A damp house is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Not only does it compromise your property’s integrity, but it also poses serious mould and health risks to you and your family.
If you’re currently struggling with moisture problems, you’re not alone. According to the English Housing Survey, approximately 4% of the 25 million households in England experience damp issues in their home.
Living in a damp property can be unpleasant, but there are several ways to treat or prevent moisture buildup even without professional help.
Below we’ll share common signs of dampness to watch out for and the most effective ways to deal with the issue.
Dealing with damp at home can be challenging. But with these simple damp-proofing techniques, you can keep your living space comfortably dry and free from pestering moisture.
What Causes Damp Inside Your Home?
Like many household issues, understanding the root of the problem is the first step to eradicating them. So, what causes damp spreading in your home?
Water condensation is the most common culprit behind damp buildup in your property. It happens when warm moist air, especially in wet areas like the kitchen and bathroom, comes into contact and is deposited into your walls, ceiling, and windows.
Here are some of the main sources of damp-causing condensation:
Poor Heating Systems
The temperature inside your home can significantly impact the severity of condensation and damp buildup. That’s one of the reasons a properly installed heating system is so vital.
The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. Conversely, cold air can lower surface temperatures around the property, increasing the amount of condensation.
Consistent and adequate heating is crucial to optimise indoor temperature and prevent warm moist air from permeating.
Poorly Designed Ventilation
Like your home heating, a faulty ventilation system can lead to condensation issues that could harm your property.
Good airflow expels warm moist air from your home. With poor ventilation, however, excess moisture in the air is easily deposited into cool surfaces, such as wall interiors and areas near the windows.
Problematic Plumbing
Damp problems are usually found near bathrooms and kitchens because these areas are where the most moisture comes from. Simple daily activities, such as washing, cooking, and showering, already contribute the most moisture. Add problematic plumbing to that and you have a serious damp issue on your hands.
Damp resulting from leaking water and waste pipes can damage your walls and ceilings inside and outside. These leaks cause wet patches on your property that stay damp regardless of the weather outside.
Penetrating Moisture From Outdoors
Of course, indoors is only one part of the problem. Liquid from rain and snow may also penetrate your home through cracked roofs, faulty gutters, and deteriorating mortars causing damp formation.
If you ever notice brown stains and patches on your exterior walls, ceilings, or near chimney breasts, it may be time for some inspection and repairs.
Rising dampness is another moisture issue that happens when groundwater moves up and finds its way through your property’s brickwork. Older buildings are generally more susceptible to this hitch because they usually have aged damp-proof courses (DPCs).
How to Identify Damp at Home?
It’s important to spot signs of condensation as early as possible to lower the risk of property damage. So, here are some common damp signs you should watch out for in your home:
Mould Growth
Mould is perhaps the sign many of us are most familiar with. If you spot slightly fuzzy stains or specks of black, green, brown, or orange spreading in your home, you most likely have a damp problem.
Mould can grow anywhere there’s enough moisture and warmth. It risks you and your family’s health by spreading spores that can cause allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and, in some cases, produce dangerous toxins.
Damp Stains and Spots
Look for brown, dark, or yellow discolourations on the walls, ceilings, and floorboards. If your walls feel wet and cold to touch, you may be looking at an early sign of condensation problems.
Tide marks on walls, rotting skirting boards, and salty deposits may also indicate rising dampness.
Another good indicator of a moisture issue is if your wallpapers or paint starts peeling or flaking from the walls. This happens because the water dissolves the adhesive, causing the sheet to fall off over time.
Musty Damp Odours
Have you ever walked into one of your house’s rooms to be greeted by a stale unpleasant smell? That old smell, as it turns out, is a telltale sign of mould and mildew infestation.
To identify where the odour comes from, look for enclosed spaces with little light and space for air to circulate normally.
Warping and Squeaking Floor
A warped and squeaky floor could suggest moisture issues in your flooring. Wood swells when exposed to liquids and shrinks when it dries.
High humidity reduces the space between boards, making them rub together and producing squeaky noises. Low humidity, on the other hand, can pull the boards farther apart and away from their original position.
