WELFARE HOUSING
Winter in your Service Family Accommodation
Preparing your home for winter
PINNACLE GROUP
Website : www . pinnacleservicefamilies . co . uk
Queries : hello @ pinnacleservicefamilies . co . uk
National Service Centre : 0800 031 8628 Twitter : @ PinnacleSF Facebook : PinnacleServiceFamilies
The QR Code will take you to the guide that Pinnacle has developed to advise you on how to prepare your home for winter and how to respond should an issue arise . It ’ s worth spending some time getting your home winter-ready before the cold weather really kicks in . Checking everything is in working order ahead of the colder seasons allows time for any repairs to be made . working with
A GUIDE TO PREVENTING CONDENSATION , DAMP & MOULD
1 . INTRODUCTION TO CONDENSATION , DAMP AND MOULD GROWTH
Condensation is usually the biggest cause of damp within homes . Condensation is caused by water vapour or moisture from inside the home coming into contact with a colder surface , such as a window or wall . The resultant water drops ( condensation ) may then soak into the wallpaper or paintwork or even plasterwork . In time , the affected damp areas then attract black mould that grows on its surface .
Condensation mainly occurs during the colder months , whether it is rainy or dry outside . It is usually found in the corners of rooms , north facing walls and on or near windows . It is also found in areas of poor air circulation such as behind wardrobes and beds , especially when they are pushed up against external walls . Black mould is frequently seen on this type of dampness . Most homes will be affected by condensation at some point . However , certain activities can increase the problem .
The ‘ amount ’ of condensation in a home depends upon three factors :
a .
b .
How much water vapour is produced by the actions of its residents .
How cold or warm the property is . c .
How much air circulation ( ventilation ) there is .
Simply turning up the heating will not sort out the problem . All three factors may need to be looked at to reduce the problem . The first sign of a problem is water vapour condensing on windows and other cold surfaces , which then takes a long time to disappear , allowing surfaces to become damp . The second indication is black mould patches growing on these damp areas . Condensation and mould growth may be reduced or remedied without expensive works or treatments and dealing with the causes of condensation will often eliminate the mould problem .
2 . DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAMP AND CONDENSATION a .
Structural issues are related to the fabric of the building which means water or moisture is getting into the home . Examples of the types of problems that occur include :
● Water leaks from windows , roof , downpipes , guttering , internal plumbing and flooding
● Penetrating damp through walls
● Rising damp – usually caused by non-existent or defective damp proof courses
● Wet or damp basements or crawl spaces b .
Condensation is caused by something happening inside the home , such as :
● High relative humidity in the air
● Too much water vapour or steam being generated through cooking , washing , showering and clothes drying
● Inadequate ventilation or not using the extractor fans , vents and windows that are available
● Inadequate heating or too much heat
● Inadequate cleaning and drying after major water leaks and bursts or floods
3 . WARMTH VERSUS VENTILATION
Striking the right balance between warmth and ventilation is important and can be very effective .
By opening windows or ventilating your home it may appear that you are losing some heat , but what you are actually doing is allowing warm moisture-laden air to escape and permitting cool dry air to enter your home . Dry cool air is cheaper to heat than warm moist air ! Using the trickle vents in double glazed window or opening windows slightly , will enable the necessary ventilation . If opening windows the advice is to ventilate for an appropriate period of time , usually between 30 mins to 1 hour , not to leave the windows open all day .
26 WINTER 2023 the imjin Imjin Station Community