Unfortunately this time of year brings with it a variety of seasonal property nightmares that we should be wary of otherwise they could seriously dampen our Christmas spirit just as much as finding a lump of coal in our stocking.
As the song goes, it is the season to be jolly, but unless you would like to bring in the new year by shelling out to restore your house, take a look at our advice below to stay safe and dry this Christmas and beyond.
A Black Mould Christmas Shocker
Black Mould is a nasty strain of fungus that takes advantage of excess moisture in the home to germinate and begin growing on walls and other areas of the house.
Unfortunately we can unwittingly invite this unwelcome guest into our homes over the festive period by failing to adequately ventilate the property.
Naturally at Christmas we expect the kitchen will be bustling as the most anticipated meal of the year is carefully prepared and the family gather round with the heating cranked up to enjoy the warm and toasty atmosphere as the snow drifts down outside (We are due a white Christmas sooner or later, right?). However, if the property is not ventilated properly then all of the warm, humid air we release into the atmosphere will remain trapped in the home and eventually form condensation. As a result you may begin to see visible water droplets and damp patches forming on walls which, If allowed to continually go untreated, can become a germination spot for the Black Mould fungus.
Black mould is thought to be associated with various health risks to both humans and pets so you may wish to read over our free advice to combat condensation to help prevent it making an appearance in your home this Christmas.
The White Christmas Dream Could Become A Nightmare!
I mentioned in the last section that we are overdue a white Christmas, and it seems that this could be the year! Indeed, a well known bookmaker has just slashed the odds on snowfall on Christmas day, however, despite the wonderfully festive image this may conjure up it should be remembered that snow is a common cause of damp problems.
If your home already suffers from Rising Damp then heavy snowfall will provide a plentiful source of moisture ready to be drawn up into the interior of your home. Furthermore, if there is sufficient snowfall to create a blanket of snow to cover your rooftop then this will add a lot of weight and pressure which could lead to structural damage resulting in water ingress and potentially Penetrating Damp issues. Considering Santa and his Reindeer will already be clattering around up there on Christmas Eve, we could really do without the additional weight of snow laying on the roof as well!
In the event of heavy snowfall it would be sensible to occasionally conduct a quick investigation of the property to ensure your home has remained watertight as the snow begins to melt.
Protect Your Home This Christmas
While the festive period may very well be the most wonderful time of the year it is worth bearing in mind that it also brings with it some of the most extreme cold and weather conditions we are likely to see all year.
Make sure you keep an eye on things so that issues associated with the harsh cold such as frozen and burst pipes or damp problems caused by loose roof tiles or cracks in the chimney do not have the opportunity to develop into more serious problems such as Dry Rot or Wet Rot.
If you have identified an issue in your home then give our experts a call on 0808 273 2138 or complete our online contact form for all the help and advice you will need to put your mind at ease so you can get back to enjoying the Christmas party!
