Dampness, condensation, and mould can be a common problem in many homes. We will help you understand what can cause this, what you can do to prevent and manage it and, if you are a Fife Council tenant, when and how to report it.
Condensation and mould appear because of dampness in the house.
Dampness is often due to water getting into your home from defective roofs, windows, flashings, brickwork, leaky pipework and blocked gutters or insufficient heating and ventilation.
There are three types of dampness that can appear in your home:
Condensation is when moisture is absorbed into the warm atmosphere of a property and then, as the property cools down, the moisture condenses on cold surfaces such as windows or window sills.
It’s one of the most common forms of dampness found in buildings and can lead to a range of problem, such as peeling wallpapers through to unhealthy living conditions and black mould growth issues.
Problems with condensation are rising because our homes are better insulated, with double glazing and draught proofing, making them more airtight. The damp, moist air then stays within the building.
This is more likely to happen during the colder months – usually from September to May as homes aren’t ventilated so well because windows, doors and trickle vents are closed. This allows the build-up of water vapour in the house, which, in some cases, is enough to cause condensation.
The build-up of moisture from our day-to-day life comes from things like boiling the kettle, drying clothes inside, taking a shower and even breathing.
Where there is a suspended floor, condensation can also lead to dry or wet rot developing in floor timbers.
Signs of condensation
Did you know that an average family of four will produce 2 to 3 litres of water per day?
Back To TopPenetrating damp is where water finds its way into the property from the outside. Penetrating damp is mainly down to poor maintenance of the building. This can be from leaking gutters, broken pipes or poor brickwork. If there are any gaps in doors or windows, this can also lead to problems.
Signs of Penetrating Damp
Rising damp is caused by ground water moving up through a floor or walls. Floors and walls will naturally soak up water from the ground, but usually it is stopped from causing damage by a barrier called a damp-proof course.
Newer properties will have a damp-proof course, but older buildings may not, or it may have been damaged. Bricks may appear solid enough, however, upon closer inspection bricks are full of voids. This is where a chemical damp proof course helps stops the moisture rising.
This type of dampness is mainly a problem in older properties where the damp proof course has become damaged, or was never put in/installed.
Signs of Rising Damp
Day to day activities, such as drying clothes, cooking, taking a shower and even breathing while asleep, all add moisture to the air inside your home.
It’s important to let this moisture out, as it can cause condensation and damp. Good ventilation lets damp or stale air out and fresh air in.
The longer you leave the condensation problem in your home, the harder it will be to treat the issue.
As soon as you see the signs of condensation, you should first clean down the surfaces with a fungicidal solution to remove the mould. You should then carry out the list of DIY tips we have listed below to help reduce the mould growth returning:
Produce less moisture
Ventilate to remove moisture
Heat your home a little more
If you have tried these tips, and still have problems with damp and condensation, then there may be an underlying issue that needs to be fixed. To do this, you will probably need professional condensation solutions to fix the root cause of the problem.