10 tips to tackle condensation in your home

10 tips to tackle condensation in your home

4th March 2018 30 By Rachael Stray

Thanks to colder weather condensation makes a comeback in your home so I’m sharing some tips to help tackle this pesky problem.

With the Beast from the East hitting many of us here in the UK I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been cranking up the heating, closing every window and door with the hope of keeping warm and cosy. I’ve not been forgetting about reducing condensation though – have you?

Reducing  condensation in your home is important because if it isn’t treated it can lead to unsightly black mould to grow on your walls, curtains, furniture and even your clothes.

It can also cause some pretty nasty health issues too.

Following energy advice training last year I’m sharing some of this knowledge with you.

What is condensation?

Have you ever noticed droplets of water forming on the inside of your windows? This is condensation, and it can appear on your windows in your living room, bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms; as well as your walls.

Condensation on windows

Condensation on windows

The reason why it happens is all to do with the temperature both inside and outside the building and the amount of moisture in the air inside the property.

What are the signs to look out for?

If your home is suffering from condensation you’ll start to see signs of it very quickly which include:

  • Streaming windows
  • Wet walls
  • Damp areas on walls
  • Wallpaper peeling
  • Signs of mould growth
  • Musty smell on clothes in wardrobes.

Here’s 10 tips to tackle condensation:

  1. Keep your home well ventilated by opening windows even just a little bit. You should also make sure that the trickle vents in your windows (if you have them) are open as these allow additional airflow that will combat condensation.
  2. During the winter and at other cold times of the year try to maintain a constant temperature in your home. It’s cold air that causes the warm air to release moisture. If the air is all the same temperature then this can’t happen.Room temp
  3. After a bath or shower there will be excess moisture in the air. To stop condensation forming, the bathroom windows should be opened and extractor fans turned on. Try to keep the bathroom door shut as much as possible when having a bath or shower so the moisture doesn’t escape into other parts of your home.Bath
  4. When you’re cooking always turn the extractor fans on in the kitchen on a high power. This will extract any excess moisture from boiling pots and pans. If possible, open up the kitchen windows too for extra ventilation.
  5. Keep the lids on pots and pans while cooking so the moisture doesn’t escape from the pans and doing this also reduces cooking times too.
  6. Try to dry clothes outside where possible. If you can’t do this because of the weather then don’t put them on the radiator; use an airer instead in an enclosed room and keep the window open. If you use a non-condensing tumble dryer it’s important the ventilation pipe runs to the outside of your property.Drying clothes
  7. Elsewhere in your home leave a small gap between the walls and furniture to allow the air to move away from the bottom of the walls and circulate around the room. If air lingers between the furniture and walls it will condense onto walls and could eventually form into black mould.
  8. Your property’s airways such as airbricks and chimneys should be clear to allow airflow in and out of your home.
  9. Check your roof to see if there are any problems such as water leaking in.
  10. Check the guttering and drainpipes to make sure they are carrying the water away and there’s no damaged/blocked guttering or drainpipes causing the external wall to become soaking wet.

I’ve also created this Spark Video with handy tips to tackle condensation.

You can create your own Spark Videos with tips in a previous blog.
Tips to avoid damp & condensation

Pin this 👇🏻

Other useful posts for your home

Here’s 10 tips to keep your home cool in summer

If you’re worried about your energy bills I’ve got a post packed full of useful information.

Here’s 10 tips to tackle condensation in your home

Here’s 10 tips to stay warm at home this winter

And here’s some tips to sleep well in a heatwave

Have you got any tips to share? Let me know in the comments below.

Keep in touch

You can also find me on Twitter @rachael_stray
Or follow my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rachaelstrayblog/
You can see my random pictures on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rachys2011/
And see what I’m pinning on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rachaelstray/

CategoryFamily Personal development Recommendations Support and advice video
Tagsadvice condensation cooking health home mould shower tips warm water weather windows winter

30 Comments

Share your thoughts