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Exact temperature to heat your home to stop mould and condensation while keeping bills down

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2024

Exact temperature to heat your home to stop mould and condensation while keeping bills down

NOT only is mould damaging for your health to have in your home, it is also an eyesore and can be costly to fix if the issue spreads.

With energy costs still relatively high, it has become a balancing act between avoiding big bills, and heating your home enough to keep the green stuff away.

Read on to find out some tips to cost effectively heat your home and stop mouldCredit: PA

So, what is the right temperature to avoid mould building up in your home?

Ideally you will want to maintain a consistent room temperature of around 20°C, and avoid letting it drop below 16°C.

You should also aim to keep your humidity levels between 30% and 60%, any higher and there is too much moisture in the air.

You can use a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity in your home.

While these may sound expensive, in a pleasant surprise you can pick up one of each for a collective total of around £20 from Amazon.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “The Energy Saving Trust recommends that people in good health heat their home to between 18 and 21 degrees celsius.

“They also estimate that people can save 10% on their energy bills for every degree they turn down their thermostat, so if you’re trying to keep costs low then do bear this in mind.”

That means if you have your temperature set at the higher end, you can still turn the thermostat down and save cash while keeping mould at bay.

How to prevent and stop mould?

Mould forms because the air holds moisture, which is something anyone who owns a dehumidifier will have seen first hand. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold.

If moist air is cooled by contact with cold surfaces, such as walls, windows or mirrors, the moisture condenses into water droplets, known as condensation.

The result of this condensation is often mould, which primarily affects the airways and lungs, but also has an impact on your eyes and skin.

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In fact, the respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death.

Don’t worry though, preventing mould and removing mould are simple enough processes.

A hack to remove mould involves mixing one part bleach with four parts water, and applying the solution to the mouldy area with a cloth or brush.

Scrub gently until the mould is gone, then wipe away the bleach and dry the area.

Another tip is to mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bottle and spray the mouldy area.

Vinegar is a natural mould killer that can help loosen mould from fabric.

To prevent mould, you want to reduce moisture levels, so simply opening windows and doors to let fresh air in can do the job.

If you are still worried about mould potentially building up in your home, a sure fire way to help prevent it is the use of a dehumidifier.

While these do vary in price, you can pick up a small one from Amazon for within the £40 to £50 range.

Gallizzi said: “As winter arrives, many people dry wet clothes on radiators or airers, but this releases moisture into your home.

“Try to avoid this where you can or consider using a dehumidifier to remove excess water from the air. This helps to combat condensation and prevent mould growth.

“As well as plug-in dehumidifiers, you could also try moisture absorbing tabs, which can minimise condensation from building up on your windows.”

Energy bills are set to go up again, so brace yourself

The average household’s annual gas and electricity bill under the July to September 2024 price cap is £1,568, according to government data.

That’s a big drop from the peak of £2,380 we saw between October 2022 and June 2023, but it’s still 29% higher than what we were paying in Winter 2021/22.

But there’s more bad news, the price cap will jump by 10% to £1,717 from October 2024, and experts say it’ll rise another 3% in early 2025.

Right now, gas costs 5.5p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and electricity is 23.4p per kWh, with standing charges at 31.4p a day for gas and 60.1p a day for electricity.

From September 2024 however, gas prices will climb to 6.2p per kWh and electricity will go up to 24.5p per kWh, with a slight increase in standing charges too.

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Money

B&Q shoppers rush to buy 80p hot tub must have perfect for keeping away Autumn chill in 95% off clearance

Published

6 mins ago

September 25, 2024

NewsAdmin

B&Q shoppers have been hot-footing it down to their local store to bag a hot tub accessory which is ideal for the chiller autumn temperatures.

The homewares store is currently selling a “CleverSpa Grey Square Canopy” for just 80p each in a clearance sale, with the original retail price being £15.

B&Q originally sold the CleverSpa canopy for £15 but is now heavily reducedCredit: B&Q

That’s a huge reduction of 95 per cent.

The polyester canopy which fits over the top of a CleverSpa hot tub, shielding you from the elements, measures 75.5cm by 187cm.

However, the bargain seems to have been hugely popular already as currently B&Qs website says “this product is currently out of stock”.

According to the product description: “It will keep you cool on sunny days with 50+ UPF protection, keep you sheltered from the elements and provide you with a little privacy too!”

The canopy also has a mesh panel which “ensures that the wind doesn’t lift the canopy once in place”.

It also says the product can be easily cleaned with a wet soft cloth.

For comparison, B&Q is selling a “Lay-Z-Spa black and grey dome spa canopy” for £150.

We recommend you search on the B&Q website to see if the product is in a store near you, before making the decision to buy online.

To find your nearest outlet use the Store Locator tool on their website.

Shopping discounts – How to make savings and find the best bargains

It’s often useful to shop for outdoor items such as these at the end of the summer season, as they are much less in demand so are sold at much lower prices.

When searching for the perfect item, be sure to also shop around using the search tool and filter functions on a range of sites.

The price toggle when surfing websites is perfect for setting your own budget and shopping within a particular range.

The “sort by” tool can also be your best friend, allowing you to view the lowest priced items first, and spot all the best deals.

Comparing prices between websites also helps you make sure you’re getting the right deal for the right product.

How to bag a bargain

SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…

Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.

Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.

Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.

Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.

When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.

Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.

Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.

And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.