Condensation and mould

What happens when you report damp and mould?

Step one - Reporting

Call us on 01344 382800, or email our damp and mould team directly at dampandmould@silvahomes.co.uk. Make sure to include pictures of the affected area(s). We may also need to ask you some questions so we can quickly diagnose the problem.

We will respond to all damp and mould queries within five working days and will visit all homes where an issue is reported for an in-person inspection.

Please note that we categorise and analyse every case of damp/mould reported to us. Those with serious cases, or vulnerabilities such as illness, disability, young children etc. will be prioritised.

Step two - First visit

When our expert surveyor or operative visits your home, depending on the severity of your case, they will either:

• Give you some advice about how you can tackle damp and mould.
• Perform a 'clean and shield' to get rid of the damp and mould to prevent it from coming back.
• Inform you that more work is needed, we will then arrange a date to come back to fix it.

If you were just provided with some advice on how you can tackle the damp and mould by yourself, or a clean and shield, we will not arrange a second visit. If you disagree with our diagnosis, call us on 01344 382800, or email our damp and mould team directly at dampandmould@silvahomes.co.uk.

If you were told that more work is needed, please continue to step three.

Step three - Follow-on works

We, or one of our contractors will attend your home at the agreed appointment slot to rectify the issue. We may need to visit more than once if the job is specialised or unforeseen circumstances occur. Please be reassured that we will work until we find and fix the root cause to keep the damp and mould from coming back.

Step four - Post-work inspection

Once we have visited and fixed the problem, we will arrange a post-work inspection to take place. At the inspection we will advise you that:

• We believe the cause of the damp and mould is fixed and no further work is needed, your case is now completed. You will receive a letter and e-mail to confirm this. Our damp and mould team will also make a note to contact you in six months' time to check in, and make sure the work was successful and that the damp and mould has not returned.
• More damp and mould-related issues are picked up. Our damp and mould team will arrange for further work to be scheduled.

Step five - Six-month survey

When we close your case, our damp and mould team made a note to contact you in six months to check-in, and make sure the work was successful and that your damp and mould has not returned. If your home is free of damp and mould we will send you a survey to give you the chance to tell us what you think of our service.

Please note that this will only take place if you haven't reported any further issues with damp and mould to us.

If the issues have returned, we will arrange an appointment to re-inspect your home as a priority.

Preventing condensation and mould

 

Click the buttons below to learn more about how you can prevent condensation from building up in your home.

Minimise cold spaces in your home

• The most common cause of mould in homes is underheating. Condensation gets worse in cold spaces, so it is vital to make sure all your rooms have suitable heating.
  The World Health Organisation suggests that a living room is kept at around 21 degrees and 18 degrees for bedrooms. This can fall at night or when you are out but rooms should be brought to these temperatures for periods of the day.
• In cold weather it’s better to leave the heating on a low, constant heat all day rather than putting it on for short bursts; this can be a more cost-effective way of keeping your home warm.
• Keep doors shut to keep heat in and avoid heat loss to where you don’t want it.
• Don’t warm unheated rooms by leaving doors open to a heated room, as this will cause warm damp air to enter the room and condense on cold surfaces.

Improve ventilation around your home

• Keep all furniture slightly away from external walls. Check behind furniture every few months to make sure there is no build-up behind it. 
• Where possible position furniture against internal walls.
• Keep air bricks and fans clear.
• Do not draught-proof windows in rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen, or other rooms prone to damp.
• Avoid over-filling cupboards and shelves where mould tends to form. 
• If you have trickle vents on your windows, keep them open to increase airflow.

Avoid excess moisture building up in your home

• The quickest and easiest way to bring in dry air is by opening and shutting windows. We advise opening a window, counting to five and then closing it immediately.
  The aim is not to let the heat out and cold in, it is to let condensation out. If you get cold whilst opening the window, then it has been open for too long.
  You should do this when you get up in the morning, and in each room before you do any activity such as having a bath or shower or cooking.
• Dry clothes outdoors or in a room with a window open and the door closed.
• If you use a tumble drier make sure it’s vented to the outside (or is a condensing machine).
• Never put wet clothes on a radiator - it creates a huge amount of moisture very quickly.
• Whilst cooking use lids where possible and turn the extractor fan on or have a window open.
• Always have a window open or have the extractor fan on when using hot water in the bathroom. Shut the door to avoid excess moisture escaping into your home and keep the fan on or the window open for as long as possible after you are done. 
• Wipe down surfaces to take away excess moisture from walls after cooking or showering.