Professional Condensation Solutions

Condensation affects one in five properties every year in the United Kingdom, and most commonly occurs during the cold winter months.

While some condensation problems can be solved by every day changes to moisture producing activities within the home, often this is not enough to prevent the problem long term. Many homes have carried out draught proofing which while keeping heat in, also traps moisture in the property. This means that other methods of ventilation may be necessary, while thermal improvements may also be required.

Rentokil Property Care are experts in condensation control and damp proofing, and have decades of experience working with homeowners, social housing providers and our commercial clients. From the initial damp and timber survey to fully understand the problem at hand, to carrying out any necessary repairs, Rentokil Property Care can provide you with expert advice and solutions for condensation.

Condensation is caused when there is an excessive amount of moisture laden air inside a property and a lack of ventilation to help remove it. This means the moisture is trapped, and will then condense on cold surfaces.

The perfect environment inside a home has a balance between heating (warm air can hold more moisture), insulation (to keep the heat inside and to reduce cold surfaces) and ventilation (to remove excess moisture).

So in order to stop condensation you must get the balance right between the amount of moisture produced and ventilation required. Sometimes this can involve changes to every day activities such as cooking and cleaning, while in others it may mean professional solutions to ventilation.

Condensation and mould growth will also form in areas with limited air circulation, often in unexpected places like behind furniture in the bedroom. Moisture laden air can travel throughout your property, and will condense on cold surfaces, especially north facing walls, in bay windows and behind long curtains or the headboards of beds. Improvements to air circulation and the thermal efficiency of walls can help prevent this.

Sometimes minor changes to the way we live in our homes can be enough to fix the imbalance and remove a condensation problem. If the problem persists however, you may need a professional survey and specialist treatments. 

• Always use lids on pans when boiling water, and only use as much water as required to cover whatever you are cooking.
• Always use the extractor fan or cooker hood when cooking, or open a window to help remove the steam.
• If you cannot dry clothes outside, only dry them in a room with the window open, and the door closed. This will help excess moisture escape while preventing it from circulating to other rooms in your property. Alternatively, dry in the bathroom with the extractor fan on.
• Make sure tumble dryer vents lead outside
• Keep doors closed while showering, and run the extractor fan for 10 minutes after, to help remove the steam
• Use a dehumidifier in high humidity areas like the kitchen, or rooms where you dry clothes. These can help remove moisture from the air but are not a long term solution to the root cause of the problem.

• Try and maintain a constant temperature in the home, hot and cold cycles can cause condensation to form as temperatures drop
• Move furniture away from the walls, especially in bay windows or areas with a lack of air flow. This prevents humid stagnant air from condensing on cold surfaces and causing mould.
• Improve insulation across your property where appropriate. This can be cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, or for properties with limited space, thermal plastering.
• Install double glazed windows

If attempts to reduce condensation are not working, and you’re still suffering from damp walls and mould growth, you may require a damp and timber survey from a trained professional. Rentokil Property Care have a number of PCA accredited CSRT and CSTDB qualified surveyors who can carry out a thorough inspection of your property, and offer long term solutions.

They will use a range of methods and specialist tools to identify the root cause of the problem. This will include the use of thermal imaging cameras to identify cold spots and checking the ventilation requirements to provide you with guidance to effectively control excessive moisture. They will carry out an external and internal inspection of the property, to identify any other issues relating to damp, fungal decay, woodworm or structural problems.

They will confirm the root cause of any damp issues found, whether it is caused by excess moisture production, a plumbing leak, penetrating damp, rising damp or any other factors. All findings will be detailed in an easy to ready survey report, along with recommendations for treatments where necessary. This may include thermal improvements to walls, increased ventilation or insulation top up.

Once a qualified Rentokil Property Care surveyor has inspected the property and the problem is confirmed to be caused by condensation, they will provide you with a treatment plan to solve the problem.

If you are concerned about condensation and mould in your home, professional advice and long term professional solutions will help provide you with peace of mind.

You may require improvements to ventilation in order to help remove excess moisture from the interior of your home. Ventilation and air flow is usually improved through air bricks, window trickle vents, extractor fans and in some cases, positive input ventilation (PIV) units.

