How Can I Get Rid Of Damp?

There are a number of different factors that can cause damp in your home, and while the treatment of the damp itself will be the same whatever kind of damp you have, preventing it coming back will require that you take steps to remove the specific cause.

One of the most common forms of damp is condensation damp.  As the name suggests, this is due to the presence of excess moisture caused by every day activities like cooking and bathing.  If humidity levels are too high for a long time, that moisture will soak into porous surfaces such as wood and plaster and build up to form damp patches.

Rising damp is caused when moisture from the ground travels up through the walls by capillary action, if there is nowhere for this moisture to naturally dissipate it will travel up onto the walls causing mould and structural damage. 

Penetrating damp is caused by water entering a property through walls, floors and ceilings, causing external construction damage to guttering, rendering and wall joints.

Common causes of penetrating damp are; leaking walls, air gaps, burst gutters and pipes, porous bricks, cavity wall problems and/or poor cavity insulation. It could be the result of a problem with plumbing such as an incorrectly set up washing machine.

Common Signs of Damp In The Home:

• A damp and musty smell
• The appearance of mould or mildew on walls, floors or ceilings
• Walls, floors or ceilings that feel cold or damp 
• Dark or discoloured patches on walls or plaster
• Lifting or peeling wallpaper
• Excessive condensation on windows

If your home is suffering from rising damp your specialist advisor will probably already have surveyed the property and determined the extent of the damage.

Treatment for rising damp involves either a chemical or osmotic Damp Proofing Course (DPC) or a new damp membrane. Injected via holes in the masonry, the DPC repels water whilst a damp membrane acts as a physical barrier to stop damp.

The area or areas inside the house affected by the rising damp probably will need to be re-plastered with a salt-retardant plaster and new skirting boards will probably need to be fitted.

How to Get Rid of Mould

It is important to deal with damp as quickly as possible to avoid giving mould a chance to form.  <ould spores can be a health hazard especially if you are asthmatic or suffer with allergies.

There is no one cure for mould due to the variety and level of severity the mould is and some require professional removal. For example if you have a problem with toxic mould, then you need to seek professional treatment in order to ensure that your home is a safe environment for you and your family. If you find a colony of toxic mould, it is very important that you do not disturb it. Touching or moving the mould can cause an enormous amount of harmful spores to be released in the air, to the detriment of you and the people you share your home with.

For other, more common strains of mould, there is a wide variety of mould treatments available that clean the mould, which are easy to use on your own.

A simple solution for removing non-toxic mould from your home is to clean it using a non-toxic, mould cleaning solution. When the mould has been eradicated, it is important to dry the surface thoroughly, in order to prevent the mould from returning.

How to Remove Mould

You may be able to remove mould yourself, or you may need to get a professional to remove it. Only remove mould yourself if it's caused by condensation and covers an area less than 1 metre squared. Don't try to remove the mould yourself if it's caused by sewage or other contaminated water.

• First protect yourself from mould spores by wearing goggles, long rubber gloves and a mask that covers your nose and mouth. 
• The open the windows but keep doors closed to prevent spores spreading to other areas of the house and provide some ventilation for the cleaning process. 
• Next, have a plastic bag ready to take away any soft furnishings such as clothes and soft toys that are mouldy. Soft furnishings should be professionally dry cleaned.
• Then, fill a bucket with water and either bleach, specialist mould removal liquid or
• some mild detergent, such as washing-up liquid. 
• Using a rag dipped in the mixture carefully wipe the mould off the wall. Be careful not to brush it, as this can release mould spores.
• When you've finished, use a dry rag to remove the moisture from the wall, ensure the area is completely dried. 
• Afterwards, put the rags in a plastic bag and throw them away, all the surfaces in the room should be thoroughly cleaned by either wet wiping or vacuuming to remove any spores.

8 Damp Preventing Tips

The most effective way to remove condensation damp is to correctly ventilate your property. However there are every-day things you can implement to help;

1) Wipe down windows and sills every morning.
2) Deal with steam from cooking.
3) Get rid of bathroom moisture.
4) Don't overfill wardrobes & cupboards.
5) Keep your house warm.
6) Insulate.
7) Make sure the extractor fans are on.
8) Don't hang clothes to dry inside.

For more handy tips on preventing condensation, check out our great article - 14 Ways To Help Reduce Condensation In Your Property. 

If we don’t expel all the excess moisture we create out of the home, it will be left lurking inside, usually ending up in the coldest places of the house such as windows, doors etc. This will ultimately lead to damp and damage to your health and your property. The best way to get rid of damp is to prevent it starting in the first place and the best way to prevent it is to ensure your home is consistently well ventilated. A good habbit to get into is to open the windows but keep doors closed to prevent spores spreading to other areas of the house.

However this measure will only go so far, the best ventilation is of course a fully fitted, intelligently designed system. EnviroVent has a range of ventilation systems designed to prevent condensation and mould problems. By fitting a whole house ventilation system and correctly ventilating your home, condensation dampness will disappear and your damp areas will dry out, ready for redecoration.

The best way to control condensation in your home is by installing a ventilation system such as a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system, or by installing a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) system which is the best system for ensuring desired levels of humidity and good indoor air quality.

The whole house ventilation system will effectively remove condensation dampness and leave you with a healthy indoor environment every day of the year. If you would like an expert from your local area to examine your damp issues and advice on a ventilation solution, you can arrange a free survey today by clicking here.