How To Stop Condensation

If your home is being affected by damp, condensation is the easiest of the causes to fix. This can usually be solved quickly and cheaply, with no need for a professional tradesperson.

What causes condensation?

It’s caused when warm air meets cold surfaces, such as the windows and walls of your home. As temperature decreases, the amount of moisture in the air falls and tiny drops of water form on surfaces.

The air in your home is naturally moist, but this can be increased by things like cooking, bathing/showering and even breathing; anything that releases water vapour.

If condensation is left for long periods of time, this can penetrate the outer layers of your walls, and even seep into furniture (and other soft furnishings) where it can cause mould to grow.

How do I reduce condensation?

Better ventilation can help to reduce condensation. This can be as easy as opening windows when you’re home or, if you have windows that lock when partly open, leaving them like this on a regular basis will also help (but make sure you leave your home safe and secure when away).

Make use of extractor fans and cooker hoods

Bathrooms and kitchens are, unsurprisingly, responsible for most of the condensation in your home. Making sure your extractor fans are running efficiently is important to reducing condensation, and if you don’t have one installed in your bathroom, you should consider it.

A good cooker hood can also help prevent a build-up of condensation. These send air outside through ducts and are most effective at removing steam and moisture. These should work quickly and quietly to get rid of moisture, as well as stopping grease from developing on your kitchen surfaces. Home Emergency Assist offer kitchen appliance cover to ensure you’re never without your cooker hood – or other important appliances.

Your heating system

You might find that having your heating on at a low, constant temperature is better for damp as water will evaporate and condense every time your central heating switches on and off.

Cold spots on your ceilings or walls have a greater chance of condensation, so better insulation may be a good solution. Cavity wall or loft insulation can all help. This may be an expensive fix in the short term, but could help reduce condensation, and the likelihood of developing mould and will improve your energy costs in the long run.

Short term fixes

Regularly clear your windows of condensation to stop mould developing. This can be done with towels, tissues or other window cleaning products.

Drying clothes outside rather than on radiators will also help and if you don’t have an extractor fan or cooker hood, opening windows (if possible) when you cook, and when showering.