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
