Today’s picture from our surveyors files is of condensation black spot mould (also known as Aspergillus Niger).
The picture shows black spot mould at the cold spot of the wall / junction as well as mould on the plasterboard finish where the “dabs” holding the plasterboard have created a cold spot. The “dabs” are the only contact between the plasterboard and the cold wall, therefore the temparature of the cold wall is transferred through the “dab” on to the surface of the plasterboard. This causes moisture trapped in the air to “condensate” out at this cold spot. This is otherwise known as “Cold bridging”.
Condensation black spot mould is a direct effect of condensation. Black spot mould usually appears in areas where there is very little air movement such as window reveals, floor / ceiling and floor / wall junctions and behind furniture that is positioned behind colder walls. The conditions that black mould needs to develop then are cooler parts of a property where the average relative humidity is 70% or more on a regular basis.
Black spot mould and health
There is much concern surrounding the effect of condensation mould spores in the air on the health of you and your children.
Generally speaking, mould spores, like pollen, are air-borne and everywhere, and do not affect those in good health. Problems do occur though when mould is allowed to grow and produce spores in great numbers, and these can exacerbate problems in those suffering from asthma, or with respiratory or pulmonary conditions.
Treating condensation mould
Condensation mould can be treated very easily. Simply washing off condensation mould and re-painting areas doesn’t work! The only way to remove all the mould spores is to use a condensation mould eradication kit. These mould kits remove mould once and for all! To see how simple the kits are to use check out our condensation mould expert in this video It is though important to reduce the amount of moisture in the air and improve the ventilation in the property (using bathroom and kitchen fans or positive pressure units) or the mould will return!
It’s the time of year when thousands of people wake up to windows looking like the scene below. Condensation occurs when moist air come into contact with air or a surface that is at a lower temperature. This is generally seen when warm air in living areas in homes penetrates to the cooler parts of the property. Condensation can lead to other problems in the home such as black spot mould which in turn can lead to health problems such as asthma.
Condensation help is at hand!
The specialist Air Quality team at Timberwise, Envirowise, can help with your condensation problems. With our range of positive pressure systems it’s never been easier to control condensation without losing heat within the home. Our range of positive pressure units are designed with the end user in mind – simple to use and very effective! We also have a range of kitchen and bathroom fansfrom our Energysaver range – economical to run and packed with state of the art technology to help control condensation and air quality in the home. We also have a range of dehumidifiers to help remove the moisture and help stop the condensation as well. With a full range available there’s sure to be one that suits your property and budget.
For properties that have blackspot mould as a result of condensation we have availabe a condensation mould kit. Designed to kill the mould spores and prevent the mould coming back. The condensation mould kits are easy to apply and can be purchased in our on-line shop.
Timberwise can also provide a condensation consultation in your property. Here our condensation specialist will be able to identify the causes of the condensation in your property and recommend a condensation solution to help. To arrange a condensation consultation click here.
To solve your condensation problems there really is only one name you need to know! Trust the condensation experts trust Timberwise.
Now that we are moving further into Autumn we are seeing more and more cases of condensation and black mould in properties. Black mould (also known as black spot mould or condensation mould) is a sign that there is an on-going problem due to condensation within the property. Black mould spores are omni-present within the environment and only when in the right conditions (where surface moisture is present) will they germinate and reproduce the black moulds that are commonly seen as a result of excessive condensation.
Black mould growing on a wall next to a passive air vent
Here we have an example of an on-going condensation problem that our Envirowise team of Air Quality experts have recently advised upon within a ground floor flat. The picture clearly shows black moulds forming on the wall in a typical tortoise shell pattern. Left untreated the black mould would spread and cover the entire wall. Black mould spores are a well known trigger for asthma so need to be removed to maintain a healthy living environment. In the same picture we can see the solution to the condensation and mould problem that another company had suggested. Passive air vents, as seen in the picture, help with the movement of moisture laden air within properties which in turn helps reduce condensation levels within the property. However, in some cases more movement of air is needed to help alleviate the condensation problem.
The solution to this black mould and condensation problem was simple – replace the moisture laden air within the property with clean fresh air!
Initially a mould eradication kit was used to remove the black mould and spores from the wall surfaces and sterilise the area previously inhabited by the black moulds. Mould eradication kits are the only way to effectively treat mould infected areas. Mould eradication kits are available to buy direct from our on-line shop. To learn more about what the mould eradication kit contains we have a short video where our Air Quality expert gives more details. To view the video click here.
To move air within the property we installed a positive pressure unit. The positive pressure unit draws fresh, dry, filtered ambient air in from outside, and gently pushes it into the property. This causes a slight internal positive pressure, continually pushing out any moisture-laden air ultimately reducing the humidity levels to control condensation. For further advice on how our positive pressure units work visit our ventilation pages.
