Could heating controls help reduce condensation?

Article date : 05/11/2009

Written by Tony Harrison

Britons may find that if they have invested in new insulation in order to lower their energy bills, turning down their central heating systems could help them to prevent condensation from building up.

Such is the assertion of DIY expert Jeff Howell, who was responding in the Telegraph to a reader who claimed that after having loft insulation fitted they had noticed their windows were becoming covered in condensation.

Mr Howell explained that this may have resulted because the insulation causes the temperature of a property to increase by a few degrees, allowing the air to retain more moisture.

"When you turn the heating off at night, this warm, moist air will cool, become less able to hold moisture and the excess will condense out on cool surfaces, especially windows and exterior walls," he added.

While additional ventilation could rectify the problem, it may be said that using heating controls to turn down central heating systems may also help to reverse the problem.

Indeed, the Energy Saving Trust recommends that turning down a central heating thermostat by just one degree Celsius could result in a £65 on annual energy bills.

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