Preventing damp & mould

Keeping your home healthy - damp & mould support.

Damp and mould can affect any home and, in the majority of cases, condensation is the main cause of issues that occur.

Condensation is when moisture or water in the air collects on a cooler surface. Most people have a little bit of condensation, like the droplets you see on your windows after a shower. While it’s usually nothing to worry about, condensation can lead to damp and mould if left for too long.

If you’re worried that damp and mould could appear in your home, here are some useful tips to help avoid it:


Remove moisture in your home where you can

A common cause of mould is condensation or moisture on surfaces in your home. All daily living activities add extra moisture inside our homes. For example: a bath or shower adds around 2 pints of moisture and drying clothes can add up to 9 pints. Things you can do to help reduce this include:

  • Covering pans when cooking and not allowing kettles to boil for longer than needed
  • Closing doors to prevent steam and moisture reaching other areas of your home
  • Always opening windows and/or using extractor fans.  Leaving windows open or fans switched on for 30 minutes to allow steam and moisture to clear.

It’s not unusual for homes to experience condensation to some degree, and this is most common in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. It is always recommended to wipe condensation or water droplets from walls, tiles, shower screens and windows and window cills.  

If you discover a leak or damp patch in your home report this to us as soon as possible.

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Keep your home properly ventilated

Try to open your windows regularly to let out moist air and let fresh air in, and use any extractor fans you may have. If your windows have trickle vents, make sure these are kept open. 

To stop moisture from spreading when you are cooking or bathing, keep the doors to the bathroom and kitchen closed and continue to ventilate these rooms for a short time after.

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Stop rooms from getting too cold

Very cold rooms can provide ideal conditions for mould to grow, so It’s recommended you don’t let the temperature in your home fall below 14°C (more comfortable temperatures fall within a range of 16°C and 21°C.

If your home has heating controls such as thermostatic valves on radiators, or room thermostats or timers, use these to control the heating throughout your home and to help manage costs. Please let us know if you need advice or guidance about how to use the heating controls in your home or if you need help or advice with managing costs. Your Neighbourhood or Income Officer will be able to provide advice and support.   

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Try not to dry clothes indoors or on radiators

Drying clothes indoors and on radiators increases the moisture that they release and can create damp spots in your home. Instead, hang them on a clothes airer and place them in the bathroom with the extractor fan on or window open, or another a well-ventilated room.  Remember to keep any doors to the rest of your home closed.

If you use a vented tumble dryer, ensure it is properly vented to the outside.

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Avoid placing furniture close to walls and overfilling wardrobes or cupboards

Mould can grow in spaces where air can’t circulate. Avoid leaning large items of furniture or storing lots of items against walls, with no space for air to move, and leave enough room for air to circulate in cupboards and wardrobes.

If you experience problems please let us know straight away.  Use our contact form here or call our Repairs Team on 01387 321400.

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