[DebF_EONNext]

Simple ways to reduce condensation & mould this winter while staying warm and saving energy!

Winter can make our homes feel a bit damp and cause misty windows, especially when we are trying to keep the place warm and stop that heat from escaping. With a few small changes and building simple habits you can keep your home dry, warm and more energy efficient.

🔥 Keeping the heat low and steady

Did you know that condensation forms when short bursts of high heat hit the cold surfaces of the walls etc? Keeping a low and consistent temperature of around 18-19c helps to reduce how hard your heating system has to work and helps to keep those surfaces warm and dry.

🌬 Let your radiators breathe

Giving your radiators room to breathe allows them to work more efficiently. Make sure there isn't anything blocking your radiator, by leaving a small gap around them helps heat travel around the room more evenly, this means it will reduce the cold spots in your home reducing the moisture build up - bonus, it also means that your room will feel warmer so you won't need to turn that thermostat up!

Ventilate your home & keep humidity balanced 🏡

Let the fresh air flow! Opening a window for 2-5 minutes and turning on the extractor fan after cooking or showering goes a long way. Keeping your humidity levels between 40-60% will keep your home comfortable. Use moisture traps or dehumidifiers to reduce excess moisture. This helps to remove the damp air quickly and as dry air heats up faster, your home stays warmer.

👗Drying clothes indoors

We all know winter can be a pain for drying clothes, especially without a tumble dryer. Drying indoors creates a lot of moisture in the air so if you have to dry your clothes inside use a clothes horse (drying rack) in a room with ventilation or try a heated airer on a low setting. Avoid drying clothes on radiators not only is it a safety hazard but it also blocks the radiators off which as we know reduces their efficiency.

♨ Control steam in the kitchen

Where you can, pop lids on your pots and pans when cooking, use an extractor fan and only boil as much as you need rather than a whole pan of water. Less steam = fewer damp spots and less energy is used heating up damp air.

Get rid of condensation straight away 💧

If you spot condensation build up on the windows wipe it away. A quick wipe especially in the morning stops any mould setting in and spreading, it also keeps the room drier so it will warm up faster!

Of course every home is different, my home is very old with thick stone walls. I don't get much condensation, however, I do get a lot of draughts and only having a stove fire it takes time to heat, so keeping my home at a constant temperature is difficult. How do you keep your home warm & mould free in winter? Have you got some tried and tested tips of your own to share 🤔 I would love to hear what works in your home!

[Indyk_EONNext]

Thank you for sharing @DebF_EONNext

It surely is that time of year already where we need to think about getting our houses ready for winter! 🙈 you may all know I have recently moved house and though it's not much bigger it feels more colder, which may be due to open fires.

To help with the condensation around the house I have purchased a heated air rack as I don't have a tumble dryer, leaving this on for a few hours helps dry the clothes which saves me dotting them around the house on the radiators. I have also purchased a Karcher window vac, which is currently on offer for £40 on amazon with the black Friday deals! when waking up in the mornings the first thing i've been doing is clearing the condensation on the windows which helps prevent mould growing.

[DebF_EONNext]

@Indyk_EONNext I bought a cheap window vac for when I'm cleaning the windows but it's rubbish. The Karcher has always been a bit too pricey for me but that's a great price I might take a look!