7 Easy Ways to Resolve Damp and Mould Issues at Home
Now you know the causes and how to spot damp problems, how do you deal with them?
Thankfully, there are simple ways to manage mould and condensation without breaking the bank or calling in professionals.
Minimise moisture and save your home from costly repairs with these seven easy damp-proofing tips:
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Keep Your Home Adequately Warm
As simple as keeping your home adequately warm could make a massive difference to your home’s moisture levels.
Try to maintain a balmy 19 to 22 degrees Celsius temperature for your kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Bedrooms, on the other hand, should be kept at around 16 to 20 degrees.
Ensure a consistent temperature and avoid sudden rises and dips that contribute to developing more condensation. Ideally, you should never let your indoor temperatures drop below 14 degrees Celsius.
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Reduce the Moisture Your Make Everyday
Most excess moisture inside your home comes from your daily chores. Changing your habits, particularly in activities involving liquids, can make all the difference in keeping your living space dry.
Drying your laundry outdoors, keeping doors closed when cooking, covering cooking pans with lids, and opening bedroom doors when sleeping can all help reduce moisture buildup.
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Invest In an Extractor Fan
An extractor fan is a practical device that removes moist or stale air from constantly wet spaces like your kitchen, utility room, and bathroom.
When taking a shower, you can turn on the extractor to suck out the steam as soon as it’s created. The fan draws fresh air from other parts of your home to replace the humid air and keep everything dry.
Ideally, you’d want mechanical extract ventilators for your bathrooms and kitchen because they work well with higher humidity levels.
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Set Up a Dehumidifier to Help Ventilate Your Home
A dehumidifier is another handy tool to manage humidity indoors by removing excess moisture in the air. It’s especially useful in the colder months when condensation levels increase inside your home.
When choosing a dehumidifier, opt for smart models with remote control and auto-adjust functions based on current humidity levels. You’d be surprised at how well these devices improve air quality indoors!
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Use a Damp Proof Paint and Wallpaper
Homes prone to condensation can greatly benefit from moisture-proof paint and wallpapers. If your property is on the older side with ageing brickwork, it may be time to invest in a much-needed repaint and redesign.
Damp-proof paints are silicone-based and water-repellent, preventing moisture from seeping inside the walls. If you prefer wallpapers, choose splash-proof vinyl, which is easy to wipe clean.
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Open Windows From Time to Time
Good ventilation is crucial to prevent dampness problems. And it’s pretty straightforward to carry out, as it usually only means opening your windows every now and then to invite fresh air inside.
Reserve your cleaning and home improvement projects for drier days when you can safely open your windows.
Painting, mopping, cleaning windows, and other activities that create a lot of moisture typically result in excessive condensation in wet weather.
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Leave Room For Your Furniture to Breathe
Avoid placing your furniture near external walls as they can affect the airflow and encourage mould to thrive. A good rule of thumb is to keep your furnishings at least 50 millimetres to boost air circulation around your home.
Also, don’t crowd your wardrobes and cupboards with too many items, as this can dampen the air inside and lead to wet and mould problems.
How to Deal With Damp or Mould Stains On Walls?
The last thing any homeowner would want is an unsightly damp or mould stain diminishing their home’s appeal. Removing them can be tricky, but if you do it properly, you can restore your household to its former beauty.
First, you want to treat the affected area with a mould-removing treatment. This type of solution cleans and disinfects the mouldy surface, eliminating visible mould and preventing it from spreading further.
To remove the water or mould stain left behind on the wall, mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in a cup of warm water. Using a sponge, scrub the affected area with your solution until thoroughly clean.
For stubborn stains, mix around 100ml of chlorine bleach into your initial dishwashing liquid and hot water mixture. Wearing a protective mask, eyewear, and gloves, wipe the stained surface gently and allow the solution to sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing.
Final Thoughts
Damp and mouldy complaints have been growing recently. With the worsening climate situation and increased rainfall in the UK, you can expect a higher risk of dampness and mould on your property in the coming years.
That said, managing damp and mould problems can be relatively simple. Follow these seven easy damp-proofing steps and rest easy knowing your home is safer from mould.
