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Ventilation In Your Home
Ventilation helps to reduce condensation and mould growth
What is ventilation?
Ventilation is the exchange of stale air and moisture from the inside of the building with fresh and clean air.
Why is ventilation so important?
Good ventilation creates a healthier environment in the home and improves the quality of indoor air. With a well-ventilated property, it can help to prevent pollutants and viruses as well as moisture, which in turn can help to protect your health and keep your home dry. In addition, ventilation can reduce condensation and mould growth in your home. Everyday household activities such as cooking, showering and even just breathing can generate moisture in the home. If moisture becomes trapped in a building, it can then form condensation with water appearing on windows and walls, particularly in the winter when the walls and windows are cold.
Where there is condensation present, damp and mould can develop which can cause damage to your home if it is left untreated and can be a severe health hazard and in a worst case, death. If your property is inadequately ventilated, you will not be able to remove excess moisture. In addition, to reduce the amount of pollution within your property, always aim to avoid using products that may cause pollution which can be harmful to you and your family’s health.
Who’s responsible for ventilation in rented accommodation?
When it comes to rented accommodation, you and your landlord both have responsibilities regarding ventilation.
What are your landlord’s responsibilities?
Information should be provided by your landlord or managing agent, on how to use and look after the ventilation system. Your landlord has a legal requirement to make sure your home has good ventilation that works. Your landlord is expected to permit inspectors that make sure your accommodation meets the Minimum Rental Standards which include ventilation (which is often an issue inspectors find).
What are your responsibilities as a tenant?
To ensure the ventilation in your home is looked after, which includes the following:
- Keeping air vents clear and unblocked.
- Using mechanical extraction ventilation in the bathrooms and kitchens.
- Opening the windows during the day.
- Making sure your home is heated.
- Drying clothes outdoors or on a clothes dryer.
- Always leave trickle vents and wall vents open and unblocked by curtains or furniture, even in the winter.
- You could use a little more energy to heat your home as well as introducing fresh air.
- If possible, leave doors open between rooms to ensure air flows between them, unless there are fire doors, in which case they should not be left open.
- To allow the transfer of air between rooms when the doors are closed, there should be a 10mm gap under the doors.
- At least every six months, check and clean wall vents and extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens.
- The filters on your wall vents can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Filters for your mechanical ventilation system can get very dirty with layers of dust and moisture. Regularly replace or clean these filters as per the manufacturer’s instructions. For whole house mechanical ventilation systems, check the manufacturer’s instructions about replacing filters. Usually these should be replaced once a year but it is advised to always follow manufacturer’s instructions.
- Cooker hood extractors should always be used when cooking, as it can generate moisture and harmful pollutants.
- Regularly air rooms and keep windows open as wide as possible or partly open when occupied.
- Ensure wall and window trickle vents are kept open and not blocked.
- Where bathroom and kitchen fans are present, set them to run permanently.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued advice on how ventilation can reduce the transmission of viruses at home:
- Try to keep windows open as much as possible when occupied to ventilate the property.
- Keep wall and window trickle vents open and ensure they are not blocked.
- If bathroom and kitchen fans are present, keep them running permanently where possible.
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