Condensation:
Condensation:
In winter, after a cold night, condensation appears on the windows inside my home; in my living room, bedroom, kitchen.
Some mornings the windows are as wet as a shower cubicle.
Steam from the kettle, drying wet clothes indoors, cooking and breathing create internal moisture.
Whenever cold air outside hits the warmer air inside it combines with whatever moisture is present to create condensation.
At best, it is a cluster of water bubbles gathering in the lower corners of the window frame. At worst, the window is a fully opaque, wet and moist screen.
For many of us condensation is a constant battle.
I keep a towel and squeegee on hand to mop it up. Otherwise, condensation could lead to mould, pervasive dampness, clammy air, foul smells and spores.
It is only when you fully occupy a home that you discover if condensation is a problem, and if dealing with condensation in winter is going to be just an everyday part of life.
Nobody wants condensation.
We want our homes to express our taste and style. We want our homes to be a comfortable space.
Condensation reminds us we are not masters of our own domain.
Insurance and building companies issue advice on how to prevent condensation. But it isn’t always feasible, or affordable, to buy a dehumidifier, leave the windows open in winter, or the heating on low at all times.
Keeping nature at bay.
Being human, living in an inanimate man-made space, pits us against nature. But nature is a formidable force that can rot, break, shake and destroy a building slowly, or quickly.
Mould thrives in dank, damp spaces.
Extreme condensation and high levels of damp is often associated with poverty and neglect. But it can also be attributed to bad design and poor building materials. A building that was doomed to fail, that should never have been built.
When condensation is allowed to settle it attacks finishes and paintwork. This can lead to rot, corrosion, decay and mould and an unhealthy, dangerous, environment.
images of condensation water droplets catch the light, bubbles on glass., random patterns, a thing of beauty. But when I see how much water has formed on the windows overnight, my heart sinks.
In winter, I am anxious and vigilant, carefully scouring the corners of the room, the windows, the door and the bathroom for any signs of darkness, blackness or green mildew.
Until the season for condensation has passed it’s hard to relax.
Mould can kill.
In 2020 Aawab Ishak (aged 2) died as a direct result of a respiratory condition caused by mould and damp from living in sub-standard rented housing. His death drew widespread attention to the impact of mould and damp in sub-standard rented housing.
The subsequent consultation, UK Government Guidance ” Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home”( 7/9/2024) recognises that certain people are more at risk. That is: people with health conditions, compromised immune system, pregnant mothers, young children, people who are bed-bound/house-bound, children, older people or people with mental health problems. A broad cross-section of our society young and old who are made vulnerable just by being at home.
The guidance recognises that living with mould and damp is not just about physical impact but also the mental health effect due to:
- unpleasant living conditions
- destruction of property and belongings
- anxiety related to physical health impacts and/or looking after a relative suffering from damp and mould-related illnesses
- frustration with poor advice and/or being blamed for damp and mould
- social isolation as a result of not wanting visitors in the home
- delays in response or repairs following reporting of damp and mould and/or poor quality of repairs
Significantly, it addresses how people living in inadequate rented accommodation find themselves putting on a front, developing feelings of shame, culpability, and being disregarded.
When it is not their fault.
The introduction of Awaab’s Law in the UK now requires landlords to promptly address and fix damp and mould issues.
This must go some way to preventing similar tragedies; to enable people to live in a healthy environment; to live in a home comfortably.
