I’m an energy-saving whizz – the ‘ideal temperature’ your home must be to stop condensation, mould and damp this winter
WITH condensation appearing in more and more houses across the country, if you want to banish the wet stuff from your windows, fear not, we’ve got just what you need.
Experts have shared their top advice to tackle this damp dilemma – and it turns out there’s an ‘ideal temperature’ you must keep your home at to ensure condensation, mould and damp don’t take over this winter.
Steve Cox from SES Home Services explained: “Condensation is caused by cold temperatures outside reacting with the warm temperatures inside the home causing air moisture aka water droplets, to form.”
He stressed that this moist menace can cause serious harm to your home, as he added: “This can cause damp, mould and damage to the window sills, and cause wooden window sills and flooring to swell.
“Therefore, it is important to take preventative measures to ensure that condensation is kept to a minimum.”
Luckily for you, energy whizz Ava Kelly from Love Energy Savings has shared the sweet temperature spots for each room in your house.
She revealed: “To ventilate homes and prevent condensation and mould, the ideal temperature for living rooms is 20 degrees, 23 degrees for the bathroom and children’s rooms, and 16 degrees for the bedroom and kitchen.”
Plus, she shared a crucial tip that’ll keep your home cosy and mould-free, as she continued: “It’s also recommended that you never let the temperature of your home fall below 14 degrees.”
And with winter fast approaching and many of our purses feeling tighter than ever, it’s time to get savvy with your heating.
The experts stressed that it’s far more efficient to keep your home heated at a lower temperature for longer periods, rather than cranking up the heat in short bursts, which will also help prevent pesky condensation patches from forming.
Steve recommended that homeowners should maintain a “consistent temperature” throughout their homes.
He also warned that failing to heat and ventilate rooms that aren’t in regular use, particularly during winter months, could lead to dampness and mould issues.
Not only this, but Steve also suggested: “The best way to avoid condensation is to open the window trickle vents, this allows air moisture to move out of the building which lowers the chance of condensation occurring.”
Trickle vents are small openings fitted at the top of window frames, designed to let in a controlled amount of fresh air.
Cheap gadgets to help you stay warm
MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but stay warm.
Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
- USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
These nifty little features are key in combating condensation by allowing humid air to escape without letting all the heat out.
Steve then shared his top tip that could help keep your home drier and don’t worry, it won’t cost you a penny.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
He recommended: “Try opening them for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening to allow enough fresh air to enter without allowing too much warm air to escape.
“Ensure the windows are open as wide as possible as this allows the process to happen quicker, as a short intense blast of air is much better to ensure not too much heat is lost.”
But before you rush to let in some fresh air, Steve advised turning down the heating first, as he explained: “This will prevent warm air condensing in cooler rooms.”
Ava chimed in with another solution for stuffy spaces, as she recommended: “Automatic ones are best, as once your home reaches 60 percent humidity they will automatically switch on and prevent mould developing.”