Condensation or Damp? How to help Tenants Manage during the Winter Months.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a Victorian Semi or a newly built development, condensation can have a huge impact on the property, the tenant and the landlord. 

The problem may start off quite small, but it can quickly escalate if not dealt with correctly and cause longer-lasting problems. These can include damp and mould, which can damage walls, furniture, clothing and subsequently become detrimental to one’s health.

This mini guide help understand the causes of condensation, how to prevent it, and what to do to keep mould and damp away.

What causes Condensation?

Condensation occurs when warm air collides with cold surfaces, or when there’s too much humidity the dwelling. This is especially common in winter, when the central heating system is used more frequently.

While condensation is rarely a problem in the summer, the amount of water in the air (otherwise known as the humidity) inside our homes is higher during the colder months. This is because we tend to have the heating turned up high and the windows closed. That’s why condensation is a bigger problem during the autumn and winter months, as it’s no longer confined to the bathroom. When the outside temperature drops, water can start to appear on windows and walls.

Everyday activities like cooking, showering, and drying clothes can release warm moisture into the air inside the house. When moisture-packed warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, it cools down quickly and releases water, which turns into liquid droplets. These droplets sit on the cold surface.

If condensation isn’t dealt with immediately it can go on to cause black mould to start growing on walls, ceilings, and around windows. This type of mould is unpleasant and can lead to health issues including sinus problems, skin rashes, and even bronchitis.

How to deal with condensation?

• reduce the amount of moisture produced in the first place by keeping lids on pans when cooking, drying clothes outside when possible, and if using a tumble dryer, making sure it’s vented to the outside

• ventilate so the moist air leaves the house – always use the extractor fan when cooking, showering or bathing, leave any window vents open, and do not block off any other vents

• make sure air can circulate by leaving gaps between furniture and walls

• try to avoid cold spots – if there’s a gap between your wall insulation and your loft insulation, for example, try to get this fixed as it will attract condensation and possibly mould

• consider adding more ventilation – this could be a new external vent in a problem corner, a new extractor fan, or even a whole house ventilation system if you need it

Is there a long-term solution to condensation?

The only real way to avoid condensation in the long-term is to invest wisely in both ventilation and insulation.

Ventilation is key to keeping condensation at bay. It’s impractical to keep windows open throughout the winter, so it’s worth having extractor fans installed in the bathroom and kitchen. 

In addition to ventilation, the insulation can be improved. in your home to keep the temperature at which the moisture in the air turns into beads of water (the dew point). Single-glazed windows may also be part of the problem. Single-glazed windows are a lot colder inside than double-glazed ones, so are likely to attract condensation. Double-glazing is still one of the optimum options to improve insulating a property.

Look at the options available for domestic landlords and the Green Homes Grant Scheme.