How to Prevent Damp in Kitchens

Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and it should be a warm and welcoming room where you can enjoy time cooking and eating together as a family. Unfortunately, as a room where people spend time, and where there is a lot of water vapour, if the kitchen is not properly ventilated, condensation can quickly build up and create bigger problems with damp and mould that will make your kitchen an unpleasant place to spend time.

Condensation is one of the most common causes of damp in kitchens. Water vapour from cooking, washing up, and even laundry can build up in the air and form patches of condensation on windows and walls. If left untreated, that condensation can soak into the underlying material to create damp patches that damage plaster and paint while also creating the perfect environment for unhealthy mould to grow.

Things You Can Do to Reduce Condensation in Your Kitchen

Many of the activities we do from day-to-day release water vapour into the air. These include using the kettle, boiling water on the stove, washing the dishes, and even baking food in the oven. Thankfully, there are simple steps that you can take to reduce the amount of condensation you produce in the kitchen.

Only Boil as Much Water as You Need in the Kettle

Kettles are an efficient way of boiling water, and the lid means that the amount of steam they release is quite low, but there are simple things you can do to reduce their contribution to condensation. The more water there is in a kettle, the longer it will take to boil, which means more time to release steam. By only filling the kettle with as much water as you need at that time, you will avoid leaving hot water behind that will release water vapour and shorten the boiling time which saves you money on electricity.

Allow the Dishwasher to Cool after Use.

If you open your dishwasher too soon after it has finished, it will release a cloud of steam into the air that will cause condensation. Leaving the dishwasher to cool will allow that steam to condense inside the machine and drain away.

Use Pan Lids When Cooking on the Hob

Leaving a lid on the pan when you are cooking on the hob will contain the steam and prevent it from forming condensation. It also reduces the amount of heat loss, which means that your food will cook more quickly and use less energy.

Use Extractor Fans

Using your kitchen extractor fans and hoods when cooking helps to control the humidity levels in your kitchen and stops condensation from taking hold. Modern extractor fans have humidity sensors that control their power levels which means that they can work more quickly.

Avoid Leaving Dish Water to Stand

Empty the sink immediately after washing the dishes to prevent steam from the hot water from adding to condensation. If you have a dual sink, a cool water rinse for plates can also help to prevent steam from being released as they dry.

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Get Help to Stop Condensation Causing Damp in Your Kitchen

If you have found damp patches or mould in your kitchen, it is important to stop the problem from getting worse. If damp is allowed to persist it can damage walls and lead to expensive repairs.

Simply fill in your postcode below to find a local ventilation expert who can visit your home to conduct a free survey to identify the causes of condensation and then provide advice about the best way to deal with them.