How to Stop Your Home Getting Damp

Dampness is very common in UK homes. In some cases, dampness can be caused by structural issues with the building. However, you can solve house dampness in many cases with a few simple lifestyle changes and home maintenance updates. 

If you leave damp without treating it, this can lead to further issues such as peeling paint, rot and peeling wallpaper, and can even ruin your treasured possessions.

A little bit of care can do wonders for stopping your home from getting damp. The tips below won’t necessarily cure every case of dampness. However, you might be surprised about how effective these tips can be in preventing damp from occurring in your home. 

 Keep Your Home Ventilated

This may seem quite counter-intuitive. However, even when it is cold, it’s still important to regularly air out your home to allow damp air to escape. Open your windows regularly. It is recommended that you do this for at least 15 minutes each day. If your windows have trickle vents, be sure to make use of those so that all of the damp air can escape rather than collect in areas of your home. 

Check For Leaks

If you want to prevent dampness from becoming an issue, it’s a good idea to regularly check your pipes, drains, and guttering to ensure nothing is blocked or leaking. Leaves and other debris can collect in these areas, and if this isn’t taken care of, it can lead to leaks. If your guttering, drains or pipes are damaged, this can also cause problems. Replacing any damaged guttering, drains, or pipes as soon as you notice damage can help to prevent dampness. 

Feel Your Walls 

As strange as this may sound, many people don’t notice dampness until it starts to cause mould or when it starts smelling. A quick feel of the walls while you’re doing your regular cleaning can help you determine whether there is any damp present. This will allow you to treat the dampness before it becomes a further issue. 

Allow Air To Circulate 

It’s important to ensure that air can circulate freely around the home. This can prevent any build-ups of dampness. Avoid putting your furniture right up against the walls. Instead, it would be best if you always left an air gap. Additionally, it’s important to make sure your cupboards are overly full. 

Check Your Roof

In addition to checking your guttering, pipes, and drains, it’s important to also check your roof regularly. Missing roof tiles can lead to leaks which can cause the home to become damp. It’s also a good idea to check inside your loft to make sure there are no leaks present. If you do notice any leaks in the roof, these should be rectified immediately to prevent further damage. 

Check Your Windows

If your windows are showing signs of rot or peeling paint, it’s important to treat these issues as soon as possible to avoid any costly repairs in the future. It’s also important to regularly check your windows sills and frames to see if there is any damp present. If there is no visual rot, but your window surrounds are still damp, this may be due to a problem with the mortar where the mortar has fallen in the gap between the wall and the frame. If you notice any problems with the window surrounds, be sure to rectify these as soon as possible. 

Use Lids When Cooking

The steam that comes off your pans and food when it’s cooking can lead to the air becoming very damp, which can then lead to damp problems in the home. When cooking, always use lids over your pans. You should also keep your kitchen door shut to prevent the damp air from spreading to the rest of the home. For further damp prevention, it’s also a good idea to keep a window open or use an extractor fan to evacuate steam when cooking.