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Reducing condensation in your home

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Reducing condensation in your home

Condensation is a major cause of damp and mould. It’s caused when warm air meets a cold surface such as a window or wall. Water droplets form and the damp conditions cause mould to grow. 

Common signs of condensation include:  

  • water droplets on windows and walls  
  • walls and surfaces that feel damp to the touch  
  • peeling wallpaper  
  • black mould starting to form, often in corners, behind furniture or around windows 

Steps you can take to reduce condensation 

A few simple steps can significantly reduce condensation and the resulting mould. 

Keep your home warm 

Condensation is worse in the winter months. It’s important to keep your home warm by turning up your thermostat to at least 18 degrees. 

If you’re worried about money, you can:  

Cooking 

Lots of steam is produced during cooking or when you boil a kettle. To reduce condensation, you should: 

  • keep lids on boiling pans 
  • turn on the extractor fan 
  • not overfill your kettle 
  • open a window 
  • close the door to stop steam from travelling to other parts of your home 

Bathing 

When you have a bath or shower you should close the bathroom door and turn on your extractor fan. If you do not have one, open the window. 

Use a dry cloth to wipe down your shower, walls and mirror to remove water droplets. Do not dry the cloth on a radiator. 

Washing clothes 

When you wash clothes in a washing machine, you should close the door to that room. 

If you need to dry clothes on radiators, make sure the room is well ventilated. If you can, dry them outside, use a tumble dryer or dry them in a well-ventilated room with an airer or clothes horse. 

Furniture 

If possible, move furniture away from walls so air can circulate properly.  

Decorating  

Use bathroom and kitchen paint for these rooms. This means you can wipe down walls easily and the paint will not peel.