This summer, Barnet Homes’ Healthy Homes Team has been holding a series of roadshows across the borough. The team has been established to resolve damp and mould issues which may be present in residents’ homes and to provide help and advice for all our residents.
In Burnt Oak, Cricklewood, Finchley and East Finchley, the team helped hundreds of residents at their roadshows this summer.
The roadshows may now have passed, but as the colder months approach, the team are here to provide some advice on how to reduce moisture in your home and keep it free from damp and mould.
Three steps to avoid condensation in your home:
Try to produce less moisture, some ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture very quickly
• Cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling
• Dry washing outdoors on a line if you can, or put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or fan on.
Ventilate to remove moisture
• Keep a window ajar or a trickle ventilator open when possible
• Open kitchen and bathroom windows wider
• Close kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use
• Don’t put furniture directly next to external walls
• Regularly wipe down surfaces such as windows which attract moisture.
Heating
• Insulation and draught proofing can help keep your home warm and cut fuel bills.
– However do not draught proof a room where there is a cooker or a fuel burning heater, like a gas fire
– do not draught proof windows in the bathroom or kitchen.
• In cold weather, keep low background heating on all day, even when no one is home. Most houses take quite a long time to warm up, and may cost more to heat it up quickly in the evening.
If you think your home is damp, or if you have any visible signs of mould, please email our Customer Contact Team at talktous@barnethomes.org or call us at 020 8080 6587 to arrange an inspection. Our team will assess the cause of damp, and establish a plan to treat it and stop it from returning.