Condensation Problems

What is condensation?

Condensation dampness is one of the most troublesome, recurring problems which afflicts the public sector housing stock in the UK. Apart from the unsightly visual evidence of the phenomenon its presence can have a debilitating effect on the occupiers of the dwelling.

In addition to improving the health of the families who live in affected dwellings, the rewards for success in solving, or preventing condensation problems are enormous - not only in fabric maintenance costs but also in the freeing up of housing maintenance personnel who annually return to the same dwelling to deal with the same recurring problems.

What is condensation?

Condensation is arguably the most common form of dampness and can eventually lead to the growth of black mould. It forms on internal surfaces when the temperature drops sufficiently below the temperature of moist air inside the property.

You should watch out for it because if left to develop, condensation can lead to an unsightly, musty property. More importantly, it can also aggravate or trigger health problems such as asthma and wider complaints.

What are the causes?

Day to day activities such as cooking, washing, bathing, ironing and even breathing all add to the problem. In a property of 4 people each will contribute approximately 4 pints of moisture per day, adding up to well over 100 pints per week! In the past there would be a natural escape for this hot, damp and poor quality air through window frames, doors, uncarpeted floorboards and so forth. However, building features designed to cut down heat loss such as cavity wall insulation, double-glazing and draught proofing, inhibit 'natural ventilation'. Instead, stale, humid air is trapped, commonly causing streaming windows, which will inevitably lead to musty smells, dampness and ultimately mould growth.

How do you spot it?

• Streaming windows and walls
• Damp areas can appear on walls, especially behind furniture and in corners
• Wallpaper can start to peel
• Blackened window frames
• Mould growth, usually black mould, starts to appear
• Soft furnishings and fabrics become prone to mould and mildew

Tips on how to reduce it...

• Try to keep the inside temperature reasonably constant for as much of the time as possible
• Avoid drying clothes indoors. If you have no choice, place the clothes rack beside an open window in a room with the door shut
• Do not dry clothes over any radiators
• Ensure any tumble drier is properly vented or the condensate regularly emptied
• Do not supplement your heating with paraffin/Calor gas type heating
• Keep furniture away from walls
• Do not disable any extraction units

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