Is your home
DAMP??
A guide for tenants
South Yorkshire
Housing Association
Repairs Department
43-47 Wellington Street
Sheffield S1 4HF
0800 1380 380
www.syha.co.uk
There are four main types of damp

Condensation—detailed in this booklet

Rising damp—this is rare as a damp proof course prevents this but can
usually be seen by a tide mark above the skirting board.

Penetrating damp—caused by a problem with the fabric of the building
which means rainwater is able to get through the walls, roof, windows
or doors. This type of damp will be more noticeable when it rains.

Plumbing faults or broken leaking pipes and gutters— can be more
difficult to identify and if you suspect you may have a leaking pipe then
this should be reported to our Repairs Department as soon as
possible.
So, what is condensation??
Cooking, drying clothes, showering—even breathing—add to the
moisture in the air. If this moisture is allowed to build up it can
cause condensation related problems, which can cause black
mould growth on walls, ceilings, furniture and even clothing. It can
also increase the risk of respiratory illness.
The four main causes of condensation are:

Moisture produced by everyday activities

Not enough ventilation

Cool temperatures

Insufficient insulation
Problems with condensation - What can I do??

If you can, hang your washing outside to dry, or hang it in the
bathroom with the door closed and a window slightly open or
an extractor fan on. Don’t be tempted to put it on radiators or
in front of an electric heater.

If you do put you washing on radiators or in front of an electric
heater to dry, the moisture that comes off it will increase the
condensation in your home.

Ventilate your rooms by leaving a
window slightly open at night or leave
the vents at the top of your windows
open (fitted to all plastic window
frames).

Keep your kitchen and bathroom doors
closed to prevent moisture escaping
into the rest of your house.

Wipe down surfaces where moisture
settles (windows, wall tiles, mirrors)

Always cook with pan lids on, and turn
the heat down once the water has
boiled.

When filling your bath always run the
cold water first, then add the hot—it
will reduce the steam by 90% and
could also avoid the potential risk of
scalding.

If you use a tumble drier, make sure it
is vented to the outside or if it’s a
condensing type it needs to be located in a well ventilated room like
the kitchen.

Cover fish tanks to stop water evaporating into the air.

Don’t use your gas cooker to heat your kitchen as it produces
moisture when burning gas (You might notice your windows misting
over).

Do not block vents or airbricks, they are there for a reason.

When the weather is cold and wet it is better to keep your heating on
low rather than short blasts of high heat

Be careful not to over ventilate your home when it is cold, as it
causes the temperature to drop and makes condensation more
likely. It will also increase your heating costs.
Reduce the risk of mildew on clothes and other
stored items, by allowing air to circulate around
them:

Remove ‘false’ wardrobe backs or drill
breather holes in them.

Place furniture on blocks to allow air to
circulate underneath.

Keep a small gap between large pieces of
furniture and the walls, and where possible
place wardrobes and furniture against
internal walls.

Never overfill wardrobes and cupboards as
it restricts air circulation.
What to do if your home already has mould
Don’t leave it , as the problem will only get worse. Follow the steps below
to treat the problem.

Mould is a living organism and needs killing to get rid of it. To do this,
wipe down affected areas with a fungicidal wash, one which carries a
Health and Safety Executive approved number making sure you follow
the manufacturers instructions. Do not disturb the mould by brushing
or vacuum cleaning as this may cause a risk of respiratory problems
and do not use bleach or washing up liquid.

Tea Tree oil is a natural antiseptic and disinfectant but it’s also good
for cleaning, especially on mould or mildew. Try a dilute of 3 to 4
drops of Tea Tree oil in 2 litres of water (hot or cold). Spray onto
trouble spots using a plant mister, wipe & then rinse off. Always
ensure you carry out a test on a small area of the fabric/material/
surface beforehand.

Once you have treated the affected areas you will need to use a stain
block or good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould
reoccurring. Using ordinary emulsion will not be as effective, and the
mould may start to reappear.

Mildewed clothes should be dry cleaned and any affected carpets
shampooed.

Once you have treated any mould that you may already have in your
home, follow our tips on what you can do to reduce condensation in
your home and this will restrict new mould growth.
How much moisture can be produced in your home in one day?
Two people active for one
day
3 pints
Cooking and boiling a
kettle
6 pints
Having a bath or a
shower
2 pints
Drying clothes indoors
9 pints
Washing dishes
2 pints
Using a paraffin or
bottled gas heater
3 pints
Total amount of
moisture produced in
your home in one day
25 pints
Remember…..
Dealing with condensation is not easy. Only carrying out 1 or 2 of
the steps in this booklet may not solve the problem. You need to
do as many as possible every day, so that it becomes part of your
habits and lifestyle.
If you have followed the advice given in this booklet, then you
should begin to notice a considerable improvement within around
4 to 6 weeks. If the problem persists, it may be due to another
cause of damp.
If you think your home is suffering from another form of damp
mentioned in this booklet please contact our Maintenance
Department on :
Free Phone 0800 1380 380 and an inspector will arrange to visit
your home.