A Guide to Damp & Mould Prevention
Damp and mould are caused by one main thing: excess moisture in the air. Everyday activities like cooking, showering, and even breathing produce moisture. When this moist air settles on a cold surface, like a window or an external wall, it turns back into water droplets (condensation). If left, this can lead to damp patches and mould growth.
To protect your home, we have installed a whole-house ventilation system designed to constantly remove this excess moisture. This guide explains how it works and the simple things you need to do to ensure it functions correctly.
How Your Ventilation System Works
The following guide is relevant if you've had a ventilation system fitted by CCS
Your system has two key parts that work together:
- Continuous Extractor Fans: These are installed in "wet rooms" (kitchens, bathrooms, WCs) where most moisture is created.
- Door Undercuts: The gaps under your internal doors allow air to move freely through the house.
The fan pulls the moist, stale air out of the wet rooms. This creates a gentle, continuous air current that draws drier, fresh air from other parts of the house through the door undercuts to replace it. This constant cycle stops moisture from building up anywhere in your home.
Understanding Your Extractor Fan
The most important thing to know about your fan is that it is designed to run continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It uses very little energy (less than a low-energy lightbulb) but is essential for protecting your home.
Please do not turn it off at the isolator switch.
- Trickle Speed: The fan runs constantly on a very low, quiet "trickle" speed. This is the normal operating mode that provides background ventilation for your whole home.
- Boost Speed: The fan will automatically switch to a higher "boost" speed when it detects a large amount of moisture. This happens in two ways:
- A sensor inside the fan detects rapid increases in humidity (e.g., when you run a shower or boil a kettle) and boosts the fan until the moisture is cleared.
- In bathrooms, the fan is often linked to the light switch. When you turn the light on, the fan boosts. It will then continue to run on boost for a set period after you turn the light off to ensure all steam is removed.
Why the Gaps Under Your Doors are Crucial
For the extractor fan to work, it needs a source of replacement air. The gaps under your internal doors are essential for this. They allow drier air from hallways and living areas to be pulled towards the fan in the bathroom or kitchen.
- What stops it working? If these gaps are blocked, the system cannot work. Airflow is restricted, and the fan cannot effectively pull the damp air out of the wet rooms.
- What to avoid: Do not block the gaps under your doors with rugs, towels, or draft excluders.
Troubleshooting - What to Do if You Suspect a Problem
If you notice condensation on your windows or the beginnings of mould, it could mean the ventilation system isn't working as it should. Here are the most common reasons why:
- Problem: The fan has stopped completely.
- Check the Isolator Switch: The fan will have a dedicated power switch, often a pull-cord in the same room or a switched fuse spur outside the door. Check that this is switched ON. It should be left on permanently.
- Check the Fuse Box: The fan may have tripped a switch in your main consumer unit (fuse box). Check for any switches in the 'OFF' position and try resetting it once. If it trips again, call for maintenance.
- Problem: The fan doesn't seem to be extracting steam.
- It's blocked with dust: Over time, dust can clog the fan and stop it from working effectively. Regular cleaning is the best fix.
- How to Clean Your Fan:
- Isolate Power: Turn the fan OFF at its dedicated isolator switch.
- Remove Cover: The front cover usually twists off with an anti-clockwise turn.
- Clean: Use the soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner to gently remove dust from the central fan blades and surrounding grille. Wipe the cover with a damp cloth.
- Reassemble & Restore Power: Twist the cover back on and turn the isolator switch back ON.
- Problem: Airflow is blocked.
- Check that the gaps under your internal doors are not blocked.
- If you have trickle vents in your window frames, ensure they are open.
By ensuring your ventilation system can operate as designed, you will effectively protect your home from damp and mould.
