Flat 3 Cremer Street Home User Guide

d) Try to make sure that all rooms are at least partially heated. Condensation most often happens in unheated rooms.

e) It takes a long time for a cold building to warm up, so it is better to leave a small amount of heat for a long period that a lot of heat for a short time.

f) Properties left unoccupied and unheated during the day get very cold. Whenever possible it is best to keep the heating on, even at a low level.

As the property is used and heated it will gradually dry out. As this happens, wood and plaster in particular will shrink, causing small cracks. The cracks are not a risk to the structure of the property and will be covered in the normal process of re-decoration.

6.1 New Buildings

New Buildings often take a long time before they are fully dried out. While this is happening they need extra heat and ventilation. At least during the first winter of use many properties require more heat than they will in subsequent winters. Allowance should be made for this.

6.2 Efflorescence

Another sign of drying out may be the appearance of white deposits on inside or outside walls, called ‘efflorescence.’ This is caused by salts coming out of the wall materials. Internal walls can be cleaned by wiping or brushing with a dry brush. If efflorescence persists inside it may indicate a water leak, which should be investigated. 6.3 Mould Growth Any sign of mould growth is an indication of the presence of moisture and is likely to be caused by condensation. This should serve as a warning that heating and ventilation should be increased.

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