How to spot and solve damp problems in your home

With expert advice from Smiths Hire, you can easily identify the cause of damp in your home, make necessary repairs, and prevent it from returning for good!

Winter weather has truly arrived, bringing its own set of challenges. From scraping frost off your car in the early mornings to dealing with frozen pipes and blocked gutters, there’s plenty to keep you on your toes.

One common problem that creeps in during these colder months is damp. With the heating on and windows shut tight to stave off the chill, that can create the perfect environment for humidity to rise. This often leads to condensation, paving the way for the dreaded damp, which is the last thing you want to have to deal with before Christmas.

But don’t worry! With the right tools and know-how, you can get rid of damp and stop it returning. At Smiths Hire, we’ve been proudly supporting DIY enthusiasts and homeowners with our expert advice and reliable tool hire service for over 50 years. We’ve helped countless customers handle damp issues, so here’s what you need to know to get started!

Identify the source of the damp

If you’ve noticed damp in a room of your home and you’re trying to get it sorted, the first step is to figure out where the damp is coming from. Damp can show up in a few different ways. It might be rising damp, which happens when there’s no proper barrier to stop moisture from coming up through your walls or floors. Or it could be penetrating damp, which is caused by water getting in through leaks or problems with the outside of your house.

Condensation is another common issue that tends to slip our minds. It often comes from poor ventilation or high humidity. Plumbing issues like leaks in pipes, radiators, or other appliances can also be culprits. Finding the cause of a problem is important for fixing it. So keep your eyes (and nose) peeled for issues like peeling paint, musty smells, or visible mould to identify the source. Once you know why it’s happening, you can start tackling it!

Repair damage as soon as possible

If you’ve identified the source of the damp, the next step is to tackle the underlying issues directly. Start by fixing any problems outside your home. Seal cracks, repair broken roof tiles, and clear your gutters to keep water out. If you find a crack in the wall on the outside and that seems to be causing the problem, you may want to also repoint the brickwork for some extra protection.

If you’re dealing with rising damp, the first thing to check is the damp-proof course – that’s the barrier at the bottom of your walls that stops moisture from creeping up. If it’s damaged, you might need to repair or replace it. Lastly, don’t forget about plumbing leaks – fixing those as soon as you spot them will help prevent more moisture from building up.

 

 

Improve ventilation as much as possible

You can make all the repairs you want, but without proper ventilation, the problem isn’t going anywhere. Condensation often happens when there isn’t enough airflow, so installing extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms can make a big difference. Opening your windows regularly helps fresh air flow through, especially after cooking or showering. However, when it’s as cold as it is now, keeping windows open isn’t always an option, and that’s where a dehumidifier can be a real lifesaver.

Modern dehumidifiers, like our small 110V dehumidifier or large 110V dehumidifier, are reliable and energy-efficient, making them perfect for damp spaces like basements, bathrooms, or bedrooms (or anywhere else, in fact). They’ll help control humidity and prevent mould growth. Our large dehumidifier can even cut traditional drying times by two-thirds! So you can have your room warm and dry again in no time, and then simply return the dehumidifier to us after you’re done!

110V Small Dehumidifier

Once you’ve got the damp issue under control, then you can repair any final bits of damage left behind like any visible mould with anti-mould sprays, and replace any plaster, wallpaper, or paint that has been ruined. A top tip is to repaint with anti-damp or anti-mould paint, these paints provide that extra layer of protection too.

You can explore our full range on our website or visit one of our 17 tool hire depots conveniently located in or near major cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds. If you have any questions about our dehumidifiers, our friendly team is ready to assist you – just give us a call at 0333 323 2100!