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.
Are you looking for a property care company you can trust to care for your property? Do you have rising damp or condensation problems and not sure which way to turn or who to trust?
To help show why Timberwise are the property care company of choice for many we have compiled a short animation that looks at what makes Timberwise different from everybody else. From our skilled surveyors and technicians to our office based teams all at Timberwise are dedicated to providing the best quality service for you and your property.
Timberwise have over 4 decades experience in the caring of properties – from damp, rising damp and dry rot through to basement waterproofing and woodworm our highly skilled surveyors are able to diagnose a solution to suit your needs. As members of the Property Care Association
Don’t just take our word for it though! To become one of the many satisfied clients of Timberwise simply complete the 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
