DROPPING OUT
The £21 buy to stop loft condensation from soaking your ceilings after mum ‘nearly had kittens’ when she saw her attic
An energy expert has also urged Brits to check your loft insulation as it can save you up to £175
IF there’s one thing guaranteed to dampen the mood in your home, it’s condensation.
The tiny water droplets can become a persistent pain that ruins surfaces and, if not careful, turn into mould.
2
2
The nasty fungus will spread like wildfire, leaving unsightly and hazardous stains that are dangerous to breathe in and cost a fortune to put right.
And one area for concern that a lot of Brits may not have considered is their loft.
The pointed top of your house is particularly susceptible to condensation forming, with one in five homes falling victim.
Emma Jane shared that she “almost had kittens” after venturing into her loft and panicking that there’s been a leak.
read more on homes
But it turns out, her loft isn’t ventilated well enough to prevent condensation forming inside it.
She took to Facebook group Family Lowdown Tips & Ideas and was met with unanimous advice: get some felt lap vents.
Most lofts are fitted lapped felt or membrane construction draped over the roof.
Felt lap vents prevent roof condensation and moisture drops by slotting into these layers of felt and aerating condensation.
Most read in Fabulous
They can typically be fitted between 400mm joists and 600mm joist openings to increase the amount of ventilation in your roof.
Felt lap vents are usually fitted retrospectively after a condensation issue is unearthed - meaning if you’ve just spotted water droplets in your loft, they’ll probably work for you.
You can purchase a 10 pack for around £21 on Amazon.
“You need felt lap vents,” Sasha Hill commented on Emma’s post. “I had this exact same problem in a house and these worked perfectly.
“You can install them yourself in minutes.
“It’s lack of airflow.”
“We had the same last year really badly,” Jenny Hiscock added. “I then put in some felt lap vents in (very easy to do) and this year, I had about three drops of condensation.
“This is what made the difference for us.”
Energy expert Dr Justin Searle, of Swansea University, also urged Brits to check their loft insulation.
Not only will proper insulation prevent condensation, but it can save you potentially hundreds on energy bills.
“Ideally it should be between the rafters, with a layer over the rafters (250mm in total),” he said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“Make sure any boxes up there aren't squashing it down.”
Good insulation in the loft could save you up to £175 by stopping energy needed for heat escaping easily.
Topics