Effects of Sleeping in a Damp Room – Let’s Find Out!

Effects of Sleeping in a Damp Room

Sleeping in a damp room can severely impact one’s health and well-being. Firstly, we need to answer can damp in a house cause illness?. Yes, several health problems are directly related to sleeping in a damp house, like headaches and respiratory problems like asthma. It can also have long-term effects on your immune system.

What is Damp Room?

A room with excessive moisture in the air causes medical issues for the inhabitants of the room. Various reasons like water pipe leakage or poor ventilation can cause dampness.

Identifying dampness can be very easy. Just look for any discolouration on the walls, paint peeling off, dark spots of mould, or a weird smell.

Here are some of the reasons for dampness:

Water leaks in pipes or roof

Leakages in the water pipes or the roof can cause water damage to the walls and cause dampness inside the room. This leakage can be tricky to remedy and causes structural damage. This type of dampness is called penetrating dampness.

Water Rising from the Ground

This type of damp rises from the ground into the walls because of structural issues in the building’s foundation. It occurs when the damp proof layer laid before the foundation is damaged, causing the dampness to rise from this ground, called rising dampness.

Poor ventilation of the room

Depending on the location, the air has a certain amount of moisture. A poorly ventilated room traps all this dampness inside the room. Rooms should be vented properly to avoid this buildup of moisture inside it.  

Inefficient Heating

Moisture is high during winter; the cold weather fills the air with moisture, and inefficient heating inside the room can cause it to flourish, leading to dampness.

Effects of Sleeping in a Damp Room

Effects of Sleeping in a Damp Room

The effects of sleeping in a damp room can be dangerous and even long-lasting. Dampness leads to mould buildup, which releases allergens into the air, causing various health issues for the inhabitants. Dampness in the house can cause illnesses like breathing problems, rashes, allergies, and poor sleep.

Babies, children, and the elderly are at the greatest risk of contracting health problems because of dampness. People with preexisting respiratory issues will experience an increase in the intensity of their issues by sleeping in a damp room.  

List of the issues that can be caused by dampness:

  • Respiratory Problems
  • Allergic Reactions
  • Fungal Infections
  • Skin Irritations
  • Aggravation of Chronic Conditions
  • Immune System Compromise

Long Term Risks

As we know, dampness leads to mould buildup and chronic long-term problems from prolonged exposure. Dampness also poses a threat to the structural integrity of the building. It can make the place inhabitable or even structurally unsound.

How do I get rid of damp in my bedroom?

To get rid of the dampness in your bedroom, you must first identify the source of the dampness. Then, you can start to remedy the situation and remove the dampness.

You should open the windows if the room is damp because of poor ventilation. If this is not an option, you can buy a ventilation fan or an air purifier.

Penetrating dampness can be remedied by applying a water treatment layer over the affected area to protect the inside of the rooms from dampness.

To keep out dampness and mould from your bedroom in the winter, you must keep the room sufficiently heated as that will stop the buildup of moisture in the air from the cold weather.

Legal Considerations for Tenants Living in a Damp Room

Landlords are responsible for fixing housing disrepairs like dampness and mould. You can demand your landlord to fix this issue and even file a claim against them. The effects of sleeping in a damp room are prevalent among the tenants living in a privately rented property. Living in a damp room is very dangerous for your health; according to research, the NHS can save up to £38,356,200 per year by serving patients with dampness-related issues. It is suggested that if you live in a damp place, you should immediately act.

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