How to get rid of Mould on Walls!
Mould is a scourge for many Irish homeowners. This unwelcome visitor can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mould is ubiquitous, it’s in the air, on our clothing, shoes, bags, and even on our pets.
What causes Mould?
The ideal conditions for Mould are damp, warm conditions without much airflow. Typically, we usually find mould growth in bathrooms and bedrooms where there is high humidity and a lack of ventilation. It’s also very common in properties with a high number of occupants. It should be noted that Mould grows well also where there has been a leak or flooding in the past that has not been adequately dried out. In such cases, there are usually visible signs on walls and affected surfaces.
Mould thrives on organic material and is a huge fan of modern day building materials, such as paints, wallpaper, insulation and drywall to name a few. Mould can also grow in dust, dead skin cells, carpets, fabric, upholstery and many more.
SOLUTION
The key to getting rid of Mould is understanding it! Daily we are witnesses to the ramifications of inadequate ventilation, which is the main cause of mould growth. This scenario is becoming increasingly more common with the occurrence of more air tight buildings with increased insulation. When the air stops circulating, you get a build-up of stale, humid, moisture laden air. This in turn condenses on walls leading to damp patches which encourages mould growth.
Generally, its advisable that you take a two-tiered approach in dealing with all mould problems. Firstly, the affected area must be thoroughly cleaned. Then it’s imperative that you deal with the excess moisture problem as this is the only way to keep the mould away.
At Dampdoctor we are specialists in dealing with this problem, furthermore we are firm believers in long-term solutions. We use various cleaning techniques, specialist equipment and protective gear to kill the mould spores and thoroughly clean the affected area. (For more information relating to health risks and mould, please refer to our related blog). Following this we deal with the ventilation issue, causing the mould in the first place. For this problem, we use a mechanical ventilation system, the tried and trusted positive input ventilation system. This PIV systems work by filling your property with fresh air by means of a pressurised system and pushing out the moisture laden air.
You don’t have to live with Mould, contact the Dampdoctor today on 01 9011662 or info@www.dampdoctor.ie where our team will talk you through the process.
5 Things You Can Do To Reduce Condensation
We are just about to enter the dreaded damp season once again! I thought it might be useful for you if I highlighted a few practical pointers on how YOU can reduce condensation. Remember prolonged condensation can lead to damp and mold, either of these you don’t want! Another thing to remember I know, but believe me these simple steps can save you a lot of heart ache and money down the road!
How to reduce condensation
- Get Rid of the Clothes Horse:
Get rid of the clothes horse if you can. Although we do live in Ireland and it does rain a lot, so put the clothes horse in the bathroom, close the door and open the window if you need to dry clothes inside.
- Always put a Lid on your Saucepan when Cooking
I have always been a fan of leaving the lid off the saucepan as I feel like a bit of a chef and its one less thing to wash but think about it – where does all the steam goes? On that note make sure you close the door also.
- Use your extractor fan, it’s there for a reason!
When you are cooking, and showering always turn on the extractor fan. Not the most relaxing sound in the world especially when it’s on its last legs, but that’s not its function, but getting rid of moisture laden air is.
- When showering, close the door and open the window
This is important especially if you have a walk-in wardrobe alongside your bathroom. The last thing you want is a wardrobe full of damp-musty clothes and that’s exactly what happens if subjected to steam over time. Not the kind of future you had planned for your new French connection winter coat i reckon!!!
- Ventilate, Ventilate, Ventilate – Open all windows during the day
If you happen to be at home for any length of time during the day, open what windows you can, winter included. I know it sounds like it defeats the purpose, especially if you have just spent a lot insulating and draft proofing your property, but the benefits of good ventilation go much further than preventing damp to creating a healthier environment for living in. Make sure you include bedrooms and living areas, especially rooms where there is a stove. You will be glad to hear that fresh air heats much faster and it’s just a nicer heat. So, put on a jumper and let a bit of fresh air in, and honestly you will all feel better for it.
Ultimately we have got to remember that we do live in Ireland where 1 in 4 homes are affected with damp in some way. Sometimes damp and mould, condensation are simply unavoidable but in many cases, they are NOT!
So be smart where you can and remember for all damp related problems the dampdoctor can help! We can call to site to diagnose the problem and offer complete solutions to remedy the problem also. Email us at info@ test1.dampdoctor.ie or call us on 087 0524366 for more information.
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