A Guide to Moisture in Homes
Excess moisture in your home can lead to damp and mould - here's a simple guide to controlling the moisture in your home.
Excess moisture in homes can lead to all sorts of problems. Damp and mould inside homes are not only detrimental to occupants’ health, it can cause timber to rot, plaster to crumble and metal to corrode. Read on for a closer look at the causes of damp and mould and solutions you can try yourself.
Here’s the short version!
Check out this video by UKCMB for a quick guide to moisture control in homes.
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Moisture in Homes FAQs
How are damp and mould caused?
- Excess of moisture in our homes
- Frozen water in pipes can expand and burst the pipework
- Leaks or flooding
- Blocked guttering can cause water ingress
- water vapour from cooking, washing and humans
How much moisture do we need as humans?
- It’s all about balance.
- Your home’s air moisture will vary depending on the number of occupants, plants and your daily washing, bathing, heating, ventilation habits and outside weather.
- Keeping your home too dry can cause damage to plaster and other issues.
- Keeping your home too moist can cause damp spots, mould, foggy windows and create a musty smell.
Where does water vapour inside your home come from?
- rainwater coming into the property through cracks
- washing and drying clothes
- cooking
- showering and bathing
- humans
- animals
- plants
How does home temperature effect the water vapour levels?
Water vapour levels change depending on the temperature of the air.
The higher the temperature, the more moisture can be held in the air (and the ‘holding capacity’ of the air increases).
What happens when moisture-rich air meets a cold surface?
Condensation forms where moisture-rich air meets a cold surface, such as a window pane or cold wall. When the warm air rapidly cools against a cold surface, the excess water in the air is released.
This increases the risk of stagnant water being present in the home, leading to damp and mould problems. Common areas which accumulate damp and mould are around window panes and in bathrooms.
What’s the optimum relative humidity for good home comfort?
The optimum air humidity is between 40% and 65% for a comfy home. This will vary depending on the number of occupants, plants and the ventilation habits.
If damp and mould are emerging, what could be the cause?
- external weather changes
- damage to the building envelope (ie. cracks in the walls, floor or roof)
- your living habits, additional people or pets
- any renovation works you’ve done recently – like changes to insulation, ventilation and heating.
What should I do about damp and mould?
Get the balance back in your home.
Think about good ventilation strategies, draught-proofing and the external weather conditions. You can do a regular check over your property to repair any damages. You can…
- do simple maintenance: roof or render cracks, window seals, and check internal plumbing for leaks.
- reduce excess moisture from activities in your home; like drying clothes outside.
- speak to an expert. Give us a call on our advice line for additional support.
