Dampness in homes is a common problem, especially during cold and damp weather conditions. The most common causes of dampness are condensation. Symptoms include discoloured ceilings, cold walls, black speckled marks on walls, curling wallpaper, and flaking paint. It can sometimes be noticed behind furniture such as a sofa or bed where they are located close to an outside wall restricting the airflow around them. The problem can be made worse by drying clothes in the property without proper ventilation.
To reduce dampness in your home during cold weather, you can try the following:
Maintain a consistent room temperature of around 20°C.
Keep the humidity between 30% and 60%. Humidity and room temperature meters are readily available from DIY stores or online stockists.
Let dry air in and moisture out.
Here are some additional tips to reduce humidity in your home:
Ventilate your home by opening windows and doors to improve air circulation.
Avoid drying clothes in the property by using a clothes airer. A condenser tumble dryer could help because it captures water from the drying clothes in a water tank.
Move furniture and beds away from outside walls to allow for increased airflow.
Lag exposed water pipes to reduce condensation around the pipe.
A dehumidifier can help by removing moisture from the air.
Use a fan to circulate the air around the room, which helps to remove moisture from the air.
Fix any leaks in your home. Leaks can add to the amount of moisture in your home.
