signs of condensation

• Dampnessoccurringinwinterratherthansummer.

• Dampandblackmouldinthecornersofrooms,behindfurnitureandincupboards.

• Walls,ceilingsandcoldsurfaces,suchascoldwaterpipes,“sweat”withmoisture.

• Waterappearsontheinsideofwindows.

• Outsidewallsareaffectedratherthanwallsbetweenrooms.

• Clothesincupboardsanddrawershaveamustysmellandmildewonthem.

This leaflet explains what condensation is, how it can affect your health and the condition of your home, and what you can do to reduce it. Condensationhappensinallhomeswhenwarmmoistairmeetsacoldsurfaceandtinywaterdropletsdevelop.Themoremoistureintheair,themorewaterisproduced.

Everydayactivities,suchascooking,washingclothesandbathingcreatemoistureintheair.Thereisalwayssomemoistureintheairandwarmairholdsmoremoisturethancoldair.Younoticeitwhenyouseeyourbreathonacoldday,orwhenthemirrormistsoverwhenyouhaveabath.

Condensationoftenhappensbecausewarmdampairfromkitchensandbathroomsmovestocoolerareas,suchasbedrooms.Ithappensmoreincoldweather,evenifitisrainingordry.Lookforitincorners,onornearwindows,inorbehindwardrobesandcupboards.

how it effects youIfleftuncheckedanduntreated,condensationcanbecomeaseriousproblem.Toomuchcondensationwillmakeyourhomedamp.Housedustmitesandmouldgrowthbothoccurmoreoftenindampconditions,andtheseareassociatedwithallergicreactions.

Dampconditionscanalsocausedamagetoyourhome,suchascausingwindowstorustorrot,andplastertoperish,andinseriouscasescandamageelectrics.Yourdecorationscanbespoiltbydampandmouldgrowth.

condensation

KensingTon & Chelsea TMo, 292a Kensal Road, london, W10 5Be

0800 137 111

repairs@kctmo.org.uk

www.kctmo.org.uk

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is it condensation or a leak?Condensationiscausedbymoistureproducedinthehome,butitisnottheonlycauseofdamp.Itcanalsocomefrombuildingorplumbingleaksorrisingdamp.

signs of dampness from leaks• Itcanhappenanytimeofyear.

• Youcanseeadefinitedampareawithwaterstaining.

• Littleornoblackmouldappearsonthedamparea.Ifyoususpectthatdampnessinyourhomeiscausedbyaleakyoushouldreportittous.

Preventing condensation: your resPonsibilitieslooking after your home• Removemouldgrowthbyusingamouldand

mildewcleaningproduct(availablefrommostsupermarketsandDIYstores).MakesureyouuseaproductwhichhasaHealthandSafetyExecutiveapprovalnumber,andthatyoufollowthemanufacturer’sinstructions.

• Wipedowntheinsideofwindowsiftheybecomewetwithcondensation.

• Donotplacebedsandwardrobesagainstoutsidewallsasmouldismorelikelytogrowbehindfurniture.

• Don’tputtoomanythingsinwardrobesandcupboardsasitstopstheaircirculating.

• IfyourentahomemanagedbyKCTMO,reportanyrepairstous,includinganyproblemswithextractorfansandheatingsystems.

decorating• Whenyou

redecorateyourbathroomorkitchen,useapaintdesignedtobeusedintheserooms.

• Ifyouaredecoratingaroomwheremouldisaproblem,itisbesttoremoveanywallpaperandinsteaduseagoodqualityfungicidalpaint.

• Treatandremovethemouldbeforeredecorating-therearevariousproductsonthemarketthatwillhelp,suchasfungicidalproductsavailableinDIYstores.

• Useastainblockorsealertohelpstopmouldcomingback.

Reducing steam and moisture• Whencooking,coverpanswithlids,andkeep

thekitchendoorclosedtostopwetairfromcirculatingaroundyourflatorhouse.Makesureawindowisopenortheextractorfanison.

• Ifyouuseatumbledryermakesureitisventedsothattheairescapestotheoutside.

• Ifyouhavetodryclothesindoorsputtheminaroomandclosethedoor,leavingthewindowwideopenorfanon.

