Your Guide to Preventing Condensation
Are you experiencing any of the following problems in your home? Moisture on the inside of windows & water pooling on the window cill Moisture on the W.C. cistern & pipework Mould growth around windows, doors, on walls/ceiling, on fabrics, clothes & shoes.
This is most likely to be condensation. What is condensation? Every winter millions of homes in the UK suffer from condensation which can occur in any type of property and part of the remedy lies with the householder. Condensation occurs when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface. This can be visible in bathrooms when the mirror steams up. The same process occurs in the examples listed above and, if left unchecked, will lead to mould forming
Causes of Condensation There is always moisture in the air in the form of water vapour, although usually it cannot be seen. However, there is a limit to how much vapour the air can hold, the higher the temperature the more vapour the air can hold Therefore when warm moist air comes into contact with a cold surface it can no longer hold as much vapour and the excess condenses as a liquid on the surface. An example of this is when moist air from a bathroom drifts into a colder room such as a bedroom, the moist air cools when it reaches the walls and other cold surfaces and the excess water is deposited as condensation There are three main factors that lead to condensation occurring: Moisture produced by everyday activities Not enough ventilation to remove moisture Low surface and air temperature in the home
How to avoid condensation 1.
Reduce the amount of moisture created Wipe water from the windows and cills and wring out the wet cloth rather than drying on a radiator Make sure that if you use a tumble drier that the hose is vented to the outside Keep kitchen and bathroom doors closed when in use to prevent water vapour travelling to colder rooms e.g. bedrooms Reduce the amount of steam created when cooking by covering the pan, it cooks quicker and is cheaper too Dry clothes outside or in the bathroom with the door closed and window open, not on radiators as this creates moisture and blocks heat to the room
2.
Take moisture out of the air by ventilation If you never open a window then moisture cannot escape You can ventilate your home without causing a draught When kitchens and bathrooms are being used much more ventilation is needed (particularly showers) Avoid putting furniture such as beds, wardrobes, chairs etc up against walls. Leave a small gap to allow warm air to flow behind & prevent cold areas forming. Don't overfill wardrobes and leave door slightly open Use extractor fans or other form of mechanical ventilation where supplied Keeping a small window or a trickle vent open all the time if possible will help remove this moisture. Don’t forget to use the secure night latch if fitted
3.
Provide adequate heating
In cold rooms condensation is almost bound to occur. The best way to keep rooms warm enough to avoid condensation is to keep low background heating on all day in cold weather, even when there is no one at home. It is far better to do this than to rely on a high level of heating for short periods Remember most of the energy used to heat your home is stored in the walls, ceilings & floors, only a small proportion is used to heat the air. Providing adequate ventilation will result in little energy being lost
Three things to remember 1. 2. 3.
Reduce the amount of moisture generated by everyday activities (e.g. cooking, washing, drying clothes) Keep windows open whenever possible to allow ventilation. Use mechanical ventilation where provided Keep low level heating to maintain a relatively warm property
Keeping these three factors in mind will help reduce the risk of condensation forming within your property If you have followed these recommendations and still have a problem, let us know
Freephone 0800 027 0828