Condensation information

There is always some moisture in the air, even if you cannot see it. When moist air hits a cold surface it cannot hold it and tiny drops of water appear. You can see this when the mirror mists up when you have a bath. This is condensation...

Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather

It appears on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air. Look for it in corners, on or near windows, in or behind wardrobes and cupboards and in rarely used rooms. Condensation can lead to mould which can contribute to asthma and other respiratory problems.

Care about Condensation

1 Produce Less Moisture

  • Cover pans when cooking;
  • Dry washing outdoors, whenever possible, or over the bath with the door closed and the window open;
  • Vent any tumble dryers outside, or buy a self-condensing type. Drying clothes in an un-vented tumble dryer produces a massive 10 pints of water!!

2 Ventilate

  • Keep a small window ajar or trickle ventilator open;
  • Ventilate kitchen and bathrooms when in use, by opening windows or use a humidistat-cont-rolled electric fan. These come on automatically when the air becomes humid, and are cheap to run;
  • When having a bath or shower, keep doors closed to prevent moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms. Having a bath produces two pints of moisture!
  • Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes, and where possible position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.

3 Insulate and Draught proof

Condensation occurs in cold spots. Insulating your loft, draught proofing windows and doors and installing cavity wall insulation will reduce cold spots...and make your home cheaper to heat.

4 Heat more efficiently

Try to avoid cold areas in the home. It is better to heat your whole home to a lower temperature rather than heat one room to a high temperature. Condensation often effects the rooms you are not heating, for example, a spare bedroom rather than where you are making the moisture. This is because they are colder.

Can we help?

You may be eligible for a grant, up to £1,000, to help pay to keep your home warm and condensation free. The WARM FRONT SCHEME is Government funded and managed by gas and electricity suppliers, TXU Energi. This scheme is available to tenants in receipt of Income Support and other benefits. Over 60s receiving benefits can qualify for up to £2,000 towards home insulation. To find out if you qualify call the Grants Helpline on 0800 952 1555.

If you do not receive benefits you may be able to get help through the Government-funded Standard of Performance Scheme (SOPS). If you feel your property is inadequately insulated, then contact the council to find out if this scheme could help you.

Treating Mould

If you deal with the basic problem of condensation, then mould should not appear. To kill and remove mould, wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash. Follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems.

After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould recurring. Note that this paint is not effective if it is overlaid with wallpaper. The only lasting way of avoiding severe mould is to follow these steps to eliminate condensation.

Top Tips

  • To prevent condensation on mirrors or windows rub a cloth with a small spot of washing up liquid over the surface. Try this at home or in the car - taxi drivers have been doing this for years!
  • Alternatively to prevent condensation on windows, cut a potato in half and rub across the surface then buff with a cloth.