Extractor fans are essential to help remove moisture from activities such as cooking, bathing and cleaning. Humid air is able to travel round a property and will condense on cold surfaces, so unless you remove the moisture at source, it will remain inside your property. Make sure to close doors whilst using bathrooms and kitchens, so the humid air cannot circulate through your whole property.

Positive input ventilation (PIV) units are used to provide a constant stream of fresh filtered air inside a property and are an excellent way to reduce condensation and mould growth. The PIV unit will typically be installed in a loft space from where it can draw in fresh air that is filtered and distributed throughout a property at a continuous rate from a central point. This fresh air will push stale moisture laden air out of the property through natural gaps under floors, trickle vents, airbricks, window sashes and doors. For flats or apartments a PIV unit is fitted directly onto a wall or hidden inside a cupboard, normally in the hallway.

If during the damp and timber survey a Rentokil Property Care surveyor thinks improvements to ventilation are required, this will be detailed in the survey report.

The cold spots in a property that are prone to condensation and mould growth can often be improved by increasing the thermal efficiency of the surface. A damp survey can help provide answers on what may be causing the issue, and if thermal improvements are required, Rentokil Property Care have several options available.

Thermal plastering is an effective method of improving the thermal efficiency of solid walls within rooms and can help reduce energy bills while preventing condensation. As the thin tiles are directly applied to walls, there is no need to carry out alterations to skirting boards, windows, coving or radiators. For more isolated areas, or in patches where thermal plastering can not be applied, anti-condensation paints can be used. When incorporated into paint they help create a thermal barrier between cold surfaces and the warm air inside the home. This prevents mould growth from forming. 

In some cases where condensation is forming on ceilings there may be a need to improve the levels of insulation in the loft. Often insulation is not up to recommended thickness, meaning cold spots can occur. In some cases it is installed incorrectly, leading to cold spots or even condensation problems in lofts.

Rentokil Property Care can help top up loft insulation to recommended levels, helping prevent heat from escaping your home while stopping the mould growth on ceilings. A Rentokil Property Care surveyor will provide detailed information in the survey report if improvements to insulation or thermal plastering are required, along with any ventilation recommendations.

There are various studies and government legislation that showcase the risks associated with poor indoor air quality, damp and mould growth, particularly if there is long term exposure. The symptoms people experience can range in severity, and can include issues like  nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing or skin rashes when mould spores are present.

People who suffer from specific allergies or asthma may suffer from attacks or difficulty breathing. Over time symptoms can worsen and prolonged exposure is linked to respiratory problems in those with weakened immune systems.

While damp and humid conditions caused by condensation creates an unpleasant atmosphere to live in, the moist air can also contain dust mite allergens and other organic compounds. Other compounds from cleaning products, hair sprays, deodorants and even scented candles can remain in the atmosphere, contributing to symptoms. 

There has been numerous legislation in the UK around damp and mould including the Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) which identifies damp and mould as a ‘category one’ hazard. Awaab’s Law and the Social Housing (Regulation) Act were introduced after the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in December 2020 from a severe respiratory infection caused by prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home. This legislation highlights the risks associated with damp and mould problems in homes in the UK, and the need for advice and solutions from qualified professionals within strict time frames.

While isolated patches of black mould can be wiped away using household products and increasing air flow, some more severe cases may require professional mould cleaning. For properties affected by severe mould problems, Rentokil Property Care offer professional mould removal cleaning services.

The cleaning process often uses two separate products, in order to remove the stain and kill the mould.

The first step is to carry out a survey of the affected areas, in order to fully understand the scope of the problem and be able to provide recommendations to prevent the issues long term. Our expert technicians will then carry out specialist cleaning, equipped with professional grade fungicidal treatments to kill the mould at its source and remove the associated stain.

Further remedial treatments can then be carried out to help improve ventilation and the thermal efficiency of identified areas.

Rentokil Property Care has been working in peoples homes and businesses for over 70 years, correctly identifying property issues and providing long term solutions.

We are experts in property preservation, and can provide you with personalised advice for the condensation problem that is unique to your property.