First Steps Against Condensation and Mould Growth

• If you already have mould growth you can remove it by using the ACS Mould Wash Concentrate. For permanent protection against mould growth on painted surfaces use the ACS Antimould or fungicidal paints and coatings. Remember that the effect of any fungicidal paint is destroyed if covered with ordinary paint or wallpaper

• Dry your windows and window sills every morning as well as surfaces in the kitchen or bathroom, which have become wet. Wring out the cloth – don’t dry it on a radiator

• Help reduce condensation, which has built overnight by “cross ventilating” the house. Open a small window downstairs to the first notch and the same to a small window upstairs. They should be opposite sides to the house or diagonally opposite if you live in a flat. At the same time open the internal room doors – this will allow air to circulate throughout the house. This type of cross ventilation should be carried out for about 30 minutes every day if possible. But make sure those accessible windows will not cause a security problem and remember to close them before you go out

• Ventilate the kitchen when cooking or washing. A window slightly open is as good as one fully open in these situations. If you have one, use the cooker extractor hood or extractor fan

• If you use a tumble drier, make sure it is vented to the outside or that it is the new condensing type. Avoid drying clothes on radiators

• Always cook with pan lids on, and turn the heat down once the water has boiled

• When filling your bath, run the cold water first then add the hot. This will reduce the steam, which leads to condensation, very significantly (up to 90%)

• Keep kitchen and bathroom doors closed when you are using these rooms to prevent moisture escaping into the rest of the house

• Ventilate your bathroom and kitchen for about 10 to 20 minutes after use by opening a small top window. Use an extractor fan if fitted – they are cheap to run and very effective

• Avoid the use of bottled gas heaters; they produce over one litre of water vapour for every litre of fuel used

• Ventilate your bedroom by leaving a window slightly open at night or use trickle ventilators if fitted. But again remember the security

• Do not draught proof rooms with a condensation problem or where there is a heater or cooker that burns gas or solid fuel

• Do not draught proof bathroom or kitchen windows, as this will prevent some natural, helpful ventilation

• Do not block ventilators or airbricks for the same reason

• Always try and keep some background heating on in the house to maintain warmer surfaces and help control condensation (but keep a check on the meters to see how much it is costing you)

• If you don’t have heating in every room, keep the doors of unheated rooms open to allow some heat into them

• Remove false wardrobe backs or drill breather holes in them

• Placing furniture on blocks will allow air to circulate underneath

• Keep a small gap between large pieces of furniture and the walls

• Where possible place wardrobes and furniture against internal walls, not external walls

• Try to avoid overfilling wardrobes and cupboards, as this will restrict air circulation

Please remember the best way to overcome condensation and mould growth in the home is to get rid of the dampness and improve ventilation in the property. Under these circumstances you may have to consider the following:-

Ventilation - use of passive ventilators, mechanical extraction fans, heat recovery and positive induced ventilation systems.

Insulation  - loft and wall insulation to give warmer surfaces.

Heating  - improve or change the use of heating systems to have a medium to low level of heat throughout the house.

Redecoration - use fungicidal and anti-condensation paints in rooms susceptible to condensation and mould growth

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