Many homes suffer from damp from time to time, especially when the weather gets colder. One of the most common causes of damp is condensation, however, many people are unaware of how much their lifestyle factor can affect the moisture levels in their home. With some care and attention, however, you can fight back, and help to protect your property.
Let’s have a look at 12 ways you can help to protect your home from damp:
The Water In Your Home
It might sound very obvious, however, the water in the air of your home equates to the damp in your home. Many people don’t realize that the water they use in their home often relates to the damp issues in their home. If you have a bath or shower, the moist air has to go somewhere. This means it is essential for you to use adequate ventilation in your bathroom to help prevent black mould from condensation. If you don’t have ventilation, it’s recommended that you open the window to allow the moisture to escape. You should also close the bathroom door after a shower, this can stop the damp spreading through your home. Rather than putting the towels to dry in the bathroom, dry them outside or on a towel rack.
Cooking
Cooking is also a common way for water to get in the air. When cooking you should open your window and close the kitchen door, if you have one. Ventilation is really key. Another great tip is to put the lids on your pans, it’s surprising to learn how much water can escape, especially when boiling water for potatoes or pasta. Other areas of concern include the tumble dryer and self-defrosting freezers and fridges. If you wash your floor, make sure you dry it rather than air dry it.
More People Means More Damp
You need to be aware that more people in your home can lead to more damp. Humans produce a lot of water. The average human breathes and sweats out around eight pints of water every twelve hours. If you have more people in a living space than what’s ideal it can lead to damp issues. You need to really vigilant with letting dampness out and letting the right amount of air in. Open windows or a ventilation system.
Avoid Drying Clothes Indoors
If you can you need to avoid drying clothes indoors. If that isn’t possible, use a tumble drier that is designed to vent outdoors, dry your clothes in the bathroom with the door closed and window wide open, or use a drying rack in the coolest room of the house. You may find that the clothes take longer to dry, but you will most definitely be at less risk of an issue with humidity and damp.
Look At Ongoing Issues
If you are aware of any ongoing issues in your home with damp, it can be well worth investing in a dehumidifier. However, you need to make sure you empty it regularly, if you’re worried about the waste, use the water on your garden. This is a great way to learn how much moisture is in the natural air of your home. It’s also wise to maintain the measures that help protect against damp, like your HVAC system that has been designed to ensure ventilation. With essential air duct cleaning you can make sure that this appliance ticks over as expected and doesn’t give you a false sense of security.
Limit House Plants
Although house plants look nice and have health benefits, they can also lead to added condensation. They release around 0.5 letters of water a week for medium-sized plants. If you want to have house plants in your home, limit the problem by opening windows after watering, or make sure the plants are in well-ventilated areas.
Pets
You need to think about pets in your home, just like humans in your home animals can contribute to the condensation in your home. Fish tanks are also a massive contributor to condensation and damp issues so make sure you make the effort to regularly air out any room that has a fish tank, or better yet, make sure it is well-ventilated.
Air Flow Is Important
In the battle against damp, airflow is essential for you to think about. This means you should avoid over-filling cupboards or wardrobes, and don’t stack your belongings against the walls. You mean to ensure there is space for the air to flow freely around your home. If you cut a hole in the back panel of your wardrobe it will help. If you can try to put it positioned against internal partitioning walls.
Keep Your Home Warm
Warmth helps to counteract damp. If you can, try to leave the heating on at a low level. If you keep your home warm by installing insulation in a crawl space, and draught-proofing it will also help. Make sure it is installed by a professional and doing incorrectly or using the wrong insulation can lead to more damp problems.
Look At The Outside Of Your Home Too
You need to be aware that what’s happening outside can affect the inside. Raised pathways and flowerbeds that are higher than the level of your damp course and close to your home can lead to damp coming into your home. Over time it is really easy for this to happen unnoticed. So, if you know you have a damp problem but are struggling to find the cause, it may be outside rather than in.
Always Complete Maintenance With Haste
If you stay away from the maintenance of home you might be asking for trouble. Your home is certainly one of the biggest investments that you are likely to have, meaning you should look after it. Regularly check your roof for leaks, missing tiles or an unsound chimney, ensure your guttering is clear of debris, or ice as the weather gets worst. You should also make sure your tanks and pipes are insulated to prevent freezing. One of the first things you should learn about your home is where the shut off valve is in case of problems.
While damp can most definitely be annoying, paying close attention to your lifestyle, ensuring your property is well-maintained, and acting quickly can help you to protect your home from it.
