A guide to condensation, damp and mould

Air in your home can in fact hold moisture - the warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. When moist air reaches cool surfaces - such as walls, ceilings, windows, and pipes - it turns back into water (condenses) making those surfaces damp.
Most homes will be affected by condensation at some point. It is the most common cause of damp; however, it is something that can be reduced or remedied without expensive works or treatments. 

Condensation occurs due to one or more of the following:

• Inadequate ventilation and a build-up of excessive moisture.
• Missing or incomplete insulation resulting in cold spots.
• Inadequate heating resulting in lower surface temperatures.

Mould will thrive with four key elements:

• Moisture
• Food such as wallpaper or emulsion paint
• Right temperature
• Oxygen

By dealing with the causes of condensation you will automatically deal with the problem of mould.

Common Household Moisture Producing Activities

Everyday activities add extra moisture to the air inside our homes. The list below gives you some idea of how much extra water you could be adding to the air in your home in a day: