Cardiff winters can be damp as well as cold, so heating and ventilation need to work together. Keeping a home warm without trapping moisture helps protect both the property and the people living there.
This guide covers simple checks tenants can make before and during colder weather.
Heating checks
Test the heating before you rely on it every day. Check that radiators warm up, thermostats respond, and the boiler does not show an error code.
If a radiator is cold at the top, bleeding may help. If several radiators are cold, the boiler loses pressure repeatedly, or there is no heating or hot water, report it.
Ventilation habits
Use extractor fans and short window openings to clear moisture from cooking, showers and drying clothes. Keeping all windows closed all winter can make condensation worse.
Try to keep rooms at a steady comfortable temperature where possible, especially rooms with external walls or poor airflow.
Cold weather reporting
Report failed heating, leaks, damp patches, blocked gutters, loose external fittings or water around doors and windows. Mention whether the issue appears after rain, frost or high winds.
If an outside tap is present, make sure it is turned off properly after use and report any dripping or cracked pipework.
