When a pub in the North West had a problem with condensation and mould growth in their cellar the specialist Envirowise air quality team at Timberwise were called in to find a solution.
Envirowise determined that the problems were associated with the excessive moisture present in the air within the cellar. As a result this moisture, was causing a condensation problem and in turn a mould problem. The solution was simple – the installation of an Envirowise Cellar Positive Pressure System.
Designed to create enough air changes to replace the moist wet air trapped in the cellar in such a way as not to interfere with the normal chilling of the beers The Envirowise Cellar Positive Pressure System is designed to control the humidity in the toughest of cellar environments and reducing the risk of condensation and mould forming on beer lines which in turn reduces maintenance and cleaning costs.
The Science behind the Cellar Positive Pressure System
The principles behind the system are simple: If the moisture laden air is replaced with clean fresh filtered dryer air any evaporation that then takes place can be absorbed into the internal atmosphere and washed out by the Envirowise Cellar Positive Pressure System unit before condensation has any opportunity to reform on any cold surfaces.
To work, the system requires an air supply from an external source that is then ducted to the Envirowise Cellar Positive Pressure System. The system is designed to deliver an air flow either directly from the main unit or if necessary further ducting can be added to a desired point within the cellar.
Energy Saving Technology
The system benefits from our energy saving technology and operates within set temperature parameters hence the annual running costs are only around £10.00 per year.
The pictures below show the installation of the positive pressure system in the cellar:
Heavy mould growth and condensation on line pythons
Showing hanging moisture below the python and new mould growth above
Cellar Positive Pressure system air in-put direction grill
Looking for more information on positive pressure ventilation?
To find out more about our range of positive pressure systems for use in domestic or commercial environments check out our dedicated ventilation section of this website. Alternatively call your local Timberwise office on 0800 288 8660 or arrange an air quality survey to see how we can improve the air quality in your property.
The Timberwise Property Care Shop is now open for business!
Great news! We have selected a fantastic range of property care related products for you to purchase direct through our Amazon Associate Store. From air conditioning units and power tools to flood protection equipment and timber care we have something for everybody! Our range of products is always expanding so don’t forget to bookmark the shop and check back on a regular basis.
Timberwise Condensation Control Shop
As part of the Property Care Shop we have a specialist Condensation area. As experts in condensation and dampness we see the affects of condensation problems in properties on a daily basis at this time of year. From our many years of experience we have selected a range of condensation control products to help you control the modern menace of condensation. The range of condensation control products we have chosen include a selection of dehumidifiers that complement our range of fans and positive pressure systems.
Buy safely on-line
Rest assured, our Amazon Associate Store is safe and secure to use – simply browse the range of condensation control products and make your choice! Trust Timberwise to help you make caring for your home even easier!
Today’s photo is from one of our condensationspecialists in the Manchester area and shows that condensation is not just a problem associated with older buildings. This relatively new building has a clear case of condensation as can be seen by the excess moisture on the windows. Traditionally housing up until the late part of the twentieth century had high levels of natural ventilation as home insulation levels were quite low. The problem with modern housing is that they have effectively become sealed boxes, keeping any moisture trapped within the house and providing the ideal conditions for condensation to thrive. Ways we reduce ventilation include double glazing, draught excluders, fitted carpets and the removal of traditional open fire places. Our modern lifestyles also mean that many properties remain unoccupied and unheated for the majority of the day, thus allowing the fabric of the building to cool. It is then in short concentrated times (morning and evening) that activities that cause condensation take place when the structure is relatively cool and the building is still in the process of warming up. If left unchecked the condensation can lead to other dampness issues and issues with mould growth.
Condensation in a new build property
What is condensation ?
Condensation occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with cooler air.
What causes condensation?
Moisture in the air is caused by normal everyday activities – such as breathing, cooking, washing,washing and drying clothing and heating. All things that you can not avoid doing!
How can I cure condensation?
There is no cure for condensation, but there are ways to help control the levels of condensation in the property. Further advice can be found within our condensation controlsection of this website. We also have a range of dehumidification and ventilation products designed to help control condensation.
