DraughtBusters

Energy saving advice and help

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Types of damp in the home

There are basically three types of damp found in homes:

  1. Penetrating damp
  2. Rising damp
  3. Condensation.

We cover each briefly below, but condensation is the one we are mainly concerned about in carrying out draught proofing to existing homes.

1. Penetrating Damp

Leaking roof damage
Damage from a leaking roof

Penetrating Damp is caused by water seeping into the property from leaking pipes, guttering, overflows or holes in the roof, round windows etc. This type of damp leaves a ‘tide mark’ around the affected area. Tide marks can also result from old leaks but they don’t move or from leaking plumbing, most commonly leaks from showers.

2. Rising Damp

Rising damp is very rare and is happens to ground floors only, it is caused by moisture in the ground being sucked up by the walls of the property. This is due to a defective or missing damp-proof course in combination with impermeable wall surfaces. The damp will not rise more than a metre up the wall from ground level. Rising damp can cause flaking plaster, paint and render and salt deposits may be seen on internal walls and external brickwork.

Beware of damp meters prevalent in the industry, I always drill a hole and weigh the dust, dry it in an airing cupboard and reweigh to calculate the percentage moisture content. Nothing else is any good apart from a carbide test. See the video below for an example of how damp meters can mislead.

3. Condensation

Condensation is the most common type of damp. There is always moisture in the air and when warm damp air reaches cold surfaces (like windows) tiny drops of water can appear. Condensation mostly occurs during cold weather. In places where there is little movement of air, for example in the corners of rooms, behind wardrobes and near windows where it cannot re-evaporate very easily can lead to mould growth. It is also common to see mould growing on ceilings in bedrooms where there is a patch of insulation missing above. See below for some common examples of condensation by visiting our gallery.

Mould due to missing insulation
Start of condensation
Condensation behind a wardrobe
Severe condensation round a bedroom ceiling
Condensation to bedroom ceiling edges
Condensation problem over a Front Door

4) Steaming up, when we boil things or take a bath or shower the room steams up, this is not really condensation in the sense that we are talking about, it is unavoidable in shower or bathrooms. The key to not having problems is for it to go away on its own or with a little help before the next use. Squeegee down the tiles and screen, hang the shower curtain if you have one in the open position, open the window, don’t just walk out if you are having problems with black mould. 

Covid recovery package to include vouchers to help pay for energy saving retrofits

July 7, 2020

Vouchers of up to £5000 to help pay for energy saving home improvements are one of the measures expected to be announced by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in tomorrow's (Wednesday 8 July 2020) statement … [Read More...]

Lockdown Actions

June 2, 2019

UPVC Door Problems

December 23, 2017

PM lends support

February 8, 2017

Energy Saving information available from Repair Café events this winter

December 15, 2016

[Media Release] Repair Café with Energy Saving Seminar

December 13, 2016

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Transition Town Reading

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Supported by

Reading Rotary Club

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