WHAT IS DAMP AND WHAT CAUSES IT?
Damp occurs when there is excess moisture in the air that has no means of escaping. This is commonly caused within households when cooking which causes steam, drying clothes inside, such as on radiators and when bathing in baths or in the shower. Often buildings will have problems with plumbing what can lead to excess moisture within the home. These problems might not even stand out as known issues and can often be hard to spot. These can be as simple as leaking drains, dishwashers and clothes washers. Many homes do not have adequate roofing either which can lead to damp and excess moisture.
Damp can affect any type of home. Especially the likes of older buildings for example which were designed to be breathable and allow damp air to evaporate out of the house. Often people will add energy saving works to older buildings such as double glazing, this can actually cause future condensation problems. In newer homes, often the properties have not been left to dry property and water used in the building process is still existent which creates an excess of moisture in the air.
Damp problems can be a serious concern in any home. If you are a home-owner or renting. Damp can be a nuisance and make a room feel cold and create an unhealthy living space. It should be taken seriously though, because damp can also indicate structural issues.
How to identify damp
Damp problems tend to rise during the winter months. If damp problems are left unresolved it can become an all year round issue. You can spot the signs of damp on walls and ceilings. Your walls can feel cold and look damp whilst ceilings will begin to look stained and tainted over time.
Damp can have an affect on your health if left untreated. It can cause things like; runny nose, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. It’s important to have damp issues treated, especially if you’re more at risk such as elderly and those with young families.
Prolonged exposure to high levels of dampness in homes/buildings can reduce the function of the lungs and cause health problems such as asthma. Those who already suffer from asthma and allergies can end up getting more severe symptoms when exposed.
see if you have damp
If you think you may have damp, there’s some ways you can check and then decide the next steps from there:
Back of hand: Not always the most accurate way to measure damp on your walls it will give you a good idea of how bad the damp actually is. Touch the back of your hand against the damp area of a wall and get an idea of the level of dampness. After you’ve done that touch the back of your hand against a dry area on the wall and compare the two to get an idea of how damp the area of the wall is.
Damp meter: Damp meters are a great and accurate way of gauging dampness withing a building. Local professionals should possess a damp meter to check how bad the damp is within a building. The damp meter gives off a lot of information and can assess how bad the problem is and identify the level of moisture within a wall. If you’re based in the North East The Damp & Rot Company can assess your property and check out how bad your damp issue is. Then we can give you expert advice on the next steps to take.