Moving In

Drying Out

It will take time for your new home to dry out and to feel really warm the structure itself needs to warm up. As your home dries out, it will create additional moisture, although you may not notice it. Moisture that was absorbed into the building materials during construction particularly in timber and plaster takes time to dry out.

You’ll need to ventilate your new home to allow the moisture to evaporate. Trapped moisture can cause mould and dampness, which may damage your home and its contents and we can’t take responsibility for this.

Letting Moisture Evaporate

Slow evaporation minimises shrinkage and cracking.

Heating

Keep your home at a reasonable, even temperature in your first few months of occupation:
  • Set your room thermostat no higher than 18 degrees centigrade unless the temperature outside is very low.
  • Keep some heating on at all times in cold weather.
  • Keep heating on low if your home is unoccupied during the day.
  • If you can’t leave heating on continuously, adjust your time clock so that your home is warm by the time you return home, to avoid circulating warm damp air in cold rooms.
  • Don’t use paraffin heaters or portable gas heaters: they generate moisture.

Ventilation

Use all the methods of ventilation you can:

  • Use mechanical ventilation and open windows and trickle vents (these are sliding vents that, when open, allow moisture to evaporate rather than collecting on windows).
  • Wherever possible, leave internal doors open and cupboard doors ajar to allow air to circulate, particularly through wardrobes.
  • If you’re cooking, washing or drying clothes, keep the kitchen door closed. Keep pans covered. Open a window and turn on extractor fans and cooker hoods.
  • Avoid drying clothes indoors and use a self-condensing dryer.
  • If you’re having a bath or shower, keep the bathroom door closed. Open a window or turn on the extractor fan.
  • Leave your loft empty. The free flow of air in this space will prevent condensation in the roof space. Anything stored in the loft could be damaged by condensation.

Dealing With Condensation

If moisture has already condensed:

  • mop up as much as possible
  • heat the room
  • open a window a little
  • keep the door shut

Central Heating

Remember that the structure of the house takes time to warm up in winter, at least 60 minutes. When you first move into your home it will take around 30 minutes for the house to feel warm; the time will reduce as the house gets thoroughly warmed and dries out.

If you turn off a radiator, this may reduce the temperature in other areas.

Cold Weather

In cold weather, if there’s a possibility of frost damage, either:

  • leave the heating on continuously but set the room thermostat lower (a minimum of 6 degrees centigrade), or
  • drain the system of water and turn off its gas and electricity supplies. To restart the system, you’ll need to refill and vent it, adding a corrosion inhibitor if required.