What are condensation
and mould?
A guide to
understanding and
improving the quality
of your home
What is condensation?
Condensation is caused by the
air in your home being too wet.
Air always contains a certain
amount of water. The warmer
the air the more it can hold.
When the air is cooler, moisture
is released to surfaces such as
windows, walls and mirrors.
What causes condensation?
There are three main causes:
• Too much moisture is produced in your home
• Not enough ventilation for air to move around
• Your home/room is too cold
Outside: remove any items
such as bicycles and bin
bags from against your
home. These items prevent
ventilation and sunlight
from warming the walls.
Kitchen: when washing clothes
or cooking keep the door
closed and open windows. Keep
lids on pans when cooking and
use extractor fans where fitted.
Loft: for safety reasons, and
to avoid blocking ventilation
or damaging loft insulation
you shouldn’t access the loft.
Ventilation: make sure
all vents are open. Never
block up or cover air
bricks, flues or ventilators.
Windows: whenever
possible, open your windows
slightly to air your home.
Where fitted, keep the trickle
vents open on your windows.
What can I do to reduce condensation?
Heating: keep your home warm. Warm air can hold more moisture
causing less condensation to form on surfaces. This is particularly
important in the winter months as the colder weather can reduce the
temperature in your home much quicker. If you’re not sure how to use
the heating controls in your home please ask us for an information pack.
Bathroom: run the cold water for a bath
before the hot water. Close the bathroom
door and open the window while filling
to reduce the spread of steam. Use the
extractor fan where fitted
Furniture: leave a gap between your
furniture and outside walls. Do not overfill wardrobes, cupboards and chests of
drawers as this creates air pockets. Avoid
putting mattresses directly on the floor.
Drying clothes: when
the weather allows,
always dry your
clothes outside. If you
use a tumble dryer,
make sure the moist
air is piped outside.
Do not dry clothes on
radiators. Instead place
them on a clothes rack
in a cool room with the
door closed, window
open and extractor
fan on where possible.
What should I do if I see mould is forming?
Condensation can cause mould.
Mould takes the appearance of
small black, grey or green spots
on the wall or other surfaces in
your home.
but you are still finding mould
growth, please contact Curo on
01225 366000. We’ll visit your home
within seven days to assess the
problem.
If you find mould then complete
the following steps:
Curo will use three levels of
inspection to determine and
remedy the cause of the mould.
1. Wash the affected area thoroughly. Use non-ammonia
soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner in hot water
and scrub the entire area
affected. Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on uneven surfaces.
2. Rinse and dry. Use a damp cloth to rinse any residual detergent off the treated surface.
3. Disinfection. Only use disinfectant once you complete steps 1 and 2. Use a fungicidal product and wash the affected surface. Follow the instructions carefully including all
safety guidance.
4. If you have one available, use a fan heater until the area is completely dried out.
I’ve done all of the above but
mould continues to be a problem:
If you have tried all of the things
mentioned to reduce condensation
• Level 1
Initial Inspection. Screening
and Assessment
• Level 2 Technical Investigation
• Level 3 Expert Investigation
Other types of surveys that might
be done if required:
Insulation Surveys
Energy Surveys
Leak Detection Surveys
After the inspection or Survey, we’ll
write to you to tell you about the
findings and the course of action
required to resolve the problem.
If English is not your first language and you
need a translation, we can get one for you.
Polish
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Somali
Haddii aanu af Ingiriisigu ahayn luqad-daada kowaad oo aad u baahan-tahay
turjumid, anaga ayaa mid kuu heli karayna.
Chinese
French
Si l’Anglais n’est pas votre langue maternelle et vous avez besoin d’une
traduction, nous pouvons l’obtenir pour vous.
Spanish
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nosotros te lo podemos traducir.
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GIVE US
A CALL
Curo
The Maltings
River Place
Lower Bristol Road
Bath BA2 1EP
01225 366111 (repairs)
01225 366000 (everything else)
[email protected]
www.curo-group.co.uk
facebook.com/curogroup
If you would like this leaflet in large print,
on audio tape, CD, or in Easy Read, we can
arrange this for you.
August 2014
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