How to Prevent and Deal with Damp

Whether you own or rent a house, damp can be an incredibly bothersome issue. Damp is caused by a number of reasons but is usually formed by the presence of excess moisture from condensation, a leak or rising damp, which is where moisture from the ground travels up through the walls. 

Damp is more common during the colder months, and when left untreated, it can cause some serious issues. Fortunately, damp can be easy to spot as your walls can feel cold and wet, while your ceilings can often look discoloured.  

As mentioned, if left untreated, damp can cause a number of issues, not just to your home but also to your health. So, with that being said, we have taken a look at some ways to prevent damp as well as how to deal with it if it does occur. 

Prevent Damp

Damp can occur for a number of reasons and can be more common in older properties due to the nature of the building. However, there are a number of ways it can be prevented:

• Avoid drying clothes indoors
• Keep furniture off of the walls
• Ensure rooms are ventilated
• Use extractor fans wherever necessary 
• Keep the fan on in the bathroom and open the window
• Keep your property maintained and look for damage

Condensation is the leading cause of damp, and this will occur in rooms such as your kitchen, bathroom and even bedrooms; more so during the colder months. To avoid this, you need to ensure that any excess moisture has somewhere to escape. By making sure you have a fan on and window open when you use the shower or bath, use the extractor fan when you cook and leave trickle vents open in your bedroom when you sleep can all help. 

Different Types of Damp

As briefly mentioned above, there are a number of different types of damp that can occur and each one is treated differently. 

Rising Damp: This is an issue that can affect all types of buildings but is more common in older homes. This is usually because the damp proof treatment has deteriorated over time. Common signs include damp staining, wet skirting and damp stonework. 

Condensation: This is one of the most common causes of damp and is caused by general living. This is where moisture is absorbed into the warm atmosphere of your home, and when the house starts to cool down, the moisture condenses on the cooler surfaces. Common signs of condensation include moisture on windows and black mould. 

Penetrating Damp: This is another issue which can affect all types of buildings but is mainly caused by issues with plumbing or where water has entered the building. Common signs include broken drainpipes and watermarked masonry.

How to Deal with Damp 

If you are concerned about damp in your home, then you should always seek the advice of a professional. They will be able to let you know the cause and advise you on the best course of action to take.

Obviously, some types of damp can be resolved a little easier than others, but we have listed some solutions below to the common types of damp:

Rising Damp: This is one of the hardest types of damp to fix, and you will probably need to instruct a professional. Sometimes you will need to replace the damp proof cause, but rising damp can often be misdiagnosed, so it is important you get the opinion of a professional. 

Condensation: Having good ventilation in your home is the key to reducing condensation problems. This can be done by simple as remembering to open windows when you're at home or leaving trickle vents open.

Penetrating Damp: As mentioned above, this is often caused by things like faulty plumbing or broken drainpipes. You may need to carry out some repairs to stop the water from leaking into your home.

Owning a property can often be stressful due to problems such as damp, and this is often one of the reasons many to choose to rent instead. We have a great range of houses to rent in Okehampton perfect for those looking to move to the area, upsize or fly the nest. If you have any questions about any of the properties we have listed, then please to do not hesitate to get in touch on 01837 54504.