How Could Damp Be Affecting You and Your Family

Living in the city, it’s the dream of some and the nightmare of others, noise, dirty air, increased population density but also excellent access to facilities, 24/7 activity and plenty of things to see and do. Whether you like the city or not, it’s always nice to return home and settle down in your own private comfort – however, something could be lurking in the home that affects you and your family’s health and wellbeing.

Damp in your property is not just an annoying issue that requires damp proofing specialists to come out and repair the issue but could actually be making you ill and aggravating existing health problems. For example, issues such as rising damp, condensation, wet rot and dry rot can all manifest right under your nose without you noticing until it’s too late.

It is at this time of year, when the weather isn’t all that pleasant and there is moisture in the air, when damp is most common. You probably don’t want to open up your windows in winter, do you? But have you considered that by now opening them up you are prohibiting ventilation in the home?

How Does Damp Affect Our Health?

If you have existing respiratory problems or suffer from allergic reactions and asthma and you live in a property affected by damp, you may have noticed a stubborn cough or recurring cold symptoms such as a leaky nose, weepy eyes, sneezing and even a rash on your skin. Asthma sufferers, in particular, may have noticed an increased need to use their inhalers, a tighter feeling on their chest and may even find their breathing is laboured.

Damp can cause these ill-health effects due to the mould that likes to grow in the conditions caused by damp and the mould spores produced that get released into the air. These spores are known as allergens and cause our body’s immune system to react in order to protect ourselves.

Who Is Affected by Damp?

Anyone residing in the property can be affected however there are certain sensitive individuals that are more likely to suffer including;

• Infants and Young Children
• Elderly Adults
• Individuals with suppressed immune system
• Asthma sufferers or those with respiratory illnesses
• Anyone with eczema or suffering other skin problems

If you have any one of the above criteria living in a home affected by damp, you should get the problem seen to and treated as soon as possible, ideally moving the sensitive individuals out of the home until the problem is resolved.

Effects on the Home

The presence of damp in the home can not only have an adverse effect on your health, but also a detrimental effect on the building itself. Wet and dry rot, in particular, can wreak havoc on timber structures in humid, largely unventilated areas, meaning the issue can develop without raising alarm.

Damp issues, if left unmanaged/untreated, can result in highly expensive work needed to remove the infestation and repair any structural damage that may leave your home unsafe to live in.

Treating the Damp Problem

When it comes to treating damp in your property, band-aid solutions and DIY treatments should be avoided. Such temporary solution will only cover up the problem and, over the long-term, make things worse as damp spreads through your property unnoticed.

There are different types of damp that could potentially be affecting your property if you do not take the relevant precautions, such as keeping the home well-ventilated and regularly checking all areas of the home. Make sure that your Christmas isn’t ruined by looking after the family home.

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