Living in an environment that isn’t particularly dry or hot has its drawbacks, although it does wonders for our gardens. With the windows constantly closed due to dampness in the air, problems tend to arise indoors. Mould and dampness frequently appear seemingly out of the blue, swiftly spreading across the walls and ceilings uncontrollably.
The situation is all too familiar for Helen Riordan, who discovered black spots on her bathroom wall before the festive season. Busy with numerous priorities, she disregarded them and continued with her hectic schedule. However, it wasn’t until she had guests over the previous month that she noticed the black spots had multiplied. They were not just present on the bathroom ceiling, but had also appeared in her guest room.
Helen admits she’s not the best at ventilating her home as the weather often makes her feel cold, resulting in her keeping the windows shut most of the time. The guest room had been left unused for some time and it was only when preparing the bed for a friend that she saw black spots all around the window wall and ceiling. The spots in the shower corner had also proliferated in the bathroom.
Feeling somewhat panicked due to her demanding job and limited time for home maintenance, Helen purchased cleaning supplies from a local store and dedicated an evening to scrubbing. This lessened the visibility of the spots, but they were still noticeable for those aware of their presence. She attempted to disguise them in the bedroom with books on the windowsill and in the bathroom with toiletries. Recognising this as a temporary solution, she aims to tackle the issue thoroughly on her next days off.
However, this method of dealing with mould might not be the most effective, warns Deirdre Farrelly from mouldsolutions.ie. She describes mould as a fungus that can escalate rapidly if disturbed.
Regrettably, our environment tends to be quite humid, thus it’s crucial for us to prevent its effects on our homes,” she advises. Mould spores have the potential to disperse into the air and cause a musty smell in the living space. Therefore, it’s vital to address this issue correctly and with professional help. The formation of mould can be attributed to a series of factors, including construction flaws, insulation or ventilation difficulties, and heating dilemmas. If the mould can be traced back to a specific construction fault, such as water infiltration, calling a specialist becomes inevitable since in many instances, straightforward practical measures can aid in averting its formation.
The expert from Dublin suggests multiple effective strategies to reduce the proliferation of mould in our residences.
“Bathrooms, first and foremost, should be equipped with potent extraction fans that vent to the outdoors, usually via the eaves,” she explains. These devices won’t last indefinitely and should hence be renewed every half a decade to nearly eight years. Modern replacements tend to offer quicker and stronger moisture-removal capabilities.
The expert also advises against placing beds near outer walls in bedrooms, where feasible. This is because humans generate moisture and condensation in their sleep.
“This deposition generally ends up on the chilliest part of the room – typically the external walls, then morphs into mould and might spread from there. Additionally, wardrobes should not be positioned adjacent to external walls, and when you put away clothes, particularly jackets, shoes, and clean laundry, ensure they’re dry. Avoid cramming your wardrobe as air circulation is necessary.”
Farrelly emphasises the importance of adequate ventilation and heating in preventing mould growth throughout the house.
“Maintaining an ambient heat source every day in the colder seasons is critical; otherwise, you may run into troubles,” she cautions. “Walls, fixtures, and personal items can get damp and mouldy, but keeping heat at a minimum can maintain the structure of the house.”
Farrelly also promotes the practice of opening the curtains, blinds, and windows each morning to disperse any accumulated moisture overnight.
Even during the wintry seasons, it is often beneficial to open your windows for around ten minutes while preparing for the morning. If feasible, aim to establish a cross-ventilation system by leaving all the upper doors and windows ajar. It is also prudent to equip all bedrooms with perpetual vents (a borehole), which ensure continuous air circulation throughout the day, negating the need for constant monitoring. However, this should not be the primary means of ventilation, the daily practice of opening windows remains worthwhile.
In addition, she highlights the significance of inspecting loft insulation annually due to potential damage and displacement caused by shifting and storage activities.
“Thus, roof vent tiles should be installed in attics – for a house with three bedrooms, typically six of them ought to be fitted, three each at the front and back sections.”