What you can do to avoid condensation and damp

Condensation is a very common problem which can be avoided or limited. It can cause a lot of expensive damage if it is not managed.

Condensation forms when the hot air produced in your home collects on cold surfaces, like windows. If this is left to form it can cause mould to grow.

There are some simple things you can do to help prevent this:

• Cover pans when cooking
• When filling baths, use cold water first, then hot
• Dry clothes outdoors. Do not dry washing on radiators
• Ventilate your tumble dryer to the outside of your home
• Open windows when people are at home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom as this is where the most moisture is produced
• Keep bathroom and kitchen doors closed and open windows to allow steam out. Use extractor fans if you have them
• Keep furniture slightly away from the walls to allow air to circulate around the room
• Do not cover or seal any existing air vents
• Try to use the central heating at a consistent, low temperature, that than switching it on and off several times a day or turning it up for short bursts
• Use fungicidal wash to remove any mould and prevent it growing again in the future
• Check ground levels around the house to make sure the damp course (water-resistant material laid near the bottom of the foundation walls of a building to prevent dampness from rising into the building) is clear and not blocked by soil or objects stacked alongside walls