As the colder weather begins to set in, chill winds can escape into your home and create condensation, which can cause damp and mould within the home.
Not only can too much moisture damage the structure of the house, but the fungus that is left behind can lead to a number of health issues, reports the Daily Record. So as temperatures continue to drop, heating experts are warning people to keep their bathroom doors closed while showering - or they risk spreading damp air throughout the home.
According to Mark Ronald, Lead Engineer at Hometree, condensation is one of the most common forms of household damp and is brought on by poor ventilation. Mark explained: " The main type of damp that central heating helps combat is condensation, often found in rooms that don’t get used as much as others. Another common form of damp is found behind furniture, where air circulation is poor.
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"Normally condensation happens when moist air becomes trapped in your house, then hits a colder surface, like your wall, for example. The moisture can soak into the wall and cause mould to form.
“Some signs to look for include water tide marks on the windows and walls, which will stream, causing deterioration of decoration, discolouring of window frames and eventually - growth of black mould. All of these are a result of poor ventilation and air circulation.”
The expert also explained that one of the "most common areas" that condensation can occur is the bathroom. When running a bath or a shower, condensation is caused by the hot water. While extraction fans can alleviate some of the condensation, they don't always fully eliminate it.
He advised: “It is important to keep the bathroom door shut so that the moisture doesn't escape into other areas of your home. If it’s not too cold, you should also open a window.
"This allows the humid air to be released to outside and will stop the collection of condensation vapour on the cold windows and walls."
Mark also shared some knowledge on how to prevent certain types of damp around the home - using central heating. He explained: “Many people may think that the solution to damp is cranking up the central heating to dry it out. However, it isn’t as simple as that. Central heating won’t prevent damp by itself, but can help with certain types of damp.
"While using heat to combat condensation may increase energy costs, it is nothing compared to what you will end up paying to fix the problem."
Mark warned: “Energy bills are always one of a homeowner's biggest outgoings during the winter months, and whilst the above advice can contribute to higher energy usage, causing damage to your home with damp will cost you a lot more in the long run.”
Here are the top three ways, according to Mark, that a household can prevent certain types of damp using their central heating.
Keep rooms ventilated
Ventilating rooms can be as simple as opening a window for 15 minutes each morning. It's even better if you have windows that can be locked in a slightly open position too.
Mark warned: “Having your central heating on throughout the winter can cause condensation if ventilation is poor. Whilst most people tend to close their windows when the heating is on, this isn’t always ideal. A free flow of air is crucial.
“Despite wanting to heat a room, it’s important to let any moist air out to help create good airflow. Therefore, try to open windows periodically- ideally for around ten to fifteen minutes- to let cool air in and moist air out.”
For those wanting to know how to stop condensation on walls and ceilings in a particular room, consider fitting air bricks. These are bricks with lots of tiny holes in them and can be added to exterior walls, allowing air to pass under a suspended timber floor.
The bricks are traditionally made from clay, but are more commonly made of plastic now. Plastic bricks allow better airflow, and are less easily broken. This means that they will last longer, and prevent damp and moisture from damaging the floorboards.
Heat every room
In order to keep the damp at bay during the winter, it's a good idea to keep your home at a steady warm temperature. Damp happens when warm air hits cold walls, so by keeping your house warm the surfaces don't get cold enough to create condensation.
The boiler specialist said: “Heating every room can help you decrease build-up of damp. If one room is cold and the other warm, it will lead to cold spots.
“These rooms are more vulnerable to condensation and damp, therefore, try to heat every room as often as you can.”
Change heating temperature gradually
According to Mark, if the heating is blasted high and then turned off quickly, moist air is more likely to build up. He advised: “As dramatic temperature changes can make condensation worse, try adjusting the temperatures of your heating gradually - a couple of degrees every half an hour.”
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