Household experts are urging UK households to switch on their kitchen extractor fan while cooking, saying it is the easiest and most effective way to prevent a build-up of moisture.
Damp and mould are a common problem in UK homes, and they tend to get worse as the weather gets colder. As temperatures drop, many people notice moisture on their windows, wallpaper starting to peel, or musty smells in certain rooms.
While wiping the moisture away might seem like an easy fix, experts say prevention is much better. Damp does not only damage the home, it can also trigger breathing problems, especially in people with asthma or allergies.
Why condensation builds up
The biggest culprit behind rising moisture is condensation, which builds up faster from the end of September onwards when hot air begins to hit cold surfaces like glass.
While most people know to open windows or turn on bathroom fans after a shower, far fewer realise that one simple habit in the kitchen could help stop the issue in the first place.
According to household experts at Good Housekeeping, the easiest and most effective way to prevent a build-up of moisture while cooking is to switch on the kitchen extractor fan.
Expert advice on fan maintenance
The experts said: “It’s a good idea to switch on the kitchen extractor fan while you’re cooking on the hob. This will vent any steam as you cook.”
They also advised homeowners to clean their fans regularly to keep them working efficiently, either by wiping the filters down or running dishwasher-safe parts through a hot cycle.
The tip comes as rising energy bills mean more people are avoiding putting the heating on, which can increase indoor humidity if windows and fans aren’t used properly.
More tips for reducing damp
Chris Michael from UK dehumidifier brand Meaco explained: “A damp house means damp air, so you’d simply be heating up the wet air molecules, rather than raising the room temperature. A room will feel warmer if you’re heating dry air.”
Other tips for reducing damp include drying clothes outside whenever possible, using a clothes airer near an open window instead of a radiator, and keeping blinds open during the day to let the sun naturally warm the room.
Experts also recommend pulling bed covers back in the morning to let trapped moisture escape and using a humidity reader to track levels indoors, ideally keeping them between 40% and 60%.
