How to deal with a damp home

Despite the blissful sunshine and hot days, even Gold Coast properties aren't immune to the dangers of humidity – here are our tips to deal with a damp home.

What are the signs of a damp home?

• A musty smell.
• Discoloured ceilings and walls with mould or mildew.
• Mouldy carpet or windows.

How can I prevent my home from becoming damp?

There are many different ways excess moisture can enter homes, from leaky ceilings to everyday activities like cooking and using the bathroom. Despite how easily moisture can get inside, combating the dreaded damp is made simple with the following tips:

1. Insulate your home

Insulation helps keep either warm or cool air inside the home and provided the house isn't too damp, can dry out the space and keep condensation at bay. Having insulation under the floors and in the ceilings, as well as double glazed windows, can keep temperatures higher and reduce loss of heat by up to 50 per cent, according to Energysmart. 

2. Dry clothes outside

The average household produces up to eight litres of moisture a day through activities such as showering, cooking and cleaning – and washing clothes contributes to this. When drying laundry, it's best to take them outside so as to not add unnecessary moisture into your home. If you are to dry clothes inside, keep a window open to promote airflow, and stop moisture being trapped in your house. The bathroom is a great place to dry clothes if you have an extraction fan in your bathroom that vents out of the house.

3. Create airflow

Allow air to circulate through your home with proper ventilation – good airflow will not only welcome cool air in the hot months, but can expel moist air during rainier seasons. While ventilation systems or extraction fans are likely the most effective tool in combating the damp air, ventilation can also be achieved cost-effectively and economically by opening windows and using blinds or shutter curtains.

4. Invest in a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is a great investment for the home and is an easy fix to dry out a room effectively. Like a vacuum, they suck in the air from the room and the moisture, and expel dry air back out in the process. The machine collects the water into a tray that you'll need to empty. Dehumidifiers range in price depending on the ability and size. A quick cost-benefit analysis will show that what you would spend removing mould from walls or purchasing cold and flu medicine from a wet winter home would quite probably be more than the machine itself, which can last for many years.

If you're looking to ditch your damp dwellings for a new Surfers Paradise property to call home, get in touch with our team at Ray White Surfers Paradise.