Damp, mould and condensation

• Is there a damp patch on your walls or ceiling which gets worse when it rains? This might be penetrating damp, caused by water seeping through from outside. You need to report this to us.
• Can you see a ‘tidemark’ running along the bottom of a wall on the ground floor of your home? This could be rising damp. You need to report this to us.
• Is there an area that is wet to the touch and which stays damp, regardless of the weather outside? This could be a plumbing leak, especially if it is in your kitchen or bathroom. You need to report this to us. An uncontrollable leak is an emergency repair – see our current repairs timescales for more information.

If you are in any doubt, please contact us.

• Excess condensation or damp can cause water to sit on surfaces such as ceilings, walls and floors. This can cause damage like flaking paintwork, peeling wallpaper and mould. If you notice mould, it is important that it is removed as it can spread quickly and be harmful to your health if not treated.
• Can you see black spots on your skirting, windows, walls or ceilings? This could be mould – please call us for advice.

If you are in any doubt, please contact us.

Mould can spread quickly and be harmful to your health if not treated. It is important that it is removed when you spot it.

• Small areas of mould (up to the size of an A4 piece of paper approximately 30cm x 20cm) can be removed with a clean cloth and a white vinegar spray.
• White vinegar can be used safely on most surfaces and will penetrate porous materials to kill mould.
• If you find mould on clothing, you can wash this with hot water and detergent. If you find mould on upholstery you may be able to treat with a cleaning solution including white vinegar. Please check any care labels before treating.

If mould returns after you have removed it or you are unable to remove it, please report it straight away so that we can arrange an inspection to identify the cause of the issues you are experiencing and work together to resolve any problems as quickly as possible.

• When you report mould in your home, we will arrange to inspect and then treat the issue.
• After we have treated the mould, we will ask you to keep checking the affected area for at least a week. If the mould returns, please let us know.
• If the mould has not returned, you can redecorate. We recommend that you choose wallpaper paste or paint containing a fungicide.
• Help prevent mould in the future, by following our tips to cut condensation.

• Can you see water droplets on windows, walls or windowsills? This is condensation. See our tips to help you cut condensation in your home.
• Does it feel cold and moist in parts of your home where there is little air movement – such as in the corner of a room, in a cupboard, behind furniture or under a work surface? This is condensation. See our tips to help you cut condensation in your home.

If you are in any doubt, please contact us.

To cut condensation in our home, we need to look for ways to prevent warm and moist air meeting cold surfaces. Here are some easy ways to control the amount of moisture in our homes.

• Keep lids on pans when you are cooking. This cuts steam in the kitchen and uses less energy, too.
• If you have access, drying clothes outside is best. If you need to dry clothes indoors, you can cut condensation by opening a window slightly or using an extractor fan.
• If you use a tumble dryer, make sure it is vented through an open window or outside wall to stop warm and moist air spreading through your home. If your dryer has a built-in condenser, make sure the filter is clean and clear.
• While you are cooking or taking a bath or shower, open a window or use the extractor fan and keep the door closed to remove steam. Leave the air circulating and the door shut for 20 minutes after you have finished.
• Trickle vents are the small openings in window frames. These are designed to provide constant ventilation to remove water vapour. Leave them open when room are occupied, even in the winter when your heating is on.
• Moving sofas and other furniture slightly away from walls, helps air circulate and reduces the potential for condensation and mould.

If you spot condensation on a surface, wipe it away with a dry, clean cloth or towel.

To cut condensation in our home, we need to look for ways to prevent warm and moist air meeting cold surfaces. Here are some tips to help reduce those cold spots.

• Keeping your home warm helps to prevent condensation forming on cold walls, floors and ceilings. Try to prevent the temperature dropping below 15C to reduce condensation. Setting your thermostat to between 18-21C will help keep you and your home warm.
• In very cold weather it is better to leave the heating on during the day, to keep temperatures constant and avoid cold spots.
• If your home has storage heaters, make sure that you know how to use the controls to stay warm and improve energy efficiency. In colder weather, turning ‘input’ up, will store more heat. ‘Output’ controls how quickly that heat is released the following day. Turn ‘output’ lower while you’re asleep or out of the home, to keep energy bills down and remember to set the ‘input’ today, for the heat you need tomorrow. Read our guide to storage heaters, here.

For advice on your controls call us on 0800 048 8955

• If your home has a heat pump it will come on when your home gets cold. You can control how warm you’d like your home to be, using your thermostat. You don’t need to worry about timing it to go off when you’re out.

For advice on your controls call us on 0800 048 8955

• Curtains help keep your home warm. Opening them in the morning and closing them at dusk will let warmth in and keep the cold out.
• Moving sofas and other furniture away from radiators helps heat move around your home more efficiently.

If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, speak to your provider to find out about any help that’s available. For useful contacts and helpful hints, visit the Keep Well & Warm area of our website and for free and confidential money advice and support to help with the cost of living, talk to our Employment and Money Advice team or drop into one of our Community Hubs.

Good ventilation is the key to a healthy home. Each of us will produce around 11 pints of moisture every day, by boiling kettles, cooking, washing dishes and even breathing!

Improvements like cavity wall insulation, double glazing and draught-proofing help keep our homes comfortable and can cut energy bills. They also reduce natural ventilation, meaning the moisture we produce is trapped, causing condensation and eventually mould.

PIV units push air around your home to create a fresh and healthy environment for you and your family. They draw the moisture out of rooms and circulate clean air. As well as controlling humidity, these units can significantly improve the health of asthma sufferers and people with other respiratory problems.

When do we fit PIV units?

PIV units can be fitted if it is believed that they are a suitable remedy for an ongoing issue with damp, mould or condensation. Depending on the layout of your home, it is sometimes necessary to fit an extractor fan as well as or in place of a PIV unit.

Read our guide to PIV units, here.