When autumn rolls around, it can feel as though it’s practically impossible to keep your home warm and dry enough – a challenge you know will only get tougher as winter creeps in.
It’s always a tricky balance between wanting to stay comfortable and healthy, and feeling terrified about that moment the bills come through.
What’s more, while heated blankets, hot water bottles and constant mugs of hot chocolate might help alleviate the chill, they won’t do much to keep the house itself protected from the elements.
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One of the biggest day-to-day issues come this time of year is the damp, which can cause condensation and even mould – the latter of which doesn’t just look a bit unsightly, it can also wreak havoc on your body.
Condensation occurs when the inside of your house is warmer than it is outside, with window manufacturer Everest explaining on its website: “Imagine a glass of iced water on a hot day that looks like it’s sweating.
“This is a result of the moisture in warm air colliding with the cold surface of the glass.
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“In warm air, the molecules are spaced far apart and this ‘holds’ the moisture, but in cool air, the molecules come together.
“When the molecules become close enough together, they merge into visible liquid. This is known as the 'dew point.'”
It adds: “Condensation can damage windows and furniture, cause mould and be detrimental to health.”
So what are you supposed to do?
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While the World Health Organization recommends heating your home to 18 degrees or above if possible - the ideal temperature for healthy people indoors – according to Utility Bidder, when it comes to avoiding damp in the home itself, the temperature doesn’t have to be as high as you might think.
James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, said: "Studies have suggested that the ideal temperature to heat your home is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius during the colder months.
"However, when it comes to preventing damp, it's important to try and keep the temperature of your property around at least 14 to 15 degrees.
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"This will maintain a warm enough environment to help prevent areas of dampness or mould from surfacing."
Of course, if you’re sitting at home feeling the cold, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t crank the heating up higher than this.
However, to keep condensation and mould at bay, you might want to consider keeping things at this slightly lower temperature at certain times – like if you’re not at home, or overnight.
Jess Hardiman