Tips To Avoid Damp In Your Park Home

It’s best to avoid damp in your park home, as the damage it causes can be extensive and expensive to repair. Damp can also foster the growth of mould in your home, which can present a significant health risk. So, preventing the build-up of damp in your park home is something that could save you trouble later on.

Damp can accumulate in any home, when warm moist air meets cold air or a cold surface, then condenses into droplets and is allowed to soak through surfaces. It can also start anywhere there is damage that allows water into your park home or where there is a leak from pipes or from fittings inside the home.

Here are eight tips to help you avoid damp in your park home:

  1. Check exterior walls 

You should get into the habit of checking the exterior walls of your park home at least four times a year. Check for cracks so they can be treated as soon as possible.  Keep the exterior clean and make sure the textured coating is repainted every three years to keep the home weatherproof throughout its lifetime.

  1. Check the seals around doors and windows 

Keep an eye on the seals of your doors and windows making sure that the seals are not damaged or broken. Make repairs as soon as you can because if these are not well maintained, damage caused by broken seals may not be covered by your insurer.

  1. Maintain your roof, gutters and drains regularly

 If the roof, guttering and drains are not functioning properly, then water ingress could cause you problems. Help to avoid damp in your park home by checking the roof regularly to make sure there is no damage.  Check all the joints on the roof and if you find any problems, make sure you that you deal with them straight away.

Check your guttering to ensure it is free of debris and has no cracks or holes. Clearing guttering and drains prevents water backing up and spilling out down walls or underneath your home. If your roof and guttering are not maintained properly, this may cause further damage later on.

  1. Check your plumbing regularly

It is a good idea to have a qualified plumber check your pipes once a year. Small, otherwise indiscernible leaks can build up over a long time to create a much bigger problem. A plumber can detect and mend these. Pay particular attention to joins and sockets. It is also a good idea to check tap and shower fixtures for small leaks.

  1. Produce less moisture

Cooking, boiling kettles and washing unavoidably produce moisture in the air. Consider closing doors when cooking or showering and opening a window to encourage steam to vent outside, rather than passing into the rest of your park home. Also, try to keep lids on saucepans when you cook, if possible, and keep the kettle near a window or other ventilation.

Clothes washing is another major source of moisture in your home. Tumble dryers that vent to the outside are preferable if you want to prevent damp accumulating in your park home. If you dry your clothes outside, when possible, this will help to reduce the moisture in the air. You may even want to consider drying your clothes elsewhere in the winter months. The drying facilities in your residential park or at your local launderette, may be worth the investment to avoid damp in your park home.

  1. Ventilation

Ventilation is key to preventing damp. Regular cleaning of your park home’s vents both outside and inside can help keep your home damp-free. Good air circulation can also prevent potentially harmful mould forming in still air.

If you leave a gap between furniture and the walls, this can also help improve the air circulation inside your home and further avoid damp accumulating. The occasional airing of wardrobes and cupboards can also help stop patches of damp quietly growing in hidden corners.

You may also want to consider fitting extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom to maximise ventilation and make it easier to expel steam to the outside. Modern fans that run on a timer, humidistat (which switches on when it detects a level of moisture in the air) or pull-cord typically have a low power rating and are very cost-effective to run.

  1. Insulate and draught-proof your park home

Keeping your home warm and well-insulated will help to avoid damp in the winter months as condensation is less of a problem in warm homes than cool ones. Consider draught-proofing windows and external doors and adding secondary glazing.

  1. Remove any condensation in your park home

Condensation channels and sponge strips (available from DIY shops) are cost-effective devices for dealing with condensation dripping from windows. Also, if you Wipe down windows and sills in the morning, this will help. However, wring out the cloth and dry it outside, if possible, rather than on a radiator. In extreme circumstances you may need to invest in a dehumidifier. They are very effective but can be quite costly to run.

We hope that these tips will help you to avoid damp in your park home and be comfortable in it, whatever the time of year and or the conditions outside.

Please note that all park home insurance cover is subject to acceptance of terms and conditions

This is a marketing article from Park Home Assist, multi award-winning providers of residential park home insurance.  If you would like to speak to an advisor regarding insurance for your park home, please contact our friendly team in our Northampton office on 01604 946 796.

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Published – 03/06/2022