“So you want me to turn on my heating and open the windows?”

It may seem counter-intuitive but opening your window just a little while your heating is on can make a big difference in keeping your home moisture-free. It doesn't need to be open too wide - a gap of about 2 inches will do the trick - and it's best to avoid doing it too late in the day when the air is damper and cooler.

When it comes to heating, if a home falls below 18 degrees, it's much more at risk of condensation forming as warm, damp air from cooking, baths, breathing and other sources comes into contact with cold surface. Without effective action, the contact between a cold home and damp air can result in harmful black mould growing on walls and other surfaces.

We often assume that only turning the heating on when it gets very cold is cheaper and better for those living there. However, if your heating is set near to 18 degrees for as long as possible and affordable, it’s usually cheaper than turning it up to 23/24 degrees several times a day.

Preventing and treating damp and mould is a priority for us. If you have any concerns about damp, condensation or mould in your home, we are here to help. Be sure to get in touch with us:

• My Winchester Tenancy - our Self Service Portal for Tenants
• E-mail to housing@winchester.gov.uk 
• Call Customer Services on 01962 848 400

• Wipe down wet windowsills and frames every day when you wake up
• Ventilate your home by opening windows or trickle vents – ideally first thing in the morning, and when you are washing or cooking.
• When showering, bathing and cooking, close the door so that the moist air can’t travel to other rooms where it could condense and cause mould
• Use the extractor fan when you’re cooking, showering or bathing, leave any window vents open, and don’t block off any other vents.
• Keep lids on your pans when cooking
• Dry clothing outside, or vent any laundry appliances such as tumble-dryers or heated airers
• If you need to dry laundry indoors, do this in a closed room where you can open a window – the bathroom is best
• Make sure air can circulate by leaving gaps between the wall and ALL furniture and belongings and keep a warm home.
• Don’t overfill your wardrobes so air can circulate inside.

If you do have mould growing, cleaning it off straight away will help to minimise any health risk. It is reasonably safe to clean with a fungicidal mould spray, which will be available in most supermarkets and local hardware shops.

Bleaches and vinegar sprays will clean mould off the surface but may not kill the spores which means it's more likely to return.

Moisture in the air will form condensation (droplets of liquid water) when it comes into contact with a cold surface such as a window. We all get condensation on our windows from time to time, but it's not necessarily a problem if it clears up quickly.

Condensation can appear in houses on colder walls and window surfaces, and in places where there is little movement of air, such as behind beds, kitchen cupboards and the corners of rooms. It usually occurs when you produce a lot of moisture that can’t escape, for example:

• When you're cooking
• When you're having a bath or shower  
• When you're drying clothes inside
• After a cold night when the bedroom windows mist up

The general rule for indoor temperatures is to keep your home between 21°C in the daytime and 16°C, at night-time.

Households with an income below £30,000 you may be eligible to apply for grant funding or if you’re finding it tough financially.  Talk to our Tenancy Sustainment team. on 01962 848 060 ext 6102 or email