Year-Round Ways to Keep Seasonal Damp Out of Your Home
Damp issues are something that many homeowners only think about once visible signs like mould or discolouration on the wall appear. However, the problems actually start long before signs like these are visible, which is why it is important to prevent damp and not just treat it once symptoms appear. This article explores the role the seasons play in causing damp problems and explains how you can ensure your home is protected year-round.
Damp Risks by Season
In the UK, the changing of the seasons affects what types of damp occur. This is partly due to the different weather conditions, but the changes in people’s activities also have an impact. For example, when people stay inside with the heating on during winter, condensation can become a big problem. Freezing temperatures can also cause cracks in mortar, letting moisture inside and causing penetrating damp.
As for the other seasons, falling leaves and heavy rain in autumn can lead to blocked and overflowing gutters, which can cause water to pool around the base of properties and potentially find a way to enter them. Spring and summer are generally drier, but they can be very humid, which may cause condensation. Sudden storms can also flood basements and saturate the ground, leading to rising damp.
Preventing Damp in Autumn
The most important thing you can do to protect your home against damp during autumn is to clear your gutters. This helps with preventing penetrating damp, because falling leaves and other debris can block them, causing water to spill over the sides and be deposited at the base of your home. If it is not drained away, it will likely find its way inside through cracks and pores in the exterior.
Preventing Damp in Winter
The key to preventing damp during winter is ventilation. During the cold months, people keep their windows shut and have the heating on, meaning there is no fresh air flowing in to remove the humid air created by the heating. These are the ideal conditions for condensation. Make sure to open your windows for a brief period each day, and use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom. Good insulation also helps and can lower your energy bills, too.
Preventing Damp in Spring and Summer
As temperatures start to warm up again after winter, ice that may have been filling cracks and holes in your home’s structure will melt, turning them into entryways for moisture. This means it’s important to check your home during spring and address any issues you find.
Summer is another time when humidity can be a problem, meaning that good ventilation is important again. Sudden heavy downpours can also be an issue, and they can be especially problematic for basements because they oversaturate the ground. Basement tanking is one way to protect your basement against damp and flooding, and a DPC injection will ensure you are protected against rising damp caused by the excessive groundwater.
Damp can affect homes at any time of year, but good solutions can protect your home for decades. For guaranteed damp solutions that will last, get in touch with London Damp Proofing Ltd by calling us on 0208 226 6330 or emailing [email protected].