Plain-English answers to the questions we get asked most, written by the team that actually installs and services these systems, not a copywriter guessing. For the full evidence, calculator and printable cheat sheet, see The Healthy Home Humidity Guide.
Damp returned after treatment? Ground levels, salty plaster, a second water source and the wrong first diagnosis, checked cheapest first, plus what the guarantee should tell you.
MouldWhich mouldy carpets, clothes and sofas can be cleaned and which may need to go, and why the damp source has to be fixed first or the mould comes back.
HeatingPortable paraffin and flueless gas heaters add water vapour to the room. How to spot it, what councils and the NHS advise, and the cheapest fixes first.
HumidityA cheap hygrometer shows what is raising humidity in your home. Where to read it, what a figure above 60 per cent means, and when a number is not enough.
WallsIf a damp patch follows the weather and sits near cracked render or open mortar joints, rain is the first suspect. Check the outside before you reach for anything else.
WindowsBlack mould on window seals and sills keeps coming back for a reason. How to clean it safely, find the cause and fix it, cheapest step first.
ChimneysBrown stains on a chimney breast can be rain, a flue that cannot breathe or salts in the masonry. Here is how to tell which, cheapest check first.
CupboardsA musty wardrobe or cupboard is usually damp air trapped against a cold wall, but it can be a leak. Here is how to tell, cheapest step first.
MouldMould keeps coming back to the same corner because that corner is the coldest surface in the room. Here is how to prove it and what to do, cheapest step first.
InsulationInsulation is meant to stop damp, so finding a wet patch after having it fitted is alarming. Most of the time the cause can be found with a few simple checks.
WindowsBeads of water on the glass start with warm, moist air meeting a cold surface. Here is how to read the pattern and fix it, cheapest step first.
LoftsDamp roof timbers, dripping felt and a musty loft hatch all point to moisture the roof space cannot shed. Here is how to read the signs and what to do about them.
VentilationIs it worth opening windows in winter? How short bursts, vent positions and trickle vents clear damp air without wasting heat.
HeatingHeating hard for an hour then letting the home go cold is a common cause of streaming windows. Here is what a steadier pattern looks like and what to try first.
LaundryA wet wash on the radiator puts a lot of moisture into the room. Here is how to dry it indoors in a way that keeps the windows clear and the walls mould free.
ExtractionSteam from showers and hobs is where most household moisture starts. Check the fan, the duct and the habits first, cheapest first, before reaching for anything bigger.
Ground levelSoil, paving or a lump of mortar can carry water past a damp-proof course that is still working. Check the ground outside the damp patch before you blame the wall.
GuttersA gutter that spills over a wall can make a patch of damp inside that looks like condensation but is not. Check outside first, and in this order.
LeaksA patch that keeps returning, wet weather or dry, may be a slow leak rather than condensation. Run the free meter and stop tap test before you buy anything.
DiagnosisThree different problems look alike on the wall. Getting the diagnosis right saves money, because the fix for one does nothing for the others.
HumidityHumidity is the invisible half of a damp problem. Here is what a healthy level looks like, how to measure it, and what keeping it there can and cannot do.
New BuildsWhy some of the newest, best-insulated homes in Ashford get the worst condensation, and why trickle vents alone rarely fix it.
Landlords & TenantsA plain-English explanation of the new legal timescales for tackling damp and mould in rented homes, and what a proper fix actually looks like.
LaundryWhere the steam from a tumble dryer goes decides whether it ends up outside or on your windows. Here is how to check the hose, filters and room, cheapest step first.
Period HomesOlder solid walls are meant to take in moisture and dry out again. Here is how to tell trapped moisture from rising damp or condensation, cheapest step first.
MouldWiping off mould is easy; doing it safely and stopping it returning is the hard part. What to wear, what to use, what to avoid, and what to fix next.
WindowsSingle panes are cold and secondary glazing can trap damp air in the gap. Work out which you have and what to rule out first, cheapest first.
PlumbingWet pipes or a damp toilet cistern are often condensation, not a leak. Here is how to tell the difference and what to rule out first, cheapest step first.
BathroomsBlack speckles on the bathroom ceiling that return after every clean. Rule out a leak, fix the fan and door habits, and clean it safely, cheapest step first.
Walls and decorLifting seams, blistered paint and powdery plaster point to moisture behind the surface. Map it, feel it, log it and rule out leaks before you redecorate.
FloorsA musty ground floor often starts with blocked vents on the outside wall. Clear them, rule out leaks and keep insulation safe, cheapest step first.
Looking for local advice? See the areas we cover around Ashford.