14th April 2023
As a national housing association, Falcon Housing Association C.I.C (FHA) helps adults of all needs and backgrounds live as independently as possible. Part of that is in helping ensure that the places where people live are safe, comfortable and properly maintained all through the year. Spotting signs of damp is important for this.
Today, we’ll talk about this common concern in properties up and down the country: Find out what causes it, signs it’s present and how to treat it to keep your home fit for purpose.
Signs of rising damp
First, let’s look at how to spot dampness in the home. You may notice:
- The smell, which is usually a musty type of scent. The air may also feel close and humid.
- Discolouration on the walls, particularly in wallpaper, which is known for absorbing moisture. The wallpaper may also be visibly lifting.
- Wet or cold walls. This may be more noticeable on painted walls.
- The presence of mould, whether on floors, walls, ceilings or windows, or in particularly moist places in the home, like the bathroom.
- Signs of rot, such as along windows or skirting boards.
Types of damp
There are three types.
- Most damp is caused by condensation – when windows have water on the inside, or blackened patches appear around window frames and walls. Poor heating and ventilation is usually the cause of this.
- Rising damp can also occur in the home, which is seen around the lower edges of walls. This is where the bricks of the house ‘soak up’ groundwater.
- Finally, penetrating damp can affect your home. This is where water gets in from the outside, whether it’s through the roof, a chimney or wall with cracked or broken pointing, or poor seals around doors and windows
Causes of damp
There are lots of reasons why you may be experiencing signs of dampness in your home. It could be that your home needs some maintenance, such as repairing damaged mortar or pointing, or fixing a broken roof. It could also be that your home isn’t being adequately heated in colder weather. And, of course, older properties may not have protective damp-proof courses or barriers in place, which act to prevent groundwater from entering the property.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to pinpoint a cause for damp. That’s why it’s important to talk to us, so we can send someone out to your home to investigate further.
Treating dampness
How you approach it depends on the type:
- Condensation: use extractor fans and dehumidifiers around the house to combat condensation. Dry clothes outside if possible. Finally, try to ventilate your kitchen when cooking to prevent a build-up of steam.
- Penetration: get an expert’s opinion on what’s leading to damp getting in. FHA can advise on common building defects that may be responsible, which is a great starting point.
- Rising: a damp-proof course may be broken or nonexistent. It may be possible to damp-proof your home with methods like damp-proof injection, where a special ‘cream’ is pumped into holes in your mortar joints. This then works to repel water and moisture. Again, FHA can advise.
Contact our team today
FHA supports vulnerable people throughout England to find the right specialist-supported housing for them and their needs. To learn more about the work FHA does, or to get in touch send us an email via hello@falconha.org or log onto our website www.falconha.org