Causes Of Damp
Many houses all across the UK will unfortunately experience issues relating to damp at some point, with many of theses issues relating to these main causes:
Damp problems caused by cavity wall insulation
Recently there has been a surge in damp problems caused by cavity wall insulation with houses built before the 1980’s being the most common to experience this issue. This is because the material used for the insulation is made up from very loose fibres; despite the manufacturers of this material stating it is water repellent research has shown this is very far from being waterproof and the material in fact soaks up water with some samples found to contain up to 243% moisture. This occurs when rain water penetrates through the outside brick, the insulation then absorbs that water, once the insulation is full it then passes on to the inside breezeblock and then eventually to the inside wall if not dealt with.
Excess moisture
Moisture that gets into the air within your home due to activities carried out on a daily basis such as cooking, washing, showering and even drying clothes . These activities can produce up to four pints of water directly into your home surroundings within just one day and with insulation alongside double glazing it can be almost impossible for this moisture to exit your household completely.
Inadequate DPC
Inadequate DPC refers to when damp from the ground is able to travel up through the damp proof course which are water resistant materials put in place. This is usually caused due to a variety of issues such as: debris in wall cavities, external ground levels being too high, renders overlapping the DPC, incorrect insulation materials alongside many other variables.
Poorly heated homes
In comparison to colder air, warm air can sustain a much larger amount of moisture meaning that both the temperature and surfaces within your home can have a huge impact on the amount of condensation that would be experiences. With homes that are not maintaining the correct temperature values with not enough heat alongside drastic changes within temperature can increase condensation; this means it is very important to consistently manage the temperature of your hose to reduce the amount of any damp.
Bad ventilation
Having poor ventilation and airflow within your home makes it very prone to condensation alongside fast mould growth, this can be a very harmful matter and can be damaging to anyones health who resides within the household.
Dangers Of Living With Damp
Living with damp or mould within your household can cause you to be much more likely to experience respiratory issues such as infections and allergies.
Who is affected?
Some individuals can be alot more sensitive than others; these people most commonly fall into the categories of babies, children and the elderly alongside individuals who experience skin problems, allergies and those with a weak immune system. It is highly advised that these individuals stay well clear of damp and mould.
Your Health
Moulds produce allergens, irritants and sometimes toxic substances; if an individual was to inhale any mould particles/spores it can cause immediate health defects such as sneezing, runny noses, red eyes, skin rashes alongside many more severe issues such as asthma attacks.
