The colder temperatures and wet weather over the winter months provide the perfect chance for cosy times spent indoors with loved ones. Yet, unfortunately, they can also present challenges for our homes, in the form of a build-up of damp and condensation.
If not addressed, damp can cause issues in your property, so understanding the impact of seasonal weather changes and the preventative measures that can be taken is crucial to keeping your property dry and warm all year round.
Understanding Winter Damp Risks
The colder and wetter conditions typically seen in the winter can cause a build-up of condensation in properties, creating the perfect conditions for mould to grow. Condensation occurs when the warm moist air inside homes comes into contact with cold surfaces and condenses into a liquid state.
This often results in visible droplets of water accumulating, particularly on the windows of your property. Everyday activities such as bathing and showering, cooking and drying clothes inside, can all increase humidity levels. If left untreated damp and condensation can lead to peeling wallpaper or black mould.
The most common places for black mould to appear are on window frames and sills, behind large items of furniture like wardrobes and cupboards, particularly those placed against north-facing walls which tend to be colder.
Damp Prevention Advice and Solutions for Condensation
The first step to preventing damp is to improve ventilation. This helps to control the levels of moisture in your property. Opening windows and doors periodically allows warm moist air to escape, averting the build-up of condensation. Trickle vents on double glazed windows should also be left open or a quarterlight left ajar.
Extractor fans or positive input ventilation (PIV) units can also be installed to provide a longer-term solution to condensation and damp. Fans extract humid air at its source such as in a bathroom or kitchen. A PIV introduces clean fresh air to dilute and displace the trapped humid air (which leads to condensation), therefore keeping the internal atmosphere fresh and dry
DIY measures to reduce indoor moisture include using a dehumidifier, wiping down wet surfaces regularly and avoiding drying clothes inside when possible. If you have removed condensation from windows with a cloth, always wring it out in a sink. However, it is worth remembering that unless you address the source of moisture these will not address the problem fully.
The key to early prevention and intervention is regular inspection and maintenance of your property. Check for signs of damp around windows, walls, and any vulnerable areas to help you identify potential damp issues before they become a serious problem.
Professional Damp Treatments for Winter
If you are experiencing persistent damp issues consult an expert who can recommend the best course of action to help ensure the long-term protection of your property. An expert will be able to conduct a damp survey to ensure the full extent of the problem is assessed, understood and diagnosed.
In areas belowground, you may notice signs of damp and moisture ingress during cold and wet weather. This can be treated by applying professional waterproofing solutions to any affected walls. Waterproofing techniques are used on spaces below ground level which are vulnerable to hydrostatic pressure caused by surrounding water, which can lead to leaks and damp problems. Belowground water management may involve using membranes or cementitious tanking systems to turn basements, cellars or garages into safe, dry and habitable rooms.
Wet weather and heavy rainfall in the colder months of the year also increase the likelihood of penetrating damp affecting properties. Penetrating damp is caused by rainwater entering a property through cracks or faults in its structure, such as spalled bricks, defective masonry, or porous brickwork, making water ingress more likely to occur.
Without treatment, penetrating damp could cause significant damage to your property such as the deterioration of plaster on walls and even lead to wet or dry rot in structural timbers. Excessive penetrative damp can also result in an unpleasant musty smell and damage to wallpaper and paint.
Penetrating damp can be caused by structural issues such as roof damage, defective guttering or cracked render. To tackle this the source of water ingress will need to be identified and rectified. This may involve repointing brickwork, repairing render or applying water-resistant coatings.
Expert damp services, such as those offered by Peter Cox, can provide expert care that is designed to tackle and eliminate damp problems effectively.
