Condensation is a common problem, especially in the colder months when we close the windows, turn the heating up and dry the washing indoors. Leaving some windows in your home open slightly helps ventilate the rooms and removes the warm wet air so it doesn’t stay on the cold walls of your home.

The condensation you see on your windows every morning can build up on your walls too and this causes the mould. It also grows in places where the air is still, like the corners of rooms, behind furniture or inside wardrobes.

What will SHAL do?

If you report a problem with condensation and mould we’ll investigate the cause(s) and explore the solutions with you. We may need to try different things at different times to understand the cause and find the right solution. We’ll:

• Inspect the insulation levels and upgrade them if required
• Renew the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) if it’s not up-to-date and complete the recommendations if possible
• Check the ventilation in your home and either install or upgrade the extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen
• Provide information and advice on how you can reduce condensation and mould

What can I do?

One of the easiest solutions is to produce less moisture. However, we know that’s easier said than done in busy family homes. For example:

• Keep lids on pans when cooking to reduce the steam. The warm damp air can move into other rooms and cause condensation and mould elsewhere
• Try and dry clothes outdoors and not on radiators (although that’s easier said than done). Using an airer and ventilating the room will help
• If you have a tumble dryer make sure it’s vented outside and ventilate the room it’s in. Close the door to the room so the warm damp air doesn’t move into other rooms and cause condensation and mould elsewhere
• Aquariums or fish tanks can produce excess moisture in the air. Make sure they’re covered with the correct lids that contain the warm air. Also, move tanks away from windows and leave space for air to ventilate around it

Let damp air out and fresh air in

• Use the extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom. Some fans continue to run after they’ve been “turned off” and keep going until they no longer detect damp air. They don’t use as much electricity as you think
• Keeping the bathroom door closed and the window open after a bath/shower can help too
• Leaving some windows (and the trickle vents) open slightly helps ventilate the home. This removes the warm damp air so it doesn’t condensate in the “cold spots”
• You always need to make sure you remove mould regularly using specialist products and continue to clean the area to prevent it coming back

Extractor fans

We install Envirovent extractor fans in all new bathrooms and kitchens as standard.  We also install them in homes that experience problems with condensation and mould, replacing older ineffective extractor fans.  They also have great information and advice on how to control mould before it controls you.