WHAT IS CONDENSATION?
Condensation is one of the most common forms of dampness in residential buildings. It is largely caused by modern living standards and building design.

Moist, warm air from activities such as cooking, washing, bathing or even just breathing will ultimately condense on (and sometimes in) colder surfaces in the house, the temperature at which this happens is called the DEWPOINT.

On average each person produces about 4 pints of water vapour each day just from breathing, washing, cooking etc. Therefore a family of five will produce about 20 pints a day; this equates to 140 pints of water vapour a week! This figure will be much higher with activities such as using: - 1, unvented tumble dryers 2, using portable gas heaters 3, drying clothing indoors or on radiators.


WHEN AND WHERE DOES CONDENSATION OCCUR?
Condensation can occur at any time, but is more likely occur at night because the air temperature drops (when your heating switches off) causing humidity to rise. Also many surfaces in the home (particularly the external walls and windows) become colder this lowers the dewpoint temperature to these areas. The most commonly affected areas are moisture to windows, mould growth to walls/ceilings particularly behind curtains, corners of rooms behind beds/pieces of furniture.