Mould and Condensation – a regular Winter foe!

Over many years working in residential lettings, I faced many situations where tenanted properties were struggling to control mould and condensation issues within their property. This can be a difficult and often complicated issue to solve, as the source of the moisture that is causing the issues can be tricky to establish. Generally it is caused by moist air landing on a cold surface and this moisture will then turn to black spots. If mould starts to grow on your walls, clean it with an anti-mould cleaner or anti-fungal wash and then try to address the root cause of the moisture that is causing the problem.

Top Tips

Anything you can do to reduce the amount of moisture you add to the air will help to reduce condensation. For example, you could:

  • Dry your windows and sills every morning and keep surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom dry. Wring out the cloth rather than drying it on a radiator.
  • Hang your washing outside to dry if possible. Or hang it in the bathroom with the door closed and a window open or extractor fan on.
  • Cook with pan lids on and the extractor fan on.
  • Use only as much water as you need to cover vegetables, and turn down the heat when the water has boiled.
  • Reduce steam when having a bath by running the cold water first and then adding the hot.
  • Make sure your tumble dryer has a vent that connects to the outside, if it is not a condenser model.
  • Open windows and vents whenever possible to allow air to circulate, especially when cooking or washing up.
  • Use an extractor fan or open a bathroom window for about 20 minutes after showering or bathing.
  • Leave your bedroom window open at night, even if only slightly.
  • Keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed so moisture cannot escape into the rest of the house.
  • Keep a small gap between large furniture and the wall, and where possible place it against an internal wall.

Warm air holds more moisture than cool air – the warmer it is, the more it can hold, meaning less condensation. It’s better to keep a medium temperature throughout your home than to heat one room to a high temperature.

If you can, improve your home’s insulation and draught proofing to keep surfaces warmer as this can also help to reduce your fuel bills. Please click on the link below for more information on this matter from Swansea City Council:

How to Reduce Condensation in the home

If you are a Contract Holder, Landlord or Agent are having issues with mould and condensation within a property, get in touch with us as we are able to provide a clean and consult service to remove the black mould and provide feedback on what we believe to be causing the issue.

Regards,

Lance.