What causes condensation?

There’s always moisture in the air, even if you can’t see it. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. When warm air cools down, it releases water droplets – this is called condensation.

You’ll often see condensation in kitchens and bathrooms, or on cold surfaces in other rooms.

What causes condensation?

There are four main reasons:

  • Too much moisture in the air
  • Not enough ventilation
  • Cold surfaces
  • Low room temperatures

You need to look at all of these to fix a condensation problem.

How to prevent condensation and mould:

In the kitchen

  • Cook with lids on pans and turn the heat down once water boils
  • Open the kitchen window slightly when cooking or washing up
  • Use your extractor fan if you have one

In the bathroom

  • Fill the bath with cold water first, then add hot – this cuts down steam by 90%
  • Open the window and close the door when using hot water to let steam out
  • After bathing or showering, open the window slightly or use an extractor fan for 20 minutes

Around your home

  • Open windows upstairs and downstairs for 30 minutes a day to let fresh air in
  • Dry clothes outside or in the bathroom with the door closed and a window open or fan on
  • Don’t dry clothes on radiators or in front of heaters
  • Let air move around furniture – leave a small gap between furniture and walls
  • Remove false backs from wardrobes or drill small holes to help air flow
  • Insulate your home to reduce cold surfaces and save on heating bills
  • Try to keep all rooms above 15°C by using low-to-medium heating throughout the day
  • Don’t heat one room too much and leave others cold – this makes condensation worse
  • If a room has no heating, leave the door open or use a low-setting electric heater

Security tip: Make sure windows you open won’t cause a security risk. Always close them before going to bed or leaving the house.