Damp can be serious for both your home and your health. As well as increasing the risk of respiratory problems, it can also affect your immune system. And if you leave it too long, the more expensive it’s likely to become. So if you’re looking to get rid of damp in your property, here are our top 5 tips.
1. Diagnose the damp
Firstly, you need to know exactly what type of damp you have and the cause of it. As condensation is caused by warm, moist air meeting colder air on a cold surface, it’s usually more of a problem in winter months. Have you noticed your windows are soaked with water? This may lead to the appearance of dark mould or even decaying of the frames.
Penetrating damp is when water leaks through walls or gaps in window frames, doors, gutters, even bricks. It can be particularly troublesome for older properties without cavity wall insulation. However, even this can pose its own issues if the material starts to take in moisture from the outside and pass it to inner walls.
Rising damp is when water gets sucked up from the ground and through bricks, mortar, or sandstone. If this is the case, you’ll notice ‘tide marks’, and you’ll need professional advice.
2. Prevent the damp from returning
Once you know the type of damp you have, you can work out how to stop it from returning. Is it caused by outside moisture coming in? Or by inside moisture not being able to get out?
To stop water coming in, you can:
- Stay on top of home maintenance to prevent it from getting worse
- Check your roof after wet and windy weather
- Clear gutters of blocked leaves, and replace damaged ones
- Seek professional advice if you notice crumbling mortar
- Replace old, leaking windows
- Try to keep your heating at a constant low level, rather than letting temperatures rise and fall
To allow water to escape, you can:
- Ventilate rooms properly and regularly, particularly after cooking or showering (even though it’s tempting in winter, the moisture needs to be released somewhere)
- Use an extractor fan when cooking
3. Clean up damp and mould
Wipe moisture away with a soft, dry cloth and keep your eye out for mould. If you do find any, remember to:
- Wear gloves and goggles
- Keep windows open, but doors closed during this process to prevent any spores spreading
- Dry the area with a rag or cloth, then dispose of it, rather than reusing
- Use a vacuum to clean up any spores on the floor
If there’s been a storm, get in touch with your insurance company first and follow their advice.
4. Buy a good dehumidifier
Investing in a good dehumidifier can help extract water from the air in your home. To find the right one for you:
- Check reviews before purchasing, to make sure it works well
- Make sure the capacity is enough for your property and the scale of the problem, but don’t go overboard if you don’t need to
- Work out where you need to use it: refrigerants and desiccants work well in heated rooms, whilst desiccants are solely better in unheated rooms like garages or cellars
- Consider the weight and size if you’re likely to be moving it around: will it be noisy? Does it have castors?
5. Use your dehumidifier properly
Once you’ve found the right one, it’s just as important to make sure you’re using it effectively by keeping it:
- Away from corners: ideally, they need to be placed 30cm from the wall so that the air can circulate
- Central: try not to seal it off from your other rooms so the dehumidifier can draw moisture from across the property
- Clean: prevent any dirt clogs by regularly cleaning out the filter. Be sure to check the manufacturer instructions first so you don’t cause any damage
- Empty: once full, your dehumidifier will stop extracting water so stay on top of it for the best results. Make sure you’re cleaning, drying, and emptying according to manufacturer instructions
We hope you found these tips useful. But, remember to seek professional advice if your damp problem is serious.
