Controlling moisture and condensation in homes

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Condensation and
mould:

This time of year,
as the temperature drops, both new homes and old homes are
susceptible to the formation of condensation and unsightly mould: new
homes because they are effectively a sealed box, and old homes
because they often lack effective wall insulation.

Internal moisture
build-up is a particular problem for landlords because tenants often
complain to the landlord when they see black mould, with little
understanding of the cause – they blame the building (landlord)
when more often than not they are not maintaining a living / moisture
balance.

Moisture balance

Moisture is
something that’s a part of living in a home, but it needs to be
carefully controlled to achieve a balance which maintains comfort and
good health.

A proper
understanding of what causes moisture build-up and condensation goes
a long way to minimising its harmful effects.

It’s almost
impossible to elimination all signs of condensation however small,
even in a new home. But there are certain things that are complete No
Nos when it comes to condensation, and sometimes landlords must be
prepared to educate their tenants about this.

There are three main causes of moisture build up inside a home:

1. From
   construction / renovation work where plaster and screeds need time
   to dry out properly.
2. From leaks and
   spills, where water enters the fabric of the building from bust
   pipes, flooding, overflowing baths and showers and leaking washing
   machines etc
3. Moisture
   generated by the occupants from everyday living which can generate
   large amounts of moisture. The amount will vary depending on
   lifestyles, household size and time of year.

Points one and two
are less common, but point three is prevalent in most homes, so
householders need to be informed as to the best way to deal with
this.

A New Moisture
Guide

A New guide from the
UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB), supported by the NHBC
Foundation, explains where moisture comes from and identifies actions
that can be taken by occupiers to maintain the right moisture balance
in a home.

The guide explains
why moisture balance is important, how to identify moisture
generation and what to do to minimise excess moisture and its harmful
effects.

This UKCMB guide
highlights good practice to ensure that occupiers achieve a correct
moisture balance in the home, including:

• keeping the
  home adequately heated in cool or cold weather – a minimum of 18
  degrees at all times should be maintained. This is one of the main
  reasons why tenanted properties often suffer from black mould
  build-up

• keeping trickle
  vents open to create minimal ventilation
• opening windows
  when and where excess moisture is generated
• making sure
  that extractor fans and cooker hoods are working and used when
  showering and cooking – the two main sources of moisture
  generation – extract the moisture at source and it cannot affect
  the rest of the home
• avoiding drying
  clothes on radiators and anywhere else internally, and make sure
  that tumble dryers have a proper extraction system
• moist air is
  warm air, so it rises to the highest points in the property, where
  most condensation and mould will appear – bedrooms and bathrooms.

• Keep rooms
  clutter free to allow air movement within and between rooms.

The guide includes a
moisture calculator that enables one to estimate a level of moisture
generation and a video from UKCMB: Moisture guidance all for existing
homeowners, landlords and tenants.

Main
moisture-generating activities in homes

A table compares 4
different types of household and their typical daily activities and
shows average moisture amounts generated each year.

A flowchart helps
the occupant identify any issues resulting from excess moisture in
the home with an easy step-by-step process with guidance.

Richard Smith, Head
of Standards, Innovation & Research at NHBC, say:

“This guide from
UKCMB highlights the importance of moisture control in homes and of
ensuring homeowners have all the knowledge and tools available to
them to ensure a healthy home. NHBC Foundation are delighted to
support UKCMB in the production of this publication.”

Moisture in new homes: a guide for occupants

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