Something that can cause a lot of issues in a property is damp. As well as the bad smell and unpleasant appearance, having damp and mould in the home can actually cause breathing issues, especially for people who already suffer from conditions that affect breathing, such as asthma and COPD, and for more vulnerable people like the very old and very young.
Signs of Damp to Look Out For
Therefore, it is important to act quickly if you have dampness in your home and make sure that you get rid of it before it becomes a bigger problem. There are lots of signs that you may have damp; these include:
- Discoloured patches on the wallpaper
- A smell of damp
- Patches of mould on walls, floors and ceilings
- Rotten areas such as skirting boards
- Humid air
Condensation
There are various types of damp that can be found in the home too. The most common is condensation, and there are lots of reasons why this can be caused. It could be that your home is poorly ventilated, especially in rooms where there is a lot of moisture anyway, such as the bathroom. It can also be caused by old or broken windows which can then cause condensation to form on the walls around them. If you notice dampness around the windows, get someone like this Gloucester double glazing company www.firmfix.co.uk to come and replace them.
Rising Damp
There is also a form of damp that is known as rising damp. This is where water from the ground rises up through the building, and the most common sign of this is a damp patch at the bottom of the wall. This is something that is most commonly found in older properties, as more modern buildings have damp proofing built into them for this very reason.
Penetrating Damp
The other kind of damp is called penetrating damp, and this is where water has been able to enter the property somehow, most commonly through the roof. If it has been able to get in for some time this can then lead to damp building up. Faulty roofing is responsible for damp patches on upper walls and ceilings, and this can be very dangerous if the water gets into the electrics, which is why it is important to check the roof and the guttering on a regular basis.
Related: How to protect your roof during the winter
Stopping mould before it starts
Spotting damp early matters, but preventing mould in the first place saves a lot of trouble, especially through autumn and winter when windows stay shut and heating is on. Condensation around old or poorly sealed windows is a common starting point, so if frames are failing or the glass constantly runs with water, it may be time to repair or replace them.
Good air movement makes a big difference. Pull wardrobes, sofas and beds a few centimetres away from external walls so air can circulate behind them, and avoid drying lots of washing indoors without ventilation. Use extractor fans when cooking and bathing, and open windows briefly each day to let moist air out. A dehumidifier can help in rooms that stay damp, such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements. If mould does appear, ordinary household cleaners often only remove the surface stain, so use a product made specifically for mould and follow the instructions, then deal with the moisture that caused it so it does not return.
Treatment options once damp is found
Once the signs point to damp, the right treatment depends on the cause. Rising damp is usually the result of a faulty damp proof course, or none at all, but it can also happen when air bricks are blocked or soil is piled against the walls. Clearing the soil and unblocking air bricks comes first, and a chemical damp proof course can then be injected to create a barrier inside the wall.
For penetrating damp, find and fix the source before treating the walls. Clear gutters and downpipes, repair cracks in rendering and check the seals around windows and the flashing on the roof. Damp proof paints can then be applied to exterior walls, masonry and brickwork.
Where a basement floods, a damp proof membrane can be used to tank the area, and this can also work in homes over 100 years old or in exposed spots where there is no damp proof course. Once outside problems are dealt with, damp proof paint and renovating plaster inside help stop salts coming through and keep damp under control.
Practical ways to cut condensation on windows
Condensation forms when warm, moist air meets a cold, hard surface, which is why windows and doors suffer most in autumn and winter, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and poorly ventilated rooms. A little that clears quickly is not a problem, but if it lingers it leads to damp and mould. The main answer is better ventilation so moisture can escape.
Leave bedroom windows open at night, since breathing while you sleep raises humidity. Open the bathroom window before a bath or shower and the kitchen window while cooking. Dry clothes outside where you can, because washing on a radiator or airer releases moisture into the room, and if you must dry indoors, open a window.
Keep the heating on low and steady, as repeated rises and drops in temperature make condensation more likely. Check your windows too: old or faulty double glazing can trap moisture between the panes and needs replacing. Where condensation is a major problem, a dehumidifier helps, and any existing mould should be cleaned off before treating the surface with damp proof paint.