• Whenbathing,runcoldwaterintothebathfirst,andthenrunthehotwater.Thiscreateslesssteam.

heating your home• Heatallroomseveniftheyarenotbeingused

–radiatorswithThermostaticRadiatorValves(TRV’s)willgiveyougreatercontrolovertheheatfromeachindividualradiator.

• Ifyouhavecentralheating,usethethermostattosetthetemperaturetoacomfortablelevel(around18°cto21°c).Remember,turningthethermostatdownby1or2degreescansaveenergyandsaveyoumoney.

• Donotplacefurnitureinfrontofradiators,asthiswillstopthemfromheatingtheroom.

• Donotusetheheatingonahighsettingforshortperiodsoftime.Heatingyourhomeforalongertimeatalowertemperaturewillkeepyourhomewarmerandcostyouless.

• Donotuseportable‘LPG’(CalorGas)heaters.Theseproducealotofmoistureandarenotallowedinourhomesforhealthandsafetyreasons.

Ventilating your home• It’simportanttoallowplentyoffreshairintoyour

hometostoptheairindoorsbecomingstaleandhumid,whichisnotgoodforyourhealth.

• Alwayskeepasmallwindoworanairventopenwhenyouareathome.It’sbesttokeepairventsopenallthetime.

• Afteryou’vehadabathorshower,openthebathroomwindowuntilthesteamhascleared,orusetheextractorfanifyouhaveone.

• Whencooking,makesurethekitchendoorisclosedandeithertheextractorfanison(ifyouhaveone),orawindowisopen.

extractor fans• Someofourhomesarefittedwithextractor

fans.Thesecanquicklyremovedampairfromkitchensandbathrooms,wheremostmoistureisproduced.

• Extractorfansshouldbeusedwheneveryouarecookingorbathing.Afteryou’vefinishedinthebathroomorthekitchen,leavethefanonforabout20minutestomakesureallthesteamhascleared.

• Whenusinganextractorfankeepthewindowsintheroomclosed.Ifawindowisopenthefanwilldrawairinfromoutside,ratherthandrawingthedampairoutfromtheroom.Makesureyourcurtainsorblindsdon’tcoverthefan.

• Somefansswitchonandoffautomaticallyaccordingtotheamountofmoistureintheair.Donotturntheseoffatthepowerswitchastheyaredesignedtoworkwhentheyareneeded.Ifyoususpectthattheyarecomingonmoreorlessoftenthantheyshouldpleasereportthistous.

rePairs and imProvement works for tenants: our resPonsibilitiesInmostcases,ifyoufollowthestepsinthisleafletyouwillbeabletokeepcondensationundercontrol,anditwillnotbenecessaryforustocarryoutrepairs.

older and disabled tenantsIfyouareatenantover65yearsofage,oraredisabledwemaybeabletohelpyoutreatmouldinyourbathroom,toiletorkitchen.Pleasecontactustoarrangeaninspection.

We will consider carrying out works if:• Thereiswidespreadmouldgrowthinabedroom

orlivingroom.

• Youareatenant,andhavefollowedtheadviceinthisleafletandstillhaveverybadcondensationandmouldgrowth.

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0800 137 111 contactus@kctmo.org.uk

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Wecanhelpyouaccessthisinformationinanotherway,format,styleorlanguage.Contactusandwewilldoourbesttomeetyourneeds.

PRODUCEDBYCOMMUNICATIONS:EverycarehasbeentakentomakesurethatthisinformationiscorrectasatJuly2011.

Finished Reading Me? ReCyCle Me!

• Ifyouhavebadcondensationandmouldlikethisinalivingroomorbedroomcontactustoarrangeaninspection–wemayneedtocarryoutworks,whichcouldrangefromaprofessionalmouldclean,toinsulatingwallsorfittingextractorfans.

We will not carry out works:• Onsmallareasofmould.

• Inhallways,bathrooms,toiletsorkitchens.

• Ifyouhavesmallpatchesofmouldgrowthyouwillneedtoremoveityourselfusingcleaningproductsandanti-mouldpaints.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutcondensationorresponisibilitiesforrepairsinyourhome,contactusforadvice.

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