Moisture in the air forms condensation (small droplets of water) when it comes into contact with cold surfaces such as windows.
Condensation is more common in rooms with a lot of moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Condensation also forms in cold rooms and spaces with little ventilation such as behind furniture, in the corners of rooms or in cupboards.
Homes produce a lot of moisture in a typical day. For instance, did you know, that over the course of the day if you:
- Drink 8 cups of tea and coffee
- Boil one pan of water for 10 minutes
- Take a shower
- Use the dishwasher
- Wash and dry 2kg of clothes
- Breathe normally
You will contribute around 2.5kg – or 10 glasses of water – into the air.
Homes are designed to deal with certain amount of moisture in the air but condensation can happen if:
- There is too much moisture in the air
- this is common if there are more people living in the home than it is designed for, or if there are lots of producing moisture activities, or if there is moisture producing equipment in the home such as vivariums or medical equipment
- There is not enough ventilation
- ventilation is vital for reducing the risk of condensation. Good ventilation can be achieved by opening trickle vents on windows or opening the windows themselves, ensuring extracts in kitchens and bathrooms are running and ensuring there is space for air to flow around furniture.
- There are extremes of temperature in the home
- Condensation is more of a risk in rooms that are kept very warm or very cold.
As a rule of thumb, it is normal to see some condensation on surfaces that are designed to get wet such as bathroom tiles, windows and sanitaryware such as toilet bowl and cistern. It is not unusual to see some condensation on bathroom walls after showering or bathing and similarly after cooking in kitchens.
It is also not unusual to get small amounts of black spots on sealant around baths, showers and sinks or on tile grout.
These types of typical condensation and mould can be reduced by wiping away excess water from surfaces and by cleaning sealant and grout regularly.
It is not normal to see damp and mould in ‘dry’ rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms or to see patches of mould anywhere in the home larger than the size of your hand.
If you are concerned that you have a condensation, damp or mould issue in your home please get in touch as soon as possible so we can help resolve it.
Reduce moisture in the home:
- Dry clothes outside or get an overbath rack to dry in the bathroom – if drying in the bathroom, ensure the window is open and/or the extract is running
- Vent tumble driers appropriately
- Keep bathroom and kitchens doors closed when cooking or showering to stop moisture spreading
- Put lids on pans
- Cover fish tanks
Improve ventilation
- Ensure kitchen / bathroom extracts are switched on when cooking or showering
- Open windows when drying clothes or when rooms are steaming up
- Don’t block vents
- Keep trickle vents on windows
- Allow air to circulate around furniture
Keep the home warm…but not too warm!
- Cold surfaces cause condensation so keep rooms heated to 18 to 21 degrees during the day
When you report a condensation issue to us, our Property Officers will follow a 5 step process to identify and resolve the issue
- Step 1 – we will carry out a survey of your property and ask you some questions about how you use your home
- Step 2 – we will carry out any repairs identified during the survey – for instance if necessary we will fit new extracts, fix leaks, make changes to your heating system or top up loft insulation if we think these are contributing to the problem
- Step 3 – we will usually use temporary or fixed sensors to measure the temperature and humidity in your home. This can help us identify the cause of the issue
- Step 4 – once all the repairs and any other actions are complete we will follow up with you to make sure the condensation issue has improved
- Step 5 – in complex cases, if the issues don’t resolve we will escalate the issue to a more senior member of staff or to a specialist
Most of the cases of damp and mould that we see are due to condensation in the home but occasionally the problem may be due to:
- Rising damp – this is caused by ground water rising into the home through a defective damp proof course, or because the home never had a damp proof course. This type of damp is occasionally seen in lower ground or ground floor properties and is identifiable because it rises from the floor level and usually leaves a ‘tidemark’ low down on the wall.
- Penetrating damp – this is caused by water leaking through walls or roofs from the outside to the inside. This type of damp might expand across walls or ceilings but will move horizontally rather than upwards (as is the case for rising damp). Penetrating damp will usually be worse when it rains.
- Internal leaks – plumbing or heating leaks can cause dampness in the home and are often hidden under floors or within walls so can be difficult to see. Sensors can help identify internal leaks as the home will tend to stay damp whereas normal humidity in homes will fluctuate throughout the day.
If you report an issue of condensation to us we will survey your home and check that it is not being caused by any of these issues.
