The most common signs of dampness inside a house are a musty and damp smell, peeling or lifting wallpaper, and the appearance of mildew or mould on ceilings, walls and floors. These surfaces might also feel cold, or you begin noticing extensive condensation on the windows and discoloured or dark patches on the plaster and walls.
The main types of damp are penetrating and rising damp – the former grows across ceilings and walls while the latter grows vertically.
If occupants of a house are complaining of dampness, it means there is unwanted moisture. There are multiple reasons why dampness can occur, but the most common are leaking pipes, porous bricks, steam rising from the soil and missing or broken roof tiles.
A small damp patch might not seem that bad, but may cause extensive problems if not dealt with. Dampness can also be associated with several respiratory conditions. If you suspect that you may have a damp issue, call in a professional to check it.
Avoiding Dampness in Your Home
Fortunately, there are several precautions you can implement to ensure your house is free of mould or dampness. These include:
- Open windows whenever possible. Bathrooms and kitchens are at the highest risk of growing mould. So, when taking a shower or cooking, leave the window open for a while to allow air circulation, which drives the moisture away.
- Keep bathroom and kitchen doors shut, especially when in use. Let’s say you are taking a bath or cooking; you want to restrict moisture only to that room. It prevents moisture from moving to other rooms, thereby causing the mould to spread.
- Check for cracks or leaks in the walls and floors, especially behind toilets, under sinks and radiators, or around the dishwasher or washing machine. Call in a plumber to work on any leaks you find.
- Even though it is quite tempting to turn a radiator on and leave clothes to dry indoors, it is not recommended. This moisture will move from the clothes to the walls and ceilings, causing the mould to spread extensively, especially if the room is not properly ventilated. If you have to dry the clothes indoors, ensure almost all windows are open and get yourself a tumble dryer.
- Extractor fans in the bathroom or kitchen are essential in expelling foul odours from a room and filtering humidity. However, they might clog and become faulty with time. To ensure they function fully, clean and service them regularly.
- Use dehumidifiers to reduce the humidity level, thus making your house less prone to mildew, dust mites, and, most importantly, mould.
- Refrain from leaving kettles boiling, especially without a lid. Not only will you be cutting costs on your electricity bill but also preventing moisture from building up on your ceiling and walls.
Mould problems can cause extensive property damage. Have you tried all the above methods, but the dampness is still recurring? Seek damp proofing services from JNR contracting. As market leaders in property maintenance, JNR Projects guarantees you an exceptional service. Some of the services offered include new injected DPCs, remedial decoration, plaster removal, mesh membrane installations and more. Contact us today!