Mould and Damp
What is condensation, damp, and mould?
Damp and mould are common household issues. It is important to understand what causes it and what can be done to prevent it.
Condensation
Condensation is when warm, wet air settles on a cold surface and water droplets are formed. These water droplets are called condensation.
Condensation mostly happens in colder months when it is both raining and dry outside. Moisture moves through a property and settles in colder rooms.
Condensation should be wiped away daily. If left, it can lead to mould growth.
Damp
Damp can form when moisture collects in an area and does not dry out properly.
Moisture occurs in homes through day-to-day activities such as bathing, cooking, and drying clothes.
Moisture can also get into homes from outside sources, such as a leak or broken and blocked guttering.
When moisture cannot get out, it can lead to damp and mould. The best way to avoid damp and mould is to ventilate homes daily. This allows the air to circulate.
Mould
Mould is essentially a fungal growth that forms where there is moisture. It first appears as black pinpricks on walls, ceilings, and furnishing and can have a musty smell.
Mould grows because of moist conditions. If condensation and damp are not dealt with quickly, it can lead to mould.
Mould can spread very quickly and can become extremely hard to get rid of.
If you have damp and mould in your home
If you notice damp and mould in your home, early treatment is very important. If left untreated, the problem can worsen very quickly.
Severe damp and mould can give your home a musty odour, make it unpleasant to look at, and make it harder to get rid of.
The best solution is prevention. Mould can be prevented and reduced by following some simple tips in your home.
Ventilating your home
· Close doors when you are cooking, having a bath, or sleeping to prevent moisture from spreading throughout your home
· Use extractor fans and open windows slightly to reduce condensation
· Move furniture slightly away from walls to make sure air can circulate behind it
Reducing the amount of moist air
· Dry clothes on a drying rack next to an open window rather than on a radiator
· Put lids on pans when cooking
· Fill your bath with 1 to 2 inches of cold water before adding hot water to reduce condensation by around 80%
Wiping away any condensation daily
· Wiping condensation away with a dry cloth will help prevent mould from growing
· This can be on windows and sills, and surfaces in your kitchen and your bathroom
Heating
· In cold months, the best way to keep rooms warm and avoid condensation, is to keep the background heat on low all day rather than short bursts of high heat
· Set your thermostat between 18 to 22ºC
Keeping a home warm and at a level temperature during colder months is advised. However, turning up the heating alone will not sort out the problem.
We know energy costs are high right now. If you need help with your energy bills and extra support, please contact our Housing Team on 0121 464 1550 or use our Contact Us Form on our website.
Treating mould yourself
If you have small amounts of mould in your home, for example, on your windowsills or around the sealants of your bath or shower, it is quick and easy to treat.
However, it must be done properly to keep your home safe and stop it from returning. Good quality mould remover kits are available online and from most do it yourself (DIY) shops.
If the mould and damp in your home gets worse
If you have tried to remove the mould and it comes back or gets worse, it is important that you get in touch.
Once mould and damp spread, it can become a much bigger problem. It is important that we make sure that there are no repairs that need to be fixed that might be contributing to the issue.
How we can help
It is important you let us know about damp or mould problems in your home. If it is not reported, we do not know about it, so we cannot help.
Once you have reported the issue, we will arrange for an operative to visit your home within 5 working days.
Our operative will visit your property and advise on what we can do to resolve the problem.
This could include:
· organising repairs
· applying mould treatment to the walls or ceilings
· identifying a leak or condensation issues with windows
They might treat the problem during this visit, but they may also arrange another date to carry out any other repairs they have found.