Keeping your home warm can help reduce the risk of mould.
Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at Uswitch, recommends that people in good health heat their homes to between 18°C and 21°C.
But a thermostat setting is not a guaranteed cure: ventilation, moisture levels and the condition of the building all play a part.
Mr Gallizzi said: “Keeping your home warm can help prevent mould from building up during the coldest months of the year.”
Condensation forms when moisture in the air meets a cold surface, such as a window or wall, and turns into water.
Everyday activities including cooking, showering and drying clothes indoors add moisture to the air, which needs a way to escape.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy says inadequate heating can leave surfaces colder, while poor ventilation and missing insulation can also contribute to condensation.
Its advice is to turn the heating on regularly during colder weather, although it says this does not mean it has to be on all day, every day.
For anyone struggling to afford heating, the charity recommends taking as many other steps as possible to reduce moisture and improve ventilation.
Opening kitchen and bathroom windows allows steam to escape when cooking or washing, while working extractor fans can also remove moist air.
Keep window trickle vents open and avoid blocking vents or airbricks, the centre advises.
Putting lids on pans can reduce the amount of steam released, and closing kitchen and bathroom doors can stop moisture spreading through the home.
If washing cannot be dried outside, hang it in a room with the internal door shut and a window open.
Moving furniture away from walls can also help air circulate if mould is appearing behind it.
A dehumidifier can reduce moisture in the air, but it is also important to identify the cause of damp rather than relying on a device alone.
Not all damp is caused by condensation: water can enter through defects such as damaged roof tiles, cracks or leaking guttering.
The centre recommends seeking a specialist survey if the cause cannot be found, as water can travel away from the point where it enters.
People who rent their homes should report damp and mould to their landlord and ask what steps will be taken to address the problem.
Government health guidance warns that damp and mould can affect the airways and lungs, as well as the eyes and skin.
Children, older people and those with certain existing health conditions are among the groups at greater risk of more severe effects.
Anyone concerned about symptoms should speak to a healthcare professional, while the underlying cause of the damp should also be addressed.
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