We offer a wide range of proven solutions to prevent, control and in some cases eradicate damp, but did you know that there are different types of damp?
This blog post will highlight three main types of damp, including condensation, rising damp and penetrating damp. We will also discuss how you can minimise the risk, treat the cause and how to prevent each type of damp.
Condensation
Condensation tends to occur when moist air comes into contact with a colder surface, for example, a wall or window. The air cannot hold the moisture; therefore tiny drops will start to appear on your walls. You will notice that condensation might get worse during colder seasons, as you are less likely to open your windows for the air to circulate and help remove excess water vapour from your home.
How to minimise the risk
To minimise the risk of condensation you can open your windows, turn down your humidifier if you have one and you can turn on your kitchen or bathroom fans to help remove moisture.
Treat the cause
In order to treat condensation, you will need to heat your home as this helps to evaporate any moisture that presents itself in the air.
Prevent it
You can prevent condensation from occurring by altering small elements in your life. For example, avoid drying clothes indoors, or if you do, always keep windows or doors open. Never place your wet clothes on the radiator to dry and try to keep your furniture away from your external walls to allow air movement.
Rising Damp
Older buildings tend to fall victim to rising damp more than others and it is defined as being a form of dampness that happens when groundwater rises up through the floors and walls. Rising damp can be a result of not having an effective damp-proof course.
How to minimise the risk
Similarly to minimising condensation, to minimise the risk of rising damp, you should always heat your home and make sure the air circulates through your home with ease. You can also check your walls to make sure they are not damp, if they are, it could be a sign of rising damp.
Treat the cause
Treating rising damp might be more complicated than condensation as there’s no quick fix, unfortunately. If you notice that rising damp is in your home, we recommend you seek professional help; luckily Cotswold is on hand to help.
Penetrating Damp
The third type of damp is penetrating damp, which is the result of water infiltrating your home from the outside of the building. While rising damp typically occurs in one area, penetrating damp can occur at any level of your home.
How to minimise the risk
To minimise the risk of penetrating damp always check to see if any tiles on your roof are missing or if the gutters are overflowing, see if there are any gaps around your window frames and door frames and see if there is any missing mortar or damage to renders externally.
Treat the cause
Penetrating damp is quite easy to fix yourself, however, you will need to identify where the issue originates from first. Typically, this type of damp is caused because of moisture ingress through walls, faulty guttering or poor cavity insulation.
Prevent it
There are so many causes of penetrating damp that it is hard to suggest one universal quick fix to prevent it, however, we do recommend checking your property for any external damage. For example, windows, roof slates and the guttering.
If you have any more questions about damp in your home, we are always happy to help, so feel free to contact us today.