By David Watt/ September 4th, 2014/ There are currently 0 comments
One of the things that many homeowners, landlords and tenants dread finding in their properties in signs of damp. As this is an issue that can quickly spiral out of control as the damp spreads across walls, carpets and fabrics creating crumbling plaster, peeling paint and patterns of mould.
Not only does damp look unpleasant, it smells and can even cause an allergic reaction. Mould, which thrives in damp environments releases spores into the air and these can cause hay-fever-like symptoms – itch eyes, sore throat, runny nose. Damp can also prove very costly to try and get rid of, especially the case the longer you leave it.
There are a number of different steps that you can to take in order to tackle damp and the faster you act the better before your home and your health are affected.
Identify the source of the damp
It is important to identify the source of liquid in order to effectively tackle the problem. This could be something like a pipe that is leaking, a broken gutter or a missing tile. Damp can also occur because of condensation building up on the inside of your home.
Once you have located the source you will know what needs to be done to stop the buildup of liquid.
Contact your landlord
As a tenant, you have the right to have the structure of your home kept in good repair by the landlord, this includes the heating, hot water system, gutters and roof. If you’re in doubt about whether your landlord is responsible, check your tenancy agreement or speak to your letting agent.
You’ll need to contact your landlord or letting agent and explain the problem. It’s best to write out what the problem is and take photographs as evidence. There’s more information on this here.
Consider a dehumidifier
Once the cause of the damp is fixed it shouldn’t spread any further but you may be left with patches on your walls – you need to dry the place out. One of the most effective ways of doing this is with an dehumidifier.
A dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air, a bit like a tumble dryer extracts moisture from clothing. This will help your home dry out much faster.
If you’re damp problem was caused by condensation in the first place, then a dehumidifier will solve the problem without you having to get the landlord involved.
Use an air purifier to get rid of mould
Airfree air purifiers actually remove mould spores from the air and in time completely eliminate the source of the mould in the room. Models such as the Airfree P80 model have been rigorously tested and proven to remove 99.99% of microorganisms from the air.
These steps will help to make it easier and quicker to deal with damp and mould problems in your home, which cuts the risk of further damage to your property and reduces the risk of damp related health issues.
We’ve also written an article which will help you diagnose if you need an air conditioner or a dehumidifier, which has some useful advice on dealing with humidity in your home.
Photo taken by Alisha Vargas. Some rights reserved.
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