Now that the colder weather has arrived, homes are more prone to damp and mould. It’s really important that you take precautions to prevent damp and mould becoming a problem in your home.
What can I do as a precaution?
There’s lots of things you can do in different areas of your home to prevent damp and mould.
In your kitchen
- You should always use lids to cover pots and pans when cooking
- Always use your extractor fan when cooking. If you don’t have one, open your kitchen window slightly
- Keep your kitchen doors closed during and after use
In your bathroom
- After showering, leave your bathroom window open for 30 minutes
- Wipe down any wet areas after showering
- Always use your extractor fan during and after use
Living room and bedrooms
- Leave a gap between furniture and walls for improved ventilation
- Make sure ceilings and walls are in good condition
Heating
- Keep your home heated between 18-22 degrees
- Turn your heating on twice a day for at least 30 minutes
Windows
- Wipe visible signs of condensation off your windows
- Leave trickle vents open all year round
What should I do if I have damp and mould in my home?
It’s really important that you find out the cause of any damp and mould in your home. Some cases can be easier to treat, such as window mould.
Window mould can be treated with a mould removing kit. Once treated, you can clean and repaint the surrounding area. You can prevent further cases of damp and mould by keeping your window open slightly for improved ventilation.
In other circumstances, damp and mould can be caused by bigger problems such as a damaged roof, a leak from the gutter or damage to outside windows.
It’s really important that you do regular inspections of the outside of your home to help identify any damages so you can report them to us straight away.
If you have any issues with damp and mould in your home, you should report it to us as soon as possible by calling our hub on 0345 60 20 540.
You can find out more useful information on damp and mould on our web page.
