Combating condensation. Tips to help you solve problems with condensation and mould growth

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1 Combating condensation Tips to help you solve problems with condensation and mould growth

2 If you d like this Combating condensation - tips to help you solve problems with condensation and mould growth leaflet in large print, Braille, audio format, or translated into another language, please call Flagship Response on POR Caso deseje o documento Combater a condensação - dicas para o ajudar a resolver problemas de condensação e humidade num formato ampliado, em Braille, em áudio ou traduzido para outro idioma, deverá ligar para a Flagship Response através do número POL Chcąc uzyskać broszurę pt. Zwalczanie kondensacji - porady mające pomóc rozwiązać problemy z kondensacją i narastającą pleśnią powiększonym drukiem, w języku Braille a, w formacie audio lub przetłumaczoną na inny język, należy zadzwonić do Flagship Response pod numer RUS Если вам нужен данный буклет под названием «Борьба с конденсацией влаги - советы по решению проблем с конденсацией и образованию плесени» крупным шрифтом, шрифтом Брайля, в аудиоформате или в переводе на другой язык, обращайтесь в бюро обслуживания «Flagship Response» по тел LIT Jei norėtumėte lankstinuko Kaip įveikti problemas, susijusias su kondensacija - patarimai, kaip sustabdyti kondensaciją ir pelėsių atsiradimą dideliu šriftu, Brailio raštu, audio formatu, ar išverstu į kitą kalbą, susisiekite su Flagship Response telefonu

3 Combating condensation If your home is damp or you find patches of mould on walls, furnishing or clothes, condensation may be the cause. The tips in this leaflet will help you solve the problem. Why do you get condensation? Air can only hold a certain amount of water vapour, the warmer it is, the more it can hold. If it is cooled by contact with a cold surface such as a mirror, a window or even a wall, the water vapour will turn into droplets of water condensation. So, the warmer you keep your home, the less likely you are to get condensation. When does it become a problem? Every home gets condensation at some time, for instance at bath times, when a meal is being cooked, when clothes are being dried or after a cold night. It is quite normal to find your bedroom windows misted in the morning after a cold night. There is nothing much you can do to stop this. But if your home never seems to be free from condensation, read on. How do you know if it is condensation? It is not always easy to tell, but other kinds of damp, such as rain or plumbing leaks, usually leave a tide mark. Condensation is often found in corners, cupboards and under work surfaces, in fact wherever there is little air movement.

4 If you are not sure what is causing damp in your home, start by checking pipes and overflows and under sinks to see if there are any obvious leaks. Have a look outside too, you may be able to see if there are any slates missing from the roof, cracked gutters or rainwater pipes. If you live in a new or recently modernised house or flat, don t forget that it may not have dried out from the water remaining after building work. It can take 18 months for this to happen. What can you do about it? Try to leave some background heat on through the day in cold weather. Most homes take quite a long time to warm up, and it may cost you more if you try to heat it up quickly in the evening. The more moisture produced in your home, the greater the chance of condensation. Adequate ventilation is essential. In the winter, open the windows a little some windows have trickle vents which can be left open all the time. Try to avoid bottled gas and paraffin heaters as they produce lots of water vapour. Remember The way you use your home affects the amount of condensation you get. This does not mean that you should alter habits drastically, just bear in mind the following tips: Doors Keep the kitchen and bathroom doors shut, particularly when cooking, washing or bathing, otherwise water vapour will spread right through the house and the condensation will probably reach other rooms.

5 Never remove doors from your home and always keep as many doors closed as possible. Cupboards and wardrobes Don t overfill cupboards and wardrobes and always make sure that some air can circulate freely through ventilators in doors and by leaving space at the back of the shelves. Kettles and pans Don t allow kettles and pans to boil for any longer than necessary as this dramatically increases the amount of warm moisture in the air. Always run extractor fans where installed, and where possible, open windows or trickle ventilation until you have finished cooking. Drying clothes Always avoid drying clothes indoors, particularly on radiators as this will increase condensation. Tumble dryers must always be vented to the outside. Mould growth If you have mould growth, the chances are that it is caused by condensation. You can remove the mould by cleaning it off with fungicides which are available from most supermarkets. Always follow the manufacturer s instructions carefully when using these products. Remember The only permanent cure is to reduce the amount of condensation

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