What is condensation?

There is always some moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. If the air gets cooler, it cannot hold all the moisture and tiny drops of water will appear. This is condensation. You notice it when you see your breath on a cold day, or when the mirror mists over when you have a bath.

Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather, whether it is raining or dry, but does not leave a tidemark. It appears on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air. It is often found on or near windows, in corners, on north facing walls and in or behind wardrobes or cupboards.

 How to avoid condensation

These three simple steps will help you reduce condensation in your home:

1) Produce less moisture

• Cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling.
• Dry washing outdoors on a line, or put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or extractor fan on.
• Vent any tumble dryer on the outside, unless it is the self-condensing type.
• Avoid using paraffin and portable flueless bottled gas heaters as they out a lot of moisture into the air.

2) Ventilate to remove moisture

• Keep a small window ajar or a trickle vent open when someone is in the room.
• Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening the window wider or using a humidistat-controlled electric fan (These come on automatically when the air becomes humid and are cheap to run).
• Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use, even if they have extractor fans. This will help prevent moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms which are often colder and more likely to get condensation.
• Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes: Avoid putting too many things in them as this stops the air circulating. Where possible, position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls, cut 'breather' holes in the back of wardrobes and leave a space between the back of the wardrobe and the wall.

3) Insulate, draught proof and heat your home

• In cold weather, keep low heating on all day, even when there's no one at home.
• Do not, however, block air vents or draught proof windows in the bathroom or kitchen, rooms that have a cooker or fuel burning heater (e.g. a gas fire) or rooms where there is condensation or mould.

 Other causes of damp

Damp can also be caused by a number other problems such as those listed below but, where it is, you will usually see a 'tidemark':

• Leaking pipes, wastes and overflows;
• Rain seeping through the roof where a tile or slate is missing, spilling from a blocked gutter, penetrating around window frames, or leaking through a cracked pipe;
• Rising damp due to a defective damp-proof course of because there is no damp-proof course.

If you your home is damp for any of these reasons, it may take several weeks of heating and ventilation for your home to dry out. If you do not think the damp has been caused by any of these, then it has probably been caused by condensation.

 Dealing with mould

• First, treat any mould you may already have in your home: To kill and remove mould, wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash which carries a Health and Safety Executive 'approval number', following the manufacturer's instructions precisely, dry-clear mildewed clothes and shampoo the carpets. Please note: Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems.
• After treatment, redecorate using a good quality anti-fungal paint to help prevent mould from recurring. Please note: This paint is not effective if overlaid with ordinary paints or wallpaper.
• The only lasting way of avoiding severe mould growth is to eliminate dampness, which is often caused by condensation.

 Who to contact for help

If you are taking steps to avoid condensation, as recommended in the sections above, but your home is still damp, please contact your managing agent.