The Damp Removal Process

Damp can be a major problem in homes and needs to be addressed quickly so that it does not cause damage to the building fabric.  Removing damp from a building can be difficult depending on the cause of the damp and the extent to which it has been allowed to develop.

If damp has been in your property for some time, then the chances are that you will need to have some plasterwork replaced, repaint walls, and may also need to change window frames if they are rotten.  But this can only happen once the cause of damp has been removed, otherwise the problems will simply recur in the future.

Removing condensation will reduce damp

Unless the damp in a property is caused by water leaking in through the roof or walls or rising up from the ground due to a lack of a damp course above the foundations, the cause of damp is likely to be moisture from the air.  Condensation happens when warm, humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces such as exterior walls.  When air cools, it can no longer hold as much water vapour, and that water vapour condenses into small droplets.  These can soak into the wall and create a damp patch that will get worse over time, as that part of the wall will become even cooler and attract more moisture.

Reducing the humidity levels in your home means that there will be less water vapour to condense, and if this is combined with improvements to airflow through better ventilation, the movement of air will mean that it spends less time in contact with cool surfaces.  As a result, damp will be prevented from developing.

What is the source of condensation damp

Water vapour is released into the air by many different activities in our homes.  Some of the causes are easy to spot - steam from cooking or bathing is visible - but there other, far less obvious sources of airborne moisture. 

Drying clothes or towels indoors or on radiators might seem like a good idea, but it can release a lot of steam over time – think about how heavy a wet towel is compared to a dry one!  Breathing is another hidden cause of household condensation.  Our breaths contain a large amount of water vapour.  On cold days, we can see this because it condenses almost immediately, but it is always there, particularly at night and is one of the main reasons why bedroom windows are often covered in droplets of water in the morning.

Steps to reduce condensation damp

Simple things that you can do to reduce condensation include:

• Using pan lids when cooking
• Closing kitchen and bathroom doors when in use
• Using extractor fans when cooking or bathing and leaving them on for 30 minutes
• Avoiding drying clothes and towels indoors
• Leaving windows open where possible to promote better airflow
• Maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home

Modern extractor fans can have sensors that detect the amount of moisture in the air and automatically adjust the power used so that they reduce humidity levels in a room more quickly, but they will typically only deal with the source of the condensation damp in one place.  In some cases, where damp is occurring as a result of condensation in many rooms, a whole house ventilation system such as PIV may be more suitable.

Find out the best ways to prevent damp >
Learn more about which ventilation products are suited to your damp problem >

Find out more

Have you discovered damp in your home?  If you have, it is important to deal with it as quickly as possible to avoid expensive damp removal bills later.  Book your free home survey from EnviroVent today.  Our local specialists will visit your home and examine the causes of condensation and damp so that they can provide advice about the best solution to meet your needs.