Timberwise Property Care Shop – helping you control condensation
To help you control condensation with are able to offer you a range of ventilation and dehumidification products. From our range of Envirowisekitchen and bathroom fans through to our positive pressure systems we are sure to have a ventilation solution to help with your condensation problem. Through our Property Care Shop we have a range of dehumidifiers that you can purchase securely on-line. From small dehumidifiers designed for wardrobes and small areas through to larger units capable of removing 20 litres a day there is something to suit all budgets.
Need further condensation help and advice?
To arrange a survey of the property by one of our condensation specialists simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete the on-line condensation survey request form.
With October not too far away the age old problem of condensation will be back with a vengeance causing dampness and misery for homeowners. Condensation traditionally occurs during colder weather, regardless of whether it is raining or dry. It tends to appear on cold surfaces and places where there is little or no movement of air – for example in the corners of rooms, near windows or behind cupboards and wardrobes.
Condensation mould (A part of the Aspergillus family of mould) forming on the back of a wardrobe
This great image taken on a condensation consultation in Manchester clearly shows the forming of condensation mould. Condensation mould doesn’t necessarily form in areas you can see and can prove to be a hidden menace! This example of condensation mould was caused as a result of the wardrobe pushed up against a cool external wall. As the wardrobe was close to the wall there was little or no air movement so when condensation formed in the bed room there was no air flow to dry the moisture. Within the space of around a week the condensation mould had begun to form as the timber of the wardrobe provided a food source for the mould. Our picture shows mould growth after around 3 or 4 weeks of development.
Do you need advice on curing condensation?
If you have a problem with condensation or condensation mould help is at hand. Envirowise, the specialist air quality team within Timberwise are experts in condensation and condensation mould and are able to provide a condensation consultation to determine the causes of condensation with the property and recommend the right solution to control condensation and condensation mould. We have a variety of solutions at our disposal ranging from positive pressure ventilation units through to whole house ventilation and kitchen and bathroom fans. In some cases we may also recommend products from our range of dehumidifiers. Condensation mould removal kits are also available and can be bought securely on-line in the Property Care Experts Shop.
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.
It’s that time of year again when condensation rears it’s ugly head in properties! The modern menace of condensation can strike anywhere! From the tell tale signs of condensation on windows to the musty smell of hidden black spot mould behind a wardrobe it can sneak up on home owners without any notice. To help people with condensation problems and people searching for condensation cures we have put together a Timberwise Property Focus Podcast that looks at the causes of condensation and how we can help control condensation in properties. Calling on our many years of expertise with condensation and damp problems we are able to offer a full range of condensation solutions to help cure your condensation problem. From increasing airflow with our range of ventilation products through to positive pressure units, mould eradication kits and helpful advice we can help cure your condensation issue.
If you have a condensation problem and need help finding the best way to control the condensation in your property help is only a call or click away! To arrange for a condensation consultaion from one of our Air Quality experts simply complete our on-line condensation survey request form or call 0800 288 8660
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.
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 mould is 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
When it comes to removing mould caused by condensation there is only one clear way to banish mould for good!
Stop the mould coming back !
Trying to wash off condensation mould just doesn’t work! You could try washing the area populated with mould and re-painting but the problem will just come back! Just think of the time and money wasted ! Unless you change how you live in your home, improve the air flow by the installation of extractor fans, or use a Condensation Mould Kit within the affected area, all your efforts will be in vain and you will find the mould returns in a short space of time.
Envirowise Condensation Mould Kits are specifically designed to provide a straight forward, cost effective solution to prevent condensation mould returning to the affected area. As can be seen in the video below the kit is simple to use:
Expert Mould Removal Advice
The Envirowise Condensation Mould Kit is ideal for properties that have a mild condensation mould problem. However, if the condensation mould is quite extensive and you are unsure of the effective use of our Condensation Mould Kits to eradicate the problem, call Envirowise today and we can arrange for one of our surveyors to call or visit your property to see if using the Condensation Mould Kit is the right option for you!
Purchasing an Envirowise Condensation Mould Kit
The 12 m² Envirowise Condensation Mould Kits will give you long lasting protection and a professional job for just £53 (inc VAT and Delivery) Compare this to other more expensive treatments for condensation and mould which can run into £thousands and you can see what value for money this mould removal kit is.
We can also supply a larger mould removal kit that covers a surface of upto 50 m² – please ask for details.
