The onset of autumn may mean the heating will soon come on and many householders will be concerned about how well-insulated they are, but while autumnal air tends to be drier than in summer, damp and condensation can still be an issue inside homes.

Indeed, damp and cold make for a miserable combination as winter approaches, but whatever time of year it is, you can do something effective about it by installing a dehumidifier.

There are many tell-tale signs of damp in the home. Condensation is one of these, especially outside rooms with a lot of steam and water like the kitchen and bathroom.

A particularly potent sign is that you can smell the consequences of damp, with a musty odour indicating that mould and mildew are starting to flourish.

Indeed, before long these may be visible, with black mould being particularly prominent and also posing a health hazard, one that has promoted legislation for social housing.

However, if you own your home, you will need to tackle the issue yourself by having existing mould cleaned up, but also reducing humidity to prevent the persistence of wet conditions that mould can thrive in.

Other signs of damp include cold and peeling wallpaper and walls that can feel damp or cold to the touch, while if you have wooden window frames, wet rot may be another sign. This is another sign you should act, as it will cost you dearly if you have to get rotted wood frames replaced because the damage is too severe.

It may be you need to take a range of actions against damp, such as a damp-proofing course, fixing any problems with rising damp caused by water sources from below (such as a cellar prone to flooding), as well as cleaning up black mould. But if these factors are present, a dehumidifier will still have a big role to play in winning your battle against damp.