HEATING your home is the obvious thing to do when the weather changes in the winter months – but it could be causing mould and damage to your property.
But simple things can be done to ensure your house stays dry and warm, according to damp-proof experts.
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Tim Fenner at Timberwise, which specialises in property care, says some things as easy as not drying your clothes on the radiator can make a big difference.
He told Bristol Live: “Condensation is a real problem, and it’s by far the most common form of dampness in homes in the UK. Because of the weather we have it can be difficult to keep the inside of a home warm and dry.
“Especially in winter when people are drying their clothes and trying to keep the costs of heating down and so they keep the house cold and turn on the heating only when necessary.
“The heating goes off and the house cools down. The water that has evaporated when it was warm had to go somewhere and it went into the atmosphere of the house.
“As the house cools down the water condenses in areas that begin to get damp, which leads to mould.
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“The warmer the air the more moisture it can hold, so it’s a particular problem in the winter when people start using their central heating.”
A damp home is the perfect environment for mould to grow on the walls and surfaces.
Damp is commonly caused by humidity, which can occur for many reasons, from weeks of rain outside to constantly having clothes washing, cooking or clothes drying in the home.
It’s also a result of condensation, particularly in the bathroom, or weaknesses in the home’s infrastructure, such as a leak or lack of insulation or ventilation.
Mould appears slowly as black, white or green patches on the walls, ceilings or tiles. It might smell damp and musty, making the home uncomfortable.
Tim continued: “It’s all about ventilating a property.
“One of the best bits of advice I can give you is to open a window at the front and the back of your house for ten minutes a day when the heating is on. You need to let out that moisture-laden air.”
Tim added: “A warm and draught-proof home is sometimes the worst for mould, and sometimes having a bit of a draft is actually a good thing.
“It’s not the end of the world to have a bit of a draught in your house.”
I woke up to find my son’s Xmas presents caked in MOULD from my damp flat
