Help your customers tackle condensation and mould

Mould and condensation are common problems that, if left untreated, can have serious implications.

Here we look at some quick and simple ways to tackle these problems before they cause long-term damage.

Condensation

Condensation is caused when warm air meets a cool surface. Every day, each person in a household can be responsible for releasing approximately two and a half litres of water vapour into the air. Condensation like this can cause problems like damp and mould to develop that can negatively affect people’s health and cause major damage to homes and property.

Other household activities that release the most water vapour into the air include:

• Bathing or showering
• Drying clothes on a radiator or tumble dryer
• Cooking on the hob
• Boiling a kettle

How to reduce water vapour:

According to our Which? Trusted Traders-approved service EnviroVent, there are a few simple rules to follow to minimise the amount of water being released into the air:

1. Use pan lids when cooking to trap steam
2. Run an extractor fan in the kitchen or bathroom
3. Avoid opening the dishwasher until it has cooled
4. Don’t dry laundry on radiators

These small changes won’t eliminate condensation. The best way to stop condensation for good is to invest in proper ventilation such as extractor fans, cooker hoods and perhaps even a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit. Read our guide to the best cooker hoods.

Mould

Where there is damp, there is an environment for mould to grow. Mould is most commonly caused by excessive condensation in a property that has not been appropriately ventilated. 

What are the health implications of mould?

Mould can cause health issues, especially for those that suffer from respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis, the very young or the elderly. Some long-term effects of prolonged exposure to mould can include:

• Allergic reaction symptoms – sneezing, runny nose and sinus problems
• Skin rash
• Red, itchy or watery eyes
• Respiratory issues such as asthma attacks
• Brain fog

How to clean mould

According to Peter Cox, another Which? Trusted Trader, in order to stop black mould from reoccurring you must tackle the source of the moisture. Without targeting the root cause, the problem is likely to reoccur.

The good news is, once treated it is fairly easy and cost effective to clean away the mould. 

Timberwise gives this advice when is comes to cleaning mould:

‘You are going to need a few basic items; a bucket, a sponge (or anything you can scrub with), a black mould treatment spray and some protective gear to protect yourself from the black mould spores that will be released when it’s disturbed.

‘First, you will want to spray the affected area with the black mould treatment spray. Once the mould is covered, you can scrub it with the sponge to make sure all the mould has been coated. When it is coated, leave it for about half an hour to let the treatment have a full effect.

‘Once those 30 minutes are up, scrub it again and see if all the mould is removed. If not, just repeat the process until the surface is clear.’

If there is a lot of mould in a property or the problem keeps recurring, you will need to get in the professionals. Find a property preservation specialist in your local area on Which? Trusted Traders