These three steps will help you reduce the condensation in your home.

1. Produce less moisture.
Some ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture very quickly.
Cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling.
Avoid using paraffin and portable flueless bottled gas heaters as these heaters put a lot of moisture into the air.
Dry washing outdoors on a line, or put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or fan on.
Vent any tumble dryer on the outside, unless it is the self-condensing type.
Where fitted use extractor fans

2. Ventilate to remove moisture.
You can ventilate your home without making droughts.
Keep a small window ajar or a trickle ventilator open when someone is in the room.
Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening the windows wider. Or better still, use a humidistat-controlled electric fan. These come on automatically when the air becomes humid, and are cheap to run.
Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use, even if your kitchen or bathroom has an extractor fan. A door closer is advisable, as this will help prevent moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms, which are often colder and more likely to get condensation.
Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes. Avoid putting too many things in them as this stops the air circulating. Cut a ventilation slot in the back of each shelf or use slatted shelves. Cut ‘breather’ holes in doors and in the back of wardrobes and leave space between the back of the wardrobes and the wall. Where possible, position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.
If you replace your window units at any time, make sure that the new frames incorporate trickle ventilators.

3. Insulate, drought-proof and heat your home.
Insulation and drought-proofing will help keep your home warm and will also cut fuel bills. When the whole home is warmer, condensation is less likely.
Insulate your loft. Remember to drought-proof the loft hatch but do not block the opening under the eaves.
Consider cavity wall insulation. Before deciding though, you should talk to your local building inspector as building regulations approval is required.
Consider secondary and double glazing of windows to reduce heat loss and draughts but you must ensure that there is some ventilation.
In cold weather, keep low background heating on all day, even when there is no one at home.

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