Damp and mould

Once you have photographed the area, wash it down using a mould and mildew spray as soon as possible - do not wait for us to attend. This will help reduce the risk of mould increasing in your home and damaging your belongings.

Make sure that you read the instructions for using these products safely.

Don’t worry - we will still be able to properly assess your home from your photographs.

Once we attend, we will look at your photographs and inspect your property to understand what is causing the issue.

We will also look at what we can do to stop the damp and mould coming back.

This might include chemical cleaning or specialist treatments, increasing ventilation or addressing any property defects.

We will also ask you about any medical conditions or health problems so we can understand how the issue might be affecting you.

The average family produces approximately 27 pints of moisture per day. The moisture in the air gets left on surfaces in colder parts of the house, resulting in water running down the windows. As with moisture from construction, it can sometimes cause mould on walls and ceilings, especially in unventilated corners behind cupboards and wardrobes. If allowed to persist, condensation and mould can damage clothes, bedding, floor coverings, decorations and the home itself. Next to shrinkage, condensation is the most common problem in newly constructed homes.

Tips for helping reduce condensation and mould:

• Adequate heating – air is like a sponge, the warmer it is, the more moisture it will hold, keeping it off the surfaces

• Adequate ventilation – keeping the vents open on your windows and using extractor vents in the kitchen and bathrooms, even leaving them once you have left the room, removes the excess moisture in the air and provides fresh air, resulting in better indoor air quality. Using an extractor vent costs as little as 3 pence per week to run.

(Please note if your windows do not have air vents, as a result of a planning condition, as they are near a main road, please ensure you have your kitchen/bathroom humidistat extractor fans switched on and if the property has a positive air ventilation system that this is working. Ensure that the doors within the property have a gap at the bottom, between the door and floor covering to allow ventilation to flow if they are shut).

The following guidelines will help reduce these risks, particularly during the drying-out period:

• A low heating level should always be maintained during the drying-out period. Even when this period is over, it is advisable to maintain the temperature at a low level or set the time clock, so your home has preheated before you return. A house continually occupied or maintained at a warm temperature is less conducive to generating condensation

• Do not use portable gas heaters instead of the installed heating system. These supplementary heaters create a great deal of water vapour when burning

• Tumble dryers should be self-condensing or vented externally

• Keep ventilators open and try to safely leave windows ajar or ensure the air vents on your windows are open if you have that type of window

• You will need much more ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom as more steam is produced in these areas. Your home has an extractor fan or hood, and ductwork from the kitchen and bathroom will operate when required. You must ensure that the isolator switches for these systems are always left on. Additionally, the fans should be left running until any noticeable vapour has cleared

• Cover pans when cooking to reduce steam

• Place hot pans on heatproof mats only. The kitchen worktops are not designed to withstand hot pans and will be damaged

• Avoid drying clothes indoors over radiators.

If damp patches appear in the kitchen, bathroom or wardrobes, it can be a sign that you have not ventilated sufficiently during use. Open the windows or doors, allowing each room to dry out. Wipe away any mould that has appeared with bleach or water solution. You may need to retouch the paintwork.

Condensation and, in very cold scenarios, ice can form on the external pane of some modern glass units. This is a sign that your new windows are doing the job you bought them for, to retain more heat inside the home and to save money on heating bills. External condensation will disappear as the day warms up.

In cold weather, you may notice moisture on the underside of the felt beneath your roof tiles. This is due to any warm, moist air from your home passing into the roof space and settling on the cold surface of the felt and timbers. As the roof space is ventilated/breathable, this should gradually disperse without any issues arising, and following the general tips on reducing condensation will help keep any moist air that does escape into the roof down to a minimum.