Dealing with damp and mould

Some homes suffer from damp, which can lead to mould. Mould is usually found in places where there is poor air flow and cold spots.

There are lots of reasons why a home can be damp but the most common cause is condensation.

This page features advice on how to prevent damp and mould in your home.

You can often avoid damp and mould by taking a few steps.

Tackling condensation

Condensation can be caused by:

  • too much moisture in the air, often created by steam from cooking and washing
  • not enough ventilation
  • extremes of temperature, for example a kitchen being very warm and a bedroom very cold.

Condensation can cause black mould on walls and furniture and mildew on clothes, curtains and other fabrics. It can even damage plasterwork and rot wooden window frames.

Here are some top tips to avoid condensation and mould:

  • When showering, bathing or cooking, open a window or trickle vent for at least 20 mins after
  • If you have extractor fans, use them – this is really important
  • If you can, dry your clothes outside
  • If you have to dry your clothes indoors, make sure you open a window when you’re at home
  • If you use a tumble dryer, vent it to the outside.

Mythbuster: You can dry clothes on a radiator. Just remember it creates a lot of moisture, so if you can put your clothes airer next to your radiator or open a nearby window

Tackling damp and mould

The most common cause of damp and mould is condensation and following the steps above can help to alleviate this.

 

Not all damp and mould is caused by condensation and sometimes the cause can be more serious, such as:

  • Leaking or blocked gutters, down pipes and overflows
  • A leaking roof from missing tiles or slates
  • Internal water leaks.

If you are worried your damp and mould could be serious you should contact us as soon as you can.

This infographic shows some of the different types of damp and mould and what their causes could be.

Download the infographic

If you do get mould in your home here are some tips on how to prevent and deal with it:

  • Dry your windows and window sills regularly
  • Use a mould treatment to clean any mould affected areas, such as bleach or mould spray – don’t try to remove mould without using a treatment product, as it will spread
  • After treatment, redecorate using a good-quality mould-resistant paint to help prevent the mould returning
  • Remove the cause of the damp. For example, if it has been due to a leak, dry out the affected area thoroughly.

Mythbuster: Ventilating your home will not let all of the heat out. Most of the heat in your home is stored in solid objects like walls, floors and furniture. Remember to keep vents open and open your windows regularly.

For more information on tackling damp and mould download this leaflet developed by Action for Warm Homes.

 

Remember, if you think your damp and mould could be the result of a more serious problem, contact us as soon as you can.

Common questions