Make sure your home doesn’t get an unwanted Christmas gift – Mould

Autumn is a time of admiring colourful trees, walking in the countryside and buying Christmas presents.

But landlords and householders need to act now so they don’t get an unexpected and unwelcome gift in the festive season – black mould and damp.

Midlands energy expert Ron Fox said figures from the English Housing Survey showed that more than 920,000 of the 23,000,000 homes in England had rising damp or other condensation problems in at least one room of their home.

The government has told landlords, housing associations and freeholders that they must ensure the accommodation they provide is free from damp and mould and fit for habitation. They also have to respond to tenants’ complaints and to address the underlying causes of such problems.

Ron said the situation is much more serious if mould has started to grow around the home for tenants and householders as it can affect the health of the people living there, particularly children and the elderly.

People can suffer from nasal stuffiness or wheezing to eye or skin irritation while those with skin or respiratory conditions are particularly at risk.

However, Ron said everyone gets condensation on their windows which can be caused by people’s breathing, as well as from cooking, drying clothes and from pets and house plants.

On average, a family of four will create more than 100 pints of moisture each week. This isn’t a problem if the condensation is cleared up quickly.

But Ron said householders may not notice if it happens in places that are colder than the rest of the house, such as behind furniture, until the wallpaper begins to peel or black mould starts to grow.

Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park, gave these 10 tips for people to act now and help prevent damp at Christmas.

1. Try to maintain a constant temperature in rooms where the heating is turned off over the winter months. Residents may need to ventilate more, or turn the heating on from time to time. H
2. Having an energy-efficient and well-serviced boiler will keep the home dry and comfortable.
3. Ensure any washing machines and tumble driers are externally vented. Otherwise, they will bring moisture into the home every time they are switched on.
4. Lag pipes to prevent them from freezing in cold weather. Unlagged pipes are also more likely to attract condensation, which can lead to drips and damp.
5. Check around fireplaces for dampness as high levels of salts from burning fuel can make them particularly vulnerable to damp.
6. Close doors when having a bath or shower – and keep them shut afterwards, until the moisture in the air has been removed by opening the window or using an extractor fan.
7. Shut kitchen doors when cooking and washing. Steam can contribute to damp problems, so put lids on pans while cooking which will also mean more fuel efficiency too. Again, consider fitting ventilation.
8. Wipe condensation from windows as soon as it appears to minimise the risk of black mould.
9. Ensure air can circulate freely around the home and avoid putting furniture directly against the wall. Leave an air gap.
10. Avoid blocking wall vents, and keep any window vents open.

“Act now to ensure you have a warm and comfortable Christmas,” concluded Ron.

For more advice on dealing with damp contact him on 0845 474 6641.

Caption: Breaking the ‘mould’ – Avoid putting furniture directly against the wall and stop damp in the home at Christmas.