Protecting your home from damp and mould

Damp and mould are common issues in the home. They can appear for a variety of reasons, which include:

• water leaks
• poor ventilation
• excessive moisture - which can lead to condensation

Damp and mould are issues that can have a serious impact on your health and wellbeing. They can also cause damage to your home, as well as its contents.

Good ventilation helps to remove moisture. You can also reduce moisture by keeping your home warm.

What you can do to prevent damp and mould

• Pull wardrobes, beds and furniture away from walls (especially outside walls), and keep tops of wardrobes clear so that air can circulate
• When cooking, keep lids on saucepans, close kitchen doors, and use the extractor fan. Extractor fans are effective and cheap to run, and use less energy than a standard light bulb
• Keep your home moderately heated with ventilation, above 15°C (ideally at 20°C, if possible)
• Open windows, when possible, to allow air to circulate and keep window trickle vents open for background ventilation
• If possible, try to avoid drying clothes on radiators, unless you have increased ventilation
• Avoid condensing tumble dryers, and open fish tanks