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Understanding and Preventing Condensation

Condensation occurs when warm, humid air meets a cold surface, leading to water droplet formation. It is a common issue in many households and can contribute to dampness and mould, so the steps for prevention and treatment are similar to treating damp and mould.

Condensation: Understanding and preventing

Condensation occurs when warm, humid air meets a cold surface, leading to water droplet formation. It is a common issue in many households and can contribute to dampness and mould, so the steps for prevention and treatment are similar to the above.

Condensation is often located on cold surfaces, and it spreads with less-defined edges.

Condensation: Understanding and preventing

Preventing condensation

Whilst condensation is a natural process, too much condensation can cause damp and mould growth. So, the steps to prevent mould and damp will help prevent condensation too. You can follow the grouped steps below:

  • Ventilation: The main way to prevent condensation is by ensuring proper ventilation. Opening windows and using extractor fans in areas like the bathroom and kitchen can help reduce moisture levels. Ask tenants to avoid placing large furniture against exterior walls too.
  • Regular wiping: Tenants should wipe down windows and sills daily to prevent moisture build-up.
  • Dehumidifiers: Consider recommending dehumidifiers, which can effectively manage excess moisture when cleaned regularly.
  • Heating: Maintaining a consistent, comfortable room temperature (ideally above 18°C) helps prevent condensation – suggest keeping a low background heat throughout the day instead of short bursts of high heat.
  • Cooking, showering and drying: Advise tenants to cover pans when cooking and avoid leaving the kettle boiling. Where possible dry clothes outside, and if tumble dryers are used, vent them outside. Open windows and use extractor fans for cooking and showering too.
  • Trap moisture: When adding more moisture to the air during cooking or showering, for example, advise tenants to keep those room’s doors shut. This stops the moisture spreading into other rooms.

Rescuing and treating condensation

If your property has areas that are prone to condensation, you – or your tenant – can follow these steps to help rescue and treat the area.

  • Wipe away condensation with a towel and ventilate the room for around 15 minutes. The condensation should dry naturally in this time
  • Use a fungicidal wash on mould surfaces with an HSE-approved product
  • Avoid brushing or vacuuming mould to prevent increased spore dispersion
  • When redecorating, use high-quality anti-fungal paint to deter mould reappearance

If you’d like to learn more and better understand moisture in your home, this video from UKCMB will help.

Understanding moisture to help prevent condensation

Moisture in the air is completely normal and necessary for a healthy living environment. However, too much can cause problems for you, your tenants and your home. So, it’s important to find a balance.

At different temperatures, the air can hold different amounts of moisture. The higher the temperature, the more moisture it can hold. But once the air cannot hold any more moisture, it condenses and becomes liquid.

So, to help understand the amount of moisture in the air, we use the term ‘relative humidity’. The higher the number, the more likely you are to experience damp, mould and condensation because there is more moisture present. But on the other hand, low humidity is uncomfortable to live in. So, the optimal balance of moisture sits between 40-65% relative humidity.

If you’d like to find out more about moisture in the home, this video will help.

Understanding moisture to help prevent damp

How much extra moisture could you be adding to the air in your home?

It’s completely natural to have moisture in the air, and there is always some, even if you can’t see it. Understanding what activities add moisture – and how much – helps you and your tenant limit their impact or take suitable steps to prevent too much moisture and, hence, condensation.

  • Drying your clothes indoors → 9 pints of water
  • Cooking and using the kettle → 6 pints of water
  • Two people active for one day → 3 pints of water
  • Showering or bathing → 2 pints of water
  • Washing clothes → 1 pint of water

Managing moisture in the home

With the amounts above in mind, invite your tenant to think about how much moisture they could be producing. By managing moisture levels and maintaining 40-65% humidity, you’ll help mitigate condensation, which, in turn, minimises damp and then mould.

How can you check the moisture in your home?

Measuring the moisture in your home helps you manage it – and hence reduce its effects. To measure relative humidity and temperature, you can use a device called a hygrometer (shown below). The green zones indicate the humidity and temperatures you should aim for.

How can you check the moisture in your home?

Measuring the moisture in your home helps you manage it – and hence reduce its effects. To measure relative humidity and temperature, you can use a device called a hygrometer (shown below). The green zones indicate the humidity and temperatures you should aim for.

Find out how you or your tenant can request a free hygrometer here: Everything you need to know about hygrometers | Safe Suffolk Renters.

Further support

If, after taking the steps above, you’re still dealing with damp, mould or condensation, reach out to the Safe Suffolk Renters team, and we’ll help point you in the right direction.

You can also visit this GOV.UK page to read about damp and mould in more detail. Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home | GOV.UK.

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