CONDENSATION: THE CURSE AND THE CURE 

Normal living and everyday activities like cooking, bathing, laundry and even breathing, will produce considerable amounts of moisture in our homes.

Condensation arises when a high level of moisture in the air, (humidity), finds a cool surface and turns back into water.

On a window or a bathroom tiled surface the condensation can easily be wiped off, but it will be absorbed by porous surfaces like plaster walls and materials such as clothes in your wardrobe and linen in your cupboards.

The first signs of a problem are damp patches, often in corners where two outside walls meet, and some times at low level, where it may be mistaken for rising damp

Paint will flake off and plaster will blister. These problems are not solved by cleaning and repainting, or by external wall coatings. The problem is most often condensation being produced within your home, not damp coming in from outside, and this is what needs to be dealt with.

Wooden furniture, clothes in your wardrobes, books and pictures will all be affected and may be ruined. The room will start to feel damp and musty smells and mould growth will follow. Health problems are made worse by living in a damp environment.

 Heating a home can actually make the problem worse, driving the damp back into and sometimes right through a wall. Mould and mildew are just like garden plants. Once a mould spore find a damp surface it only needs warmth to start it growing, driving its roots deep into the plaster and spreading across the surface. Scraping and repainting doesn’t always kill the roots and the mould will grow back through the newly painted wall. A Dehumidifier will remove the moisture from your home as it is produced, and will draw the dampness out of walls, cupboards and furniture. It will create a healthier and more comfortable environment as well as protecting your most valuable possessions.