Breaking the winter mould...

Having had our Eldest in hospital because of the effects of mould & condensation I love this article and its top tips for keeping your house mould free!

Long nights, longer sleeves and even longer coats doesn’t just spell the end of British Summertime; it also marks the time of year when mould - an old foe - returns to cause havoc and damage to our windows and walls.

Alongside the harm it does to our homes, mould can also cause serious health issues amongst the young, elderly and those with respiratory conditions. This means that dealing with this cold-weather irritant is a top priority as we prepare for the winter months.

The problem is so widespread that almost one in five properties suffer with mould-based issues.

Whilst hard to believe, mould does actually have a purpose. It is a fungus and fungi help us by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen trees or leaves – very helpful during the autumn. However, it has no place in our homes.

Condensation, which is essentially the pre-cursor to mould, is caused by warm, water-rich air meeting a cold surface such as windows, mirrors, walls and tiling etc. When the air cools, it can’t retain the moisture, and some of it condenses into small droplets of water on cold surfaces. This provides the perfect conditions for mould to grow

These destructive organisms feed off moisture. They reproduce through generating tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air.

In a bid to save money, people may close windows and, as a result, reduce natural ventilation. Whilst it’s important to keep our homes warm, closing windows can create a condensation problem and then an environment is created in which moulds can thrive.

There are many types of mould and these survive mostly through high humidity levels caused by poor ventilation. In fact, the optimum growing temperature for mould is about 18-20°C and where relative humidity is in excess of 65%, so obvious potential trouble spots include poorly ventilated washrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

As is often the case, there is a misconception that only older buildings are at risk. This isn’t true. The real issue isn’t caused solely by the age of a building, but more the lifestyle within it and an unwillingness to open windows to create plenty of ventilation. Modern living generates large quantities of water, whether it’s through hanging washing indoors, or even taking a shower without using a fan. These all have a significant impact on the development of mould and create the perfect breeding ground for them to grow.
 

The difficulty is, in their early stages not all fungi or mould are visible. They sometimes prefer dark, moist areas and so can colonise inaccessible parts of the home such as in wall cavities, insulation or under floorboards. That’s why its really important to understand your potential mould-friendly behaviours.

So, we know that modern features help to keep us warm but they can actually create unwanted side effects such as poorly ventilated rooms.

Given how expensive energy bills can be, we don’t want to open our windows to help circulation when we’ve had the heating on all day, so what can we do? 

Here are some tips from Richard Walker, National Technical and Development Manager at Peter Cox:

                                            

1)     When washing clothes, it is better to dry your clothes outside. If this is not possible, put them in the bathroom, with the door closed and the bathroom fan on (if fitted), and leave the window open. If you have a tumble dryer, run the vent pipe outside (unless it is a self-condensing type). You can adjust the vent pipe to run outside, with a simple DIY kit

2)     It is important to make sure your home is properly ventilated. There will always be some moisture present in the home and you should have some form of ventilation available – often by air bricks (which must never be covered over)

3)     When cooking, cover pans and avoid leaving kettles on the boil

4)     When using the bathroom or kitchen, keep the door closed whenever possible, open a window and/or switch on the fan (if fitted). This will help to prevent the moist air produced from spreading into the rest of the house
 

5)     Where furniture such as cupboards are against the wall, try to keep a small distance between the back of the cupboard and the wall, particularly if the wall is generally cold, and some form of ventilation in any cupboards is a good idea, to keep the air circulating

6)     Whilst it is a good idea to draught proof your home, it is important to remember not to block airways that will prevent air circulating, so:

-      Don’t block fixed ventilators such as air bricks or chimneys completely.

-      Don’t draught proof rooms where there is a problem with condensation or mould.

-      Don’t draught proof the kitchen or bathroom.

7)     As mentioned, it is cold air that causes the problems associated with condensation. In cold weather, you should try to keep your home warm with some form of background heating, even if you are not in the home. This applies in particular to bedrooms and especially in flats and bungalows