WITH the UK's unpredictable weather, maintaining a steady temperature at home can be a real challenge.
Even as spring approaches, many households are still feeling the chill - especially for those trying to save money by keeping the heating off.
With energy bills on the rise yet again, many people are using their heating less and less.
However, a consistently cold home can lead to condensation, which encourages mould growth - something that’s bad for both your home and your health.
Damp living conditions can cause a range of issues, making daily life uncomfortable and turning simple tasks, like drying clothes, into a struggle.
Fortunately, this problem can be easily managed by maintaining a specific temperature at key times throughout the day.
“Condensation comes from cooking, cleaning, bathing, even breathing.
"Condensation will form on the coldest surfaces in the room first, these cold areas are usually around windows, the corners, and external walls,” explains UK engineering company The Hyde Group.
“Condensation occurs mainly during cold weather, whether it is raining or dry.
"Condensation is not necessarily a problem, as long as the surface has time to dry out every day.”
The Hyde Group reports: “The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out.
“You don’t need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.”
Fortunately, tackling dampness doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
We previously revealed an expert's simple yet effective ways to remove it from your walls - and prevent it from returning.
Paint and interiors specialist Lucy Steele, from Valspar Paint, revealed an easy five-minute trick that uses a common kitchen staple.
She explained: "How you fix the damp depends on the cause of the problem.
"If you think there’s a problem with your exterior wall, roof, or you have rising damp, call a specialist who will help identify the cause and fix the problem."
For dampness that can be managed at home, Lucy suggests a natural solution: "Try using white vinegar for areas of mould found on porous surfaces.
“This trick is especially useful if the damp has extended below the surface.
"The vinegar will penetrate to kill the mould and mildew at the root, preventing it from regrowing."
Beyond removing existing damp, Lucy also shared how to prevent it from spreading by using the right type of paint.
She advised: "When painting over a damp patch, you should always use a specialist paint. Paints designed for damp often have properties that treat the problem as well and stop it from coming back.
“They also let moisture escape, meaning there won’t be a build-up of damp.
"So if you’ve fixed the root cause, using a specially formulated damp paint should put a stop to the problem for good."
Damp stains can be particularly tricky to cover, but the right paint makes all the difference.
"Our damp seal permanently seals and blocks damp stains from spreading, so it won’t ruin your topcoat," Lucy added.
"Some damp paints let you paint it directly onto the damp patch, whereas others might need a dry surface to adhere to."
Comments
Leave a Comment