WITH temperatures starting to drop, you may be wondering how to keep your home free from mould and condensation.
Mould is not only damaging to your health, but can also be costly to fix if the issue spreads.
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With bills set to rise on October 1, it’s again – like most winters – becoming a balancing act between avoiding big bills, and heating your home enough to keep the green stuff away.
The new energy price cap will see bills rise by £35.14 per year for households using a typical amount of energy – up from the current rate of £1,720, which came into effect in July.
This is a hike of £2.93 a month, leaving a home on a default tariff paying £102 for what currently costs £100 per month.
To avoid condensation and mould in the colder months, there are steps to take when it comes to the temperature in your home.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Keeping your home warm can help prevent mould from building up during the coldest months of the year.
“The Energy Saving Trust recommends that people in good health heat their home to between 18 and 21 degrees celsius.”
Meanwhile, you should avoid letting the temperature drop below 15-16 degrees as condensation can start to form.
This could lead to damp and eventually mould if left untreated.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that people can save 10% on their energy bills for every degree they turn down their thermostat.
For example, it says turning down the thermostat from 22 to 21 degrees can save £90 on yearly bills in Britain and £100 in Northern Ireland.
It means that if you have your temperature set at the higher end, you can still turn it down and save cash while keeping mould at bay.
How to prevent mould
Mould forms because the air holds moisture, which is something anyone who owns a dehumidifier will have seen firsthand.
The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold.
If moist air is cooled by contact with cold surfaces, such as walls, windows or mirrors, the moisture condenses into water droplets, known as condensation.
The result of this condensation is often mould, which primarily affects the airways and lungs, but also has an impact on your eyes and skin.
In fact, the respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death.
To prevent it, you want to stop condensation from occurring in the first place – or at the very least, tackle it when it appears.
To do this, you may want to consider getting a dehumidifier, said Mr Gallizzi.
“They remove water from the air in your home to reduce condensation,” he added.
“They are also useful if you dry your clothes indoors on radiators or airers, as this causes moisture from wet clothing to be released into your home.”
While these do vary in price, you can pick up a small one-litre one from Dunelm for £25.
Opening the windows for a few hours will also help, although this may become harder as the weather gets colder ahead of winter.
Mr Gallizzi added: “If you’re cooking on the hob, remember to turn on the extractor fan, as this will help prevent moisture from the steam building up.
“Similarly, when you have a bath or shower, it is recommended that people turn on the extractor fan to prevent moisture from building up on the windows and tiles.”
How to get rid of mould
If mould has already appeared in your home, fear not as there are ways to tackle it.
You may want to try mixing one part bleach with four parts water, and applying the solution to the mouldy area with a cloth or brush.
Scrub gently until the mould is gone, then wipe away the bleach and dry the area.
Another tip is to mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bottle and spray the mouldy area.
Vinegar is a natural mould killer that can help loosen mould from fabric.
Alternatively, we’ve previously tried supermarket mould cleaners – and a 25p solution was better than Cillit Bang.
Plus, the pros from Instagrammers @thecleangroup have revealed how a supermarket buy can make all the difference – and there’s no scrubbing involved.
The combination of hydrogen peroxide and some simple kitchen roll is all you need.
The best part is you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on it either, since hydrogen peroxide can be bought from B&Q for just £8.99.
Of course, you won’t need to use a full bottle since you’ll only need to cover the affected areas, meaning the trick will work out to as little as 30p.
If the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in.
This is if the affected area becomes too large to handle.
Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal.
Meanwhile if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
