How to Eliminate Condensation From Your London Home

When you pour ice-cold beer into a glass, what happens? Droplets of water form on the outside of the glass and this happens because the outside of the glass is warmer than the inside. This principle also works when a warm interior meets a cold exterior; typically, droplets of water form on the inside of window panes and also on walls and other hard surfaces.

Condensation build up

Condensation also forms when water vapour is introduced into a room; when you run a hot bath, for example, the room quickly fills up with steam, which is vapourised water. Some homeowners make the mistake of opening the bathroom door to dissipate the steam, but this allows the water vapour to enter the house. Better to keep the door closed and open a bathroom window to allow dry air to enter the room. Once the steam has dissolved, you can close the window and by turning up the central heating, you can further dry out the air. When cooking, close internal doors, open a window and turn on the canopy extractor fan to draw out the excess moisture, which removes steam and unpleasant odours.

Cavity wall insulation

Condensation can form when extreme temperatures meet and by injecting a chemical foam into the cavity walls, this insulates the space and that reduces/removes condensation. Chemical foam can also provide a barrier to prevent moisture from rising up the external walls and in some instances, this is the best solution to eliminate condensation building up on hard surfaces. Our condensation experts use digital devices to measure relative humidity and the rate of airflow within a building.

Aluminium double-glazed windows and doors

Installing double-glazed aluminium windows and doors can see the end of condensation; the aluminium frames have a thermal break to prevent condensation from forming on the frames, while the sealed glass unit also prevents water droplets from forming on the inner glass surfaces. Many London homeowners resolved their condensation problems by replacing the windows, which brings with it other benefits, such as reduced energy consumption and boosting home security.

The importance of ventilation

A positive airflow dries out humid air and that can remove condensation completely; either open a few windows at critical locations or install a few extractor fans to generate an artificial ventilation. Mould thrives in still, damp conditions and by generating air movement, you can greatly reduce or even eliminate condensation. 

Heat the whole house

This is one way to reduce water vapour build up; we understand that energy costs are high and you would be reluctant to heat rooms that are not in use, yet by turning on all the radiators for a few hours, you can dry out the atmosphere considerably. 

Book an independent damp survey

If you are concerned about condensation in your London home, give London Damp Specialists a call on 020 7205 4886 and we can arrange for a certified damp surveyor to inspect your home. Alternatively, you can leave your details in the survey request form on this website and we will be in touch shortly.