vents Portable gas and paraffin heaters should not for 1 day fitted to your windows, try to keep them open be used under any circumstances apart from as much as possible too, especially in habited being against your tenancy agreement they rooms. are a health and safety hazard. Reduce Moisture Levels Ordinary daily activities can produce a lot of Move furniture away from the walls slightly to During the winter months (October – April) moisture quite quickly. Some steps you can allow air to circulate behind them. internal surface condensation may become take to reduce moisture production in your It’s better to provide ventilation at the point more prevalent as the cold external home are: where moisture is produced if possible. temperatures have a knock-on effect to the • When cooking cover boiling pans, close the external structure of the building, inducing kitchen door and open the window. Use the cold surfaces ideal for condensation and extractor fan if fitted. Where do you find condensation? subsequent mould growth. Although mould • When bathing or showering close the It can be found on and adjacent to windows, in growth can be an all-year problem if air is not bathroom door and open the window until the corners and edges of rooms, behind and allowed to circulate within the property. the air moisture level has reduced inside wardrobes and cupboards – especially if sufficiently. Use the extractor fan if fitted. they are against an external wall. Condensation • If you are running a bath, put the cold water can also form on cold floor surfaces such as in first to reduce the amount of . concrete floors underneath floor coverings and result in damp floor finishes.