Easy Ways to Reduce Moisture in Your Home & Why It Matters

Excess moisture in your home can lead to mould, dampness, and poor indoor air quality, which can impact your health and the condition of your property. Did you know that an average person produces about 1.25 litres of moisture daily just by breathing and sweating? A family of four can release up to 12 litres of moisture per day from activities like cooking, showering, and drying clothes. Managing moisture effectively is important for preventing damage and maintaining a comfortable living environment. Here are some simple behaviour changes that can help reduce moisture in your home:

1. Open Windows Daily Even during colder months, opening windows for 10-15 minutes a day helps remove humid air and bring in fresh air. This is a simple and effective way to prevent condensation buildup.

2. Keep Trickle Vents Open Many modern windows are fitted with trickle vents, which allow a small but continuous flow of fresh air into your home. Keeping these vents open helps reduce moisture buildup by improving ventilation without the need to fully open windows, making it an easy and energy-efficient way to maintain good air quality.

3. Use Lids When Cooking Cooking produces a significant amount of steam, adding moisture to your home. Covering pots and pans while cooking helps reduce steam and prevents excess humidity.

4. Wipe Down Surfaces After cooking or showering, wipe down kitchen countertops, bathroom walls, and any wet surfaces to prevent moisture from accumulating and leading to mould growth.

5. Take Shorter Showers Long, hot showers produce a lot of steam, which can increase humidity in your bathroom and throughout your home. Reducing shower time and using cooler water can help limit excess moisture.

6. Hang Clothes Outside to Dry Drying clothes indoors releases moisture into the air, increasing the risk of condensation. If possible, dry clothes outside or in a well-ventilated space to minimize humidity.

7. Keep Furniture Away from Walls Allow air to circulate around furniture by keeping it a few inches away from walls. This prevents trapped moisture from creating damp patches and mould behind furniture.

8. Use an Extractor Fan or Open a Window While Showering Bathrooms are one of the most humid areas in a home. Running an extractor fan or opening a window while showering helps remove excess moisture and prevents condensation from forming.

9. Don’t Overfill Your Home with Plants While plants improve air quality, they also release moisture into the air. If you have a lot of houseplants, consider spacing them out and not overwatering them to prevent excess humidity.

10. Keep Your Home at a Consistent Temperature Sudden drops in temperature can cause condensation on walls and windows, leading to damp issues. Keeping your home at a steady temperature, even at a low setting, can help prevent moisture buildup and reduce the risk of mould formation.

Excess moisture can cause mould growth, which can trigger allergies, respiratory issues, and even structural damage to your home. Damp environments are also breeding grounds for dust mites and bacteria. Additionally, moisture affects your home's energy efficiency. Damp insulation loses its effectiveness, making it harder to retain heat and increasing energy bills. Excess humidity can also make heating less efficient, as damp air takes more energy to warm up. By making small, everyday changes, you can maintain a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment while protecting your home from long-term damage.

Reducing moisture doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple habits like opening windows, wiping down surfaces, and drying clothes outside can make a significant difference. By incorporating these easy changes into your routine, you can prevent damp issues, improve your home's overall air quality, and enhance its energy efficiency. If you need further advice on moisture control or an EPC assessment, feel free to get in touch!