If you are experiencing problems with damp, it is crucial to know what signs to look out for and how simple changes to your everyday life can prevent it from getting worse. The three types of damp you should look out for are condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp.

 

Condensation is the most common form of damp and cannot be prevented as it is caused from everyday living such as cooking and washing. It occurs when warm damp air condenses on a cold or cooler surfaces. Condensation is most frequent in rooms where excess moisture is created such as kitchens from cooking and bathrooms from showering. 

 

How to Spot Condensation 

• Condensation occurs in most properties but if excess water is collecting on windows consistently, there may be an air ventilation issue that needs to be addressed. 

• Black Mould is a common and unpleasant sign of condensation. It should not be ignored as sufficient moisture will allow the mould spores to grow and spread across a surface over time. You may also notice a damp musty smell. 

• Damp walls and peeling plaster - If a condensation issue is left untreated, this may result in walls feeling damp and the plaster peeling or damaged. 

 

How to prevent condensation

• When showering, it is important to keep the room as ventilated as possible. This can be achieved by having vents turned on, windows opened and the door closed. Even after the shower is turned off, you should leave windows open until the room is sufficiently ventilated. 

• When cooking it is important to leave lids on pots and pans to prevent any unnecessary moisture from escaping. Extractor fans should be kept on a high power with the windows open and doors closed.
• It is recommended to dry clothes outside but as this isn’t always possible for students in the U.K, clothes should be dried in a tumble dryer where the ventilation pipe runs to the outside of the building. If you do not have a tumble dryer, then it is recommended to dry clothes in a small space with the door closed and the window open.   

 

Rising damp occurs when moisture manages to get into the structure of a building and travels up from the ground through the walls in a process known as capillary action. This occurs when a previous damp proofing course in place has failed. It is important to note that rising damp can only occur on the ground floor of a building. Unfortunately, there is nothing students can do to prevent rising damp. It is the landlord’s responsibility to make the building is sufficiently damp proofed. 

 

How to spot rising damp

• The most common sign of rising damp is tide marks appearing on the walls which may be accompanied with damp patches. This will be evident anywhere up to one metre above the skirting board. 

• When the water travelling up through the walls dries out, the salts in the water remain on the walls. These salts will appear on walls in the form of white fluffy deposits. 

• Rising damp can lead to timber decay so you may notice decayed skirting boards that are cracked, crumble or covered in fungus. Wallpaper may also begin to peel and appear to curl upwards.  

 

Penetrating damp occurs when moisture finds its way from the outside to the inside of a property. Penetrating damp can occur on any level of a property. While this isn’t caused from everyday living, students should look for cracks or leaks in windows and gutters and report this to the landlord who can resolve the issue before penetrating damp can occur.  

 

Signs of penetrating damp

• Damp patches on walls that do not go away may indicate there is a penetrating damp issue. These patches may be more noticeable after periods of rain. 

• Black mould may also indicate penetrating damp and will grow in size over time if left untreated. 

• Any leaks or cracks in roofs or gutter may signify that water is penetrating the property.

 

By Jake Ryan of Peter Cox