As we enter ‘Mould Season’ we thought it would be a good idea to kick off our blog with a common problem for home and business owners – mould growth! Although mould problems can occur all year round, it is more common place to see mould in the winter months. You may even have condensation on your windows as I write this blog. No, OK, I’ll get my coat. It is winter after all.
So what is mould?
Mould is a living organism that rapidly reproduces in areas of excess moisture. The problem is made worse in cold rooms where there is little movement of air (a lack of ventilation). Mould is pretty nasty stuff; firstly not only does it look unsightly, it can be bad for your health.
So, just what causes mould?
The general misunderstanding is that mould is causes by damp, however, more often than not; black mould is caused by condensation – it is believed that less than 15% of mould problems are caused by damp. This condensation causes mould growth to form on walls, furniture and soft furnishings.
How do you treat mould growth?
The best way of tackling mould is to reduce the amount of condensation in your property.
Air contains water vapour; however the amount depends on the temperature of your property. The warmer the temperature, the more water can be stored in the air, however, when that warm air meets cold air, or a cold surface, the water contained in the air is released to form condensation.
The warmer it is the more moisture that can be held, however, when moist air comes into contact with either colder air or a cold surface, it is unable to retain the same amount of moisture and the water is released to form condensation.
Your daily home or business activities, well, even breathing can cause condensation and that moisture has to go somewhere. However, like you, your building needs to breathe.
Energy efficiency works mean that your building’s natural ventilation has been reduced, so it is especially important to move the air around, replacing the old stale air with fresh clean air.
I get that it’s an odd message to receive. “Make sure your property is not too cold; adjust your thermostat to keep a constant temperature, AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE OPEN A WINDOW!” Well actually, it’s not as crazy as it all seems and if I can get it you can too, so here goes!
You can help stop moisture from building up by:
• Airing your property by safely opening windows/ trickle vents, to allow air to circulate
• Keeping your property warm when the weather is cold or wet
• Not your drying clothes inside
• Making sure tumble dryers are vented to the outside
For more information on mould caused by condensation call SCH on 0121 717 1515. If you are not a SCH tenant and are interested in our mould treatment service, please fill in an online enquiry form below, or call 0121 779 8900.
Solihull Community Housing’s (SCH) environmental services team ‘SCH Better Places’ carries out the treatment of mould in SCH’s properties. The SCH Better Places brand is still very much part of SCH so you can be sure of a service you can trust.