If you suspect that you have condensation problems with your property our team of Air Quality experts are here to help. Simply call 0800 288 8661 or click to arrange a condensation survey on-line
As innovators in the air quality market our specialist air quality team, Envirowise, are proud to launch their new positive pressure ventilation system. Our EnergySaver positive pressure ventilation units have always provided a reliable solution to condensation, mould growth and air quality problems within the home and our new enhancements make our units the next generation of positive pressure ventilation systems. The system works by introducing fresh, dry, filtered ambient air into the property. This ‘clean’ air is then circulated around the property diluting and displacing the stale moist air and ultimately reducing the humidity levels to control condensation.
Our new positive pressure ventilation system for lofts has all the benefits of our original system and much more!
Envirowise EnergySaver Positive Pressure Ventilation System features:
• Five year guarantee
• Helps lower energy costs
• Controls condensation and mould growth within the property
• Reduces the build up of Radon Gas where this is a problem
• Low maintenance
EnergySaver Positive Pressure Loft System
New features include:
A new state of the art digital motor – The positive pressure unit will constantly measure the airflow and keep the airflow at the desired rate. This new motor is also more efficient than our previous motor.
A new LED light on the heat switch panel – A clear indicator to show when the filter needs changing.
New style filter cover- Our new filter is now the largest available for a positive pressure loft unit giving clients an increased working life of the filter. Air is also now filtered from all sides of the unit.
As can be seen from the picture to the left the new unit can now be hung directly from a rafter or a cross member. This allows a less intrusive installation than the traditional unit which was fitted directly on to ceiling joists. An added benefit is also less vibration and noise when in use.
How the positive pressure ventilation system works
The loft unit is fitted into the roof void and ducted via an air diffuser, normally mounted in the ceiling above a stairwell. Where there is a pre heat facility a control switch is conveniently sited to allow the user to control the heat facility and the fan speed.
For more information on our range of positive pressure ventilation systems or to arrange a survey call Envirowise on o800 288 8661 or eMail airqualityexpert@timberwise.co.uk
When a family in Kent needed an effective way to lower Radon levels in their home Timberwise were called upon to provide an effective solution. Through our specialist Envirowise division we were able to recommend the most effective way of lowering the Radon gas levels in the property.
Ordinarily, it is always best to stop Radon entering a house. In some cases though this is not practical and other Radon reducing techniques have to be employed. The aim in both cases is to reduce indoor radon levels to significantly below the Action Level. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends that Radon levels should be reduced in homes where the average is greater than 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). The government has also endorsed this recommendation. The Action Level refers to the annual average concentration of Radon in a home.
There are five main ways to achieve a reduction in Radon levels in a property . Depending on the kind of property and the amount of Radon reduction that is required the following could be utilised to lower Radon levels:
A Install a Radon fan
B Improve ventilation under suspended timber floors
C Use positive ventilation in your house
D Seal cracks and gaps in solid concrete floors
E Change the way your house is ventilated
If you need to reduce your indoor Radon level by a large amount, and your house has a solid concrete floor a Radon fan is the perfect solution. This method can be very effective and is usually the best choice. In some cases it has been found to reduce indoor Radon levels by as much as 90 per cent. The short video below shows the fitting of a Radon fan for our client.
To install the Radon fan we used a wall mounted corer to initially drill through the wall below the damp proof course and into the substrate to form a sump. The sump is necessary as this is where ultimatley the Radon will be extracted from. A ’sleeve’ then connects the Radon fan to the sump allowing extraction of Radon gas from beneath the property. The Radon is then vented to free air at roof height where the Radon is safely dispersed and diluted. For more information on Radon gas read our Radon advice leaflet.
To help control condensation and other air quality issues Timberwise can provide a full range of ventilation and air management solutions to help alleviate the effects of condensation and poor air quality within domestic and commercial properties. When looking at installing a fan in your property it is important that the correct fan is installed and life style advice adhered to otherwise the condensation problem will continue.
At Timberwise, our surveyors come across many examples of fan units that are no longer helping keep condensation levels down . Here we can see an example of a fan unit fitted in a kitchen where the sensor head that identifies when the humidity is such that the fan should automatically operate has become clogged with fatty deposits from cooking. This means that the fan can only be switched on and off manually and as a result condensation and mould have come back.
All Envirowise fans from Timberwise feature a contamination proof sensor head that comes with a life time guarantee. This gives you the peace of mind that the fan will provide a reliable service in alleviating condensation in the property.
Envirowise offers a range of innovative solutions to help alleviate the problems associated with poor air quality within buildings. Envirowise can carry out a “Property / Air Quality Check” to determine issues and solutions for a healthy lifestyle. This involves our consultant meeting with you to discuss the various issues relating to air quality. We will determine the cause of air quality problems and offer solutions and detailed advice to improve conditions within the property.
To find out more about the Envirowise range of kitchen fans and bathroom fans visit our dedicated air quality pages or call 0800 288 8661 to arrange a consultation.
