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<\/p>\nWINTER is coming which can bring with it mould and damp – and some heating mistakes could be making the problem worse.<\/p>\n
Condensation, when warm air comes into contact with a cool window or other cold surface, can cause the issue in your home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Leave the problem untreated and it can see you battling major health issues.<\/p>\n
A number of mistakes when it comes to your heating could be making the problem worse too.<\/p>\n
That's according to Winston Davis, director of Avenue Heating, who previously revealed to The Sun four errors anyone could make and how to rectify them.<\/p>\n
With the average household forking out \u00a31,834 for gas and electric under the current Ofgem price cap, it might be tempting to turn your heating off completely.<\/p>\n
But do this and it can lead to damp and mould build-up, Winston said.<\/p>\n He said: "Some people have tried to brave it out and limit turning their heating on, while others have tried to leave it off completely.<\/p>\n "But apart from the obvious risk of a\u00a0frozen pipe\u00a0causing a flood in your home, there are other risks associated with not using your heating correctly."<\/p>\n Winston explained when the heating is turned off, it can lead to condensation collecting within walls.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Not only will this lead to heat escaping from your property, it can see damp and mould develop.<\/p>\n Once you've turned your heating on, you'll want to make sure it's over a certain temperature.<\/p>\n Winston warned anything below 15 degrees means you are at a real risk of damp and mould forming.<\/p>\n That said, you may want to have it on slightly higher.<\/p>\n The World Health Organisation suggests most healthy people should heat their homes to 18\u00b0C.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Energy Saving Trust recommends thermostats are set between 18\u00b0C and 21\u00b0C.<\/p>\n After you've set the right temperature, you'll want to make sure your home is being warmed evenly.<\/p>\n So make sure you aren't neglecting certain rooms just because you're not in there all day.<\/p>\n Winston said: "Turning your heating on for just an hour in the morning and two in the evening could be enough to keep damp and mould at bay.<\/p>\n "This, in turn, can help protect against the deterioration of your plaster, wooden window sills and doors."<\/p>\n Many households are looking for alternatives to gas-guzzling appliances such as tumble dryers.<\/p>\n But while it may be tempting to whack any clothes on the radiator to dry your clothes, this can make any prexisting mould or damp issues worse.<\/p>\n Winston said: "This should be avoided if you can.<\/p>\n "If it's not possible to dry clothes outside, you're better off drying them in a bathroom, either with a window open or an extractor fan on intermittently, to clear the air.<\/p>\n "This is preferable, as this is the room best-designed to deal with moisture in the air."<\/p>\n It might seem logical that keeping doors and windows closed will keep moisture out, but this isn't the case.<\/p>\n So make sure your home is well-ventilated to avoid any build ups of damp or mould.<\/p>\n Winston said: "One person can contribute up to four pints of water to their home environment in one day just from normal everyday activities, such as cooking, cleaning or showering.<\/p>\n "You need to ensure there is always a way that the moisture created can escape."<\/p>\n You can do this by opening windows for at least 15 minutes every day so the fresh air can replace any built up moisture.<\/p>\n Ideally, you should do this twice a day, Winston advised, first thing in the morning and before you go to bed.<\/p>\n If you don't want to open windows, you could install "trickle vents" in your home, Winston added.<\/p>\n The nifty devices are usually fitted at the top of a window and can be opened to let fresh air in.<\/p>\n One major perk is that they circulate the air in your room without you losing too much heat from inside.<\/p>\n You can buy them for just a few pounds too – we spotted some on sale on the Amazon website for just \u00a34.<\/p>\n Screwfix has some on sale for \u00a35 too, while B&Q is selling some for \u00a36.<\/p>\n You can usually add them to windows yourself as well by drilling holes through the frame and then screwing them in.<\/p>\n You could also opt for a "multi-vent heat recovery unit", which recycles stale and moist air with fresh air.<\/p>\n These are more on the expensive side, costing anywhere from a few hundred pounds to over \u00a31,000.<\/p>\n It's also worth investing in a couple of other gadgets which can help to bust damp from your home.<\/p>\n Dehumidifiers can be snapped up from just \u00a31 and will help remove any excess moisture from the air, and mean you don't have to rely on the heating as much.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, you can stop mould developing in your bathroom by using a heated towel rail.<\/p>\n We've seen one on sale at B&Q for just \u00a325 while Screwfix has one for \u00a345. They cost just pennies to run as well.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2023-range-store-slough-berkshire-844738818-1.jpg\")
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Failing to heat your home evenly<\/h2>\n
Drying clothes on radiators<\/h2>\n
Turning your heating on but not opening windows<\/h2>\n
Use energy-saving gadgets<\/h2>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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