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Understanding moisture in your home

Read below to learn about the different types of moisture within your home and how to help prevent them.

Understanding moisture to help prevent damp, mould and 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.

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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. 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.

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Find out more

To find specific information about the different carses of damp, mould and condensation please take a look at our other pages in the guidance section.

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.

Safe Suffolk Renters

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