Winter is the worst time of year for condensation as, well, it’s cold. The air outside is cold and so are the walls of your rental property.
This coldness in the walls means that when warm water vapour settles on them, it condenses into a thin film of water that can take some time to evaporate. The longer the water stays on the walls, the more likely it is to promote mould and cause damage.
While there’s nothing we can do about winter being cold, you can reduce the amount of water vapour and condensation in your Cheltenham rental property, so here’s five easy tips.
Use lids on pans while you’re cooking
Boiling water sends up lots of vapour into the air, so using lids helps to trap this vapour and direct it back into the pan. Using a lid also speeds up the cooking process, saving you a bit of energy.
If your hob has an extractor hood, make sure you use it while cooking and also for 10-15 minutes after you’ve finished, as water vapour can linger in the air for a while.
Close kitchen and bathroom doors when they’re in use
Showers, baths, cooking, kettles – they all produce a lot of steam and so you should keep that steam enclosed in one place until it’s all vented out through a window or an extractor fan. You don’t want the steam condensing on the colder walls elsewhere in the property while you’re drying off or tucking into your warming winter stew.
Dry your clothes outside
As much as possible, dry your clothes outside or near an open window in the bathroom. Going retro by draping clothes over a radiator sends a lot of water vapour out so either do this outside or corral it in an enclosed space that you can vent.
Move your furniture away from external walls
Somewhat less obvious than the other tips, but no less effective. If damp air collects behind furniture and settles on a colder wall, you’ll have mould in no time. Keep furniture at least 5cm away from external walls so damp air can escape and try to place items like wardrobes and chests of drawers against internal walls.
Open your windows whenever you can
Whenever it’s sunny (even if it’s cold), open the windows for at least a few minutes to bring in some fresh, dry air. This is especially important in frequently-occupied rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, as breathing, cooking and hot water are big sources of steam and water vapour.
