Top tips for reducing mould in your home - North Devon Homes

All homes experience some condensation from time to time, which can lead to damp and mould.

Here at North Devon Homes our team of Surveyors work with our customers experiencing these problems to find the root of the issue, tackle it together and help improve the situations in their homes.

There is always moisture in the air, even when we can’t see it. When the air gets cooler, it can’t hold all the moisture and tiny drops of water appear – particularly on cold surfaces such as windows. This is condensation and can lead to mould.

It is vitally important that any North Devon Homes customer who notices damp or mould in their home reports it to us as soon as possible. This enables us to survey their property and see what is causing the problem. Damp and mould can be caused by a number of factors and so the quicker we can investigate it, the quicker we can work together to eliminate it. It also allows us to check whether it is a bigger issue such as a roof or plumbing leak, so early detection really is key.

Mould appears as small black or green spots. Key areas that are prone to damp appearing are doors and windows, edges or corners of first floor bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen ceilings, near loft hatches and above skