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Condensation Control Scotland
Condensation is the most common type of damp found in Scotland, and can affect as many as one in five Scottish households.
Wise Property Care have been helping homeowners, social housing providers and commercial partners control condensation in properties across Scotland, with expert advice and solutions for mould and condensation problems. We have put together a helpful guide on how to identify and prevent condensation in homes, while being able to provide expert surveys and condensation control solutions for those who need our assistance.
We are members of the Property Care Association (PCA) and we have vast experience working closely with social housing providers and local authorities removing mould and solving damp related issues.
What is Condensation?
Condensation occurs when moisture in the air comes into contact with a cold surface and reaches 'dew point', it will then condense into tiny drops of water on the surface. It happens in homes without adequate ventilation because we all produce moisture as part of everyday living, from cooking to having a shower.
Normally moisture will remain in the atmosphere, but as the room air temperature drops, the ability of air to hold moisture reduces, and the air becomes saturated. This leads to water droplets forming on cold surfaces such as walls, windows, metal and most commonly on the bathroom mirror.
What is Dew Point?
Dew point is the temperature on a surface at which water vapour in the air will start to form as a liquid, known as condensation. If the walls or ceilings are colder than the air, eventually they will become a cold condensing surface. Condensation is more common in the colder months as the warm air in your home holds more moisture than cold air, but surface temperatures may be lower. This means more moisture will condense on these cold surfaces, such as windows and external walls.
What Causes Condensation?
Condensation is more likely to occur in winter or periods of cold weather as temperatures drop. Ventilation is often reduced in winter to keep the heat inside and this causes more moisture vapour inside your home, and therefore causes condensation to form. Condensation will appear on cold surfaces and in places where there is little movement of air such as behind large furniture and in bay windows. It can be spotted in the corners of windows, around window frames, in or behind wardrobes and cupboards and often forms on cold north-facing walls.
Modern features such as double glazing and loft insulation are important to keep homes warm, but they can contribute to poor air circulation. In the past there would be a natural escape for warm, damp and poor quality air around window frames, doors, uncarpeted floorboards, and up chimneys. Today, that excess moisture can become trapped and therefore lead to high humidity levels.
With the high costs of heating, we don’t want to keep windows open all day, so we need to minimise the problem as much as possible. If not, stale humid air is trapped and this will inevitably lead to musty smells, dampness and ultimately mould growth.
Signs of Condensation
There are some common signs of condensation in homes, which are normally more obvious during the colder months of the year. This is because there is more moisture in the air, while there is less ventilation.
Water on Windows or Window Sills:
The most common sign of a condensation problem is water droplets on windows as moisture in the air condenses on the cold glass. Often this is the first warning sign that a condensation problem exists. You may notice it when you’re cooking or on your bedroom windows when you wake up in the morning. A small amount of condensation at the base of double glazed units, is to be expected.
Damp Patches:
Damp patches behind furniture, headboards, in the corners of rooms or on cold north facing external walls may indicate a condensation problem. The excess moisture in the atmosphere is condensing in these areas as they are the coldest surfaces in the room.
Condensation is not the only cause of damp - however it is the most common. Damp patches can sometimes be caused by other issues such as leaking pipes, penetrating damp from driving rain or blocked gutters, or inadequate damp proof courses causing rising damp. Accurate diagnosis is key to understanding the type of damp affecting your property.
Mould Growth:
Mould growth is an indicator of a serious condensation problem - it can lead to staining and mould growth on wallpaper, wall surfaces, window frames, furniture and clothing. The main source of water for mould is from the air around it, so if relative humidity is high the mould will thrive. Mould will not normally form on a wall affected by rising damp, due to salts and the fact it will not be wet enough. Mould can however form on damp walls caused by penetrating damp.
Water on Surfaces:
Water droplets forming on surfaces indicates an imbalance in the internal environment, it may be noticeable on mirrors, tiles and other cool surfaces. In extreme cases it can be noticed on walls and ceilings, which will require improvements to both ventilation and the thermal efficiency of the property.
Peeling Paint or Wallpaper:
As walls become damp, decorative features may become damaged over time, causing wallpaper or paint to peel off the surface. This may be combined with mould growth.
Musty Smells
Condensation can lead to damp, musty smells which might be noticeable in certain areas of your property.
Cold Walls:
Walls prone to condensation may be cold to the touch, especially during the winter months. North facing solid walls will not get warmed by the sun and will remain cold.
Damage to Stored Goods:
Moisture will condense on cold surfaces and can damage items in cupboards, such as clothes, leather goods and even books or magazines.
How to Stop Condensation
To stop condensation in your home, you can make small changes to moisture production, ventilation or heating. If the problem is minor you may notice the condensation problem go away, but if the problem persists or gets worse, you could require professional advice and a condensation survey to fully understand the problem.
1. Improving Ventilation
Ventilation is needed to get rid of moisture which is produced throughout the day, and is essential for bathrooms and kitchens, where the majority of moisture is produced. Make sure you use extractor fans when washing, cooking, bathing or drying clothes. Often you will notice condensation and mould growth in bedrooms because of the moisture produced in the ensuite.
Close kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use, while keeping the extractor fan on. This will remove the excess moisture using the ventilation fans, rather than let it move to other rooms, especially bedrooms which are often colder and more likely to be affected by condensation.
Dehumidifiers can be used to lower the humidity level within your property - but they will not address the root cause of the problem, so may only provide a temporary solution.
2. Reducing Moisture
You can make active steps to produce less moisture by using pan lids when cooking, putting washing outside when possible, or drying washing in rooms with the door closed and window open. Make sure tumble dryer vents lead outside. Wipe down wet surfaces and wring the cloth out in the sink, so the moisture is removed, rather than escaping as the cloth is dried.
3. Heating your Home
During winter the best way to keep rooms in your home warm enough to prevent condensation is to have low background heating on throughout the day. Using thermostats will help control heating and costs, however it is understandable that this may not always be possible with the costs of heating bills. The World Health Organisation suggests indoor air quality in living areas is best around 18-20°C.
4. Stopping Condensation on Windows
By reducing the amount of moisture produced in your property, and improving the ventilation, you should be able to prevent condensation forming on windows. If the window has trickle vents make sure these are open, even in winter, as they will help excess moisture escape.
If possible open your windows for ten minutes a day to allow for natural airflow - this may not always be possible in the middle of winter in Scotland - but it can help prevent condensation forming.
Condensation Surveys Scotland
If you have tried to improve ventilation and reduce the amount of moisture in the home, but you’re still having problems with condensation and mould, you may require a professional survey to fully investigate your property and provide you with condensation control solutions. This will give you peace of mind that a qualified professional has inspected your property, both externally and internally, and provides you with solutions specific to your home.
Our surveyors will use a range of different tools and methods to identify the root cause of the problem, including thermal imaging cameras to identify cold spots, and will provide you with guidance to effectively control excessive moisture. All findings will be detailed in a survey report, along with recommendations for treatments where necessary.
Condensation Control
A condensation problem may be solved by making small changes to moisture production, ventilation or heating. If the problem persists for longer, then you may need professional advice and further improvements to ventilation and insulation.
Ventilation Improvements:
Wise Property Care can provide you with options for improving the quality of your internal atmosphere through ventilation improvements.
Extract fans: Filterless extract fans are designed to remove humid air at the source where moisture is created, for example bathrooms or the kitchen. Even with extractor fans installed in rooms with lots of moisture, preventative measures must still be taken. If bathroom doors are opened before venting, hot humid air can expand outwards at 600 litres per second.
Positive Input Ventilation Units (PIVs): Positive input ventilation may also be an answer to improving air quality and removing moist air. Positive input ventilation units introduce a constant stream of fresh, filtered and tempered air from the loft space or exterior, to dilute and displace the stale static air inside a property.
Thermal Improvements:
When a home is warmer, condensation is less likely. Insulation in the loft, cavity wall insulation and draught proofing of windows and outside doors will help keep your home warm and you will have lower fuel bills as a result. Wise Property Care can offer a range of services aimed at increasing heat inside your home.
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Insulation Top Up: - Loft insulation can be a simple and effective way to stop the heat from escaping your home, while also helping to reduce your heating bills. Wise Property Care are able to lay new insulation in most standard roof areas, and can top up insulation over the existing areas up to 270mm if required.
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Thermal Plastering: - for solid walls an anti-condensation thermal plastering system can be used, which helps reduce energy bills by improving the thermal efficiency of the property and by preventing cold spots where condensation issues can occur. Specially designed reveal tiles allow the system to be installed with minimal impact on doors, window openings, skirting boards, covings and radiators.
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Anti-Condensation Paint: - For isolated areas of condensation caused by cold bridging, anti-condensation paints can be applied to create a thermal barrier between the cold surface and the warm moist air inside a home. These products use hollow glass beads the thickness of a human hair, and when incorporated into paint they act as miniature thermos flasks, providing a thermal barrier between cold surfaces and the warmer interior air. This in turn prevents mould growth.
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Mould Cleans: - In extreme cases of mould growth, Wise Property Care are able to provide domestic, commercial and social housing cleaning services for mould issues. Condensation can lead to staining and mould growth, damaging wallpaper, wall surfaces, window frames, furniture and clothing if left. We are able to effectively and safely clean and remove the mould from the affected area, leaving you with peace of mind.
Why Choose Wise Property Care for Condensation Control?
When you’re worried about damp, mould and condensation in your home, you want to use a company with experienced and specialist surveyors - with the right training and knowledge to reach the proper diagnosis.
Wise Property Care have both CSRT (Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments) and CSTDB (Certificated Surveyor of Timber and Dampness in Buildings) qualified surveyors operating from a network of local branches - meaning no matter where you are in Scotland, we have a surveyor local to you.
Wise Property Care have been fixing condensation and mould problems and building value back into Scottish properties since 1996.
We have a proven track record working with homeowners, social housing and commercial clients across Scotland, delivering effective preservation solutions while ensuring full compliance with industry regulations and health and safety standards.
We are proud members of the Property Care Association (PCA), the trade association that governs our industry. This means you can trust you’re getting professional and honest advice, and treatments following the industry best practice.
Wise Property Care are endorsed by Which? Trusted Trader - meaning our customer service and workmanship has passed rigorous trading standards assessments.
We are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 550 independent customer reviews from across our branches in Scotland.
We cover the whole of Scotland from our network of local branches:
FAQs about Condensation
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding condensation.
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How to spot the difference between condensation and damp?
There are three main types of damp issues to look out for – rising damp, penetrating damp and damp arising from a condensation problem.
Common tell tale signs of rising damp will be the salt ‘tidemarks’ it leaves on your walls, up to one metre above the skirting boards.
Penetrating damp would indicate either defects in the building or plumbing leading to water ingress, or in below ground spaces where the ground level is higher than the internal walls.
A common sign of a condensation problem is water collecting on the inside of windows. You may not notice condensation until mould forms on surfaces or your wallpaper starts to peel.
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How to avoid condensation?
Firstly, condensation is caused through poor ventilation in our homes and excess moisture. If you ensure that any moisture you add to your home’s atmosphere through activities such as cooking, showering & drying clothes has an escape route through an open window, extractor fan or trickle vents then you can avoid condensation.
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Does condensation paint really work?
On the DIY market, there are a variety of paints and solutions available to tackle condensation. Different anti-condensation paints work in different ways. The most common is for an anti-fungal additive to be mixed in the paint. This prevents mould growth, but does not stop condensation forming.
However, at Wise Property Care, it has been our experience that mould/condensation paint only goes so far - and should be used in conjunction with other solutions to address the underlying issues causing condensation.
The anti-condensation paint we supply works very differently by utilising Glass Microsphere technology. In short, the glass microspheres and paint act as a thermal break between the cold outside wall and the warmer temperature within your home, resulting in the surface remaining above the temperature at which condensation forms.. Unless there are improvements to the excess moisture, the anti-condensation paint won't be a long term fix.