Damp & Condensation:Layout 1 10/2/10 11:27 Page 1

East Ayrshire Council

Identifying damp and condensation

Identifying and preventing
Where is the damp? Could be Could be Could be
rising damp damp coming condensation damp and condensation
from above
Help and advice for homeowners
On the windows they get
fogged up, water collects on 
horizontal window frames or
black mould appears

In cupboards or behind large

items of furniture placed
against an outside or stair 
walls. Maybe seen as black or
grey powdery mould. This document is also available, on request, in braille, large print or recorded on
to tape, and can be translated into Chinese, Punjabi, Urdu, Gaelic and Polish.
Around the skirting on ground
Ma tha sibh airson fiosrachadh fhaighinn ann an cnan sam bith eile, cuiribh

floors paper peeling away,
brath thugainnaig an t-seladh a leanas.
paint bubbling, plaster crumbling
or white tide marks on the walls.

On ceilings. 

Damp in the middle of walls. 

Damp at the top of walls under 

the roof.

Designed and produced by East Ayrshire Council Design Section 2010 JB/02/10BB
Dokument dost pny jest rwnie w alfabecie Braillea, w wersji z powi kszonym
drukiem lub w formie nagrania d wi kowego na kasecie. Na yczenie oferujemy
tak e tumaczenie dokumentu na wybrany j zyk.

Housing Services
Civic Centre, Kilmarnock KA1 1HW
Tel: 01563 576661 or 01563 576662
E-mail: homeaid@east-ayshire.gov.uk
Damp & Condensation:Layout 1 10/2/10 11:27
Identifying and preventing damp and condensation
in your home.
There are many causes of damp and condensation in your home. It is
important to find out how and why problems are happening so you can
tackle the problem and stop it happening again. This leaflet contains general
information on how to prevent, identify and treat damp and condensation.
What causes damp?
If a house is not properly ventilated you
may have problems with damp.
Problems often happen if air bricks
(large bricks with holes through them)
are blocked up.
Airbricks are important because they
ventilate the spaces above and below
the floor.
Check to make sure they are not
blocked or covered over.
You can improve ventilation in your
home by:
Checking and cleaning air bricks.
Fitting and using an extractor fan in
the kitchen and bathroom.
Opening windows when cooking or
washing.
Drying clothes outside.
If water gets into your home it can
cause damp.
Common causes are rain/snow, a
leaking gutter or pipe or moisture rising
up through the floors or walls.
A damp proof course (DPC) can
prevent damp in your home. However,
dampness around the skirting boards
Page 2
check these joins regularly to ensure Damp in the middle What is condensation How do I get rid of
that they are not damaged.
of walls and what causes it? condensation?
Slates: Roof slates can break or come
loose, especially in bad weather so you This could be caused by three things: If you find water on the inside of your 1 Increase the ventilation in your
should check them regularly. After a windows or on other cold surfaces, it is home by opening windows regularly
hidden pipe work that has
storm or bad weather, check the area likely to be condensation. You may or using window or wall vents.
developed a leak or
around your house for fallen slates. also find black mould on the walls or
2 Stop warm air hitting the windows
something blocking the cavity in blue/green mould on leather or wood.
Down Pipes and Over Flows: If these by hanging heavy close fitting
the wall, allowing damp to cross If you have mould its usually found in
are leaking they will need to be curtains and/or using plastic film
from the outer wall to the inner cold corners or cupboards.
can often be a sign that there is a
repaired to prevent any dampness. double glazing available from DIY
problem with your DPC and if so, your dampness in an unused Condensation is caused when warm stores.
Contact a local plumber.
DPC will need to be re-done. chimney flue. moist air meets cold surfaces. It
Damp coming up from the floor: If you 3 If windows frames are rotting and
If damp is spotted quickly and treated it happens mainly in winter when the
have damp coming up through the floor You can check for plumbing problems cant be repaired, consider getting
will usually only cause staining to your building is cold and windows are not
or lower walls there could be number using a pipe detector. double glazing fitted.
decoration. open as much.
of causes: Also check if the pointing between the 4 Check if your walls are cold or feel
If damp is not treated straight away it Reducing the moisture content in the
Soil at high level or above the DPC bricks or stones is missing or crumbling. clammy. This could mean you have
can lead to more serious problems air can help prevent condensation. One
too little insulation in the walls. This
Broken or no DPC If you think the problem is in your way of doing this is to make sure your
such as wet or dry rot. Treating these will also add to your heating bill.
chimney flue you can put a plaster vent home is properly ventilated.
problems can be expensive and may Leaks from plumbing and central You can get a free home energy
in the blocked up fireplace serving the
involve major disruption such as the heating advice survey. (See Energy Advice
chimney. If you cannot find the source
replacement of joists, floorboards, Unit 01563 555224 for details.)
Leaks from gutters, down pipes and of the problem or are unsure what to
skirting and plaster.
over flows do, then call a builder for advice. 5 Check that you have the right kind
of heating. The energy advice
Damp on the ceiling Blocked drains.
How to help prevent damp survey can help with this.
If you spot damp on the ceiling or at Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the
Clear soil away from the walls of
the top of walls then this is a sign of a difference between dampness and
your house.
leak from above. You should check: condensation the table on the next
Repair or replace your existing DPC. page can help you identify the problem.
Gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to
water spilling over, leaking into your Repair damaged gutters, down
home and causing damp. Leaves often pipes and over flows.
cause blockages but a leaf guard can
Slope paths and hard surfaces
help prevent this happening. You can
away from the house and drain
buy a leaf guard at a DIY store. You
surface water into a drain or sewer.
should check and clean your gutters at
least once a year. Make sure there are no cold corners
or cold cupboards.
Flashing: Flashing is the name for the
protective layer, usually made of lead or
zinc that covers the joints where the
roof and chimney meet. You should