Dampness and Your Home

Dampness and Your Home

There is no worse feeling in any basement of any home than the feeling of damp furniture and upholstery. Dampness in your home can make your furniture smell, create potential health problems, and damage the structure of your home. Many people are not aware of the causes of dampness and how to prevent them. Take the time today to review the causes and solutions of dampness in your home.

Causes of Dampness

Here are three separate ways that water can get into your home and cause damage:

Penetrating Dampness: This is where water gets into your home from outside. Look closely for stains and damp patches on your bricks or wallpaper in your home. Carefully inspect your roof, gutters, rainwater pipes, brickwork, and window sills to see if added water is entering your home.
Condensation: This type of dampness generally occurs when water vapor in the air condenses on a cold surface. Water vapor normally appears on window and evaporates as the house gets warmer - as a result, the water will simply condense onto your furniture or floors creating dampness.
Water Vapor: This is created by normal, everyday living in your house such as bathing, cooking, drying clothes, and even breathing. The average family produces approximately 20 pints of moisture every day.

Preventing Dampness: Easy Steps for Your Home

Reduce the dampness in your home by following these simple steps:

Keep lids on pans when cooking
Dry clothes outside or have a pipe that takes the dryer's moisture outside
Run a bath by adding cold water first, and then warming it up with hot water
Refrain from using bottled gas room heaters

Another important aspect of preventing dampness is creating an affective ventilation system for your home. Proper ventilation is the normal escape route for moist air. As the air in your house circulates, it is drawn outside through open windows, doors, air bricks, and chimneys. If this air is prevented from escaping the house will become saturated and will condense on a cold surface in your home. Consider making these changes in ventilation:

Open windows and install screens
Install extractor fans to bathrooms and kitchens
Keep kitchen and bathroom doors close to prevent moist air from circulating

Don't forget to consider proper heating for your home. Warm air in your home can hold moisture much more effectively, and as a result, can prevent air from condensing onto your furniture, walls, and floor. Also, loft insulation, wall insulation, and double glazing will mean you can keep the heat in your home longer and ultimately prevent condensation altogether.

By eliminating dampness you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, which ensures a more comfortable living environment and less money spent on heating costs.

Here are some other ways British Gas can help you save:

Save on Gas and Electricity costs with British Gas. Learn More.

Save on a new Boiler with British Gas. Learn More.

Protect and maintain your home with reliable and professional care from British Gas' many Care and Repair packages. Learn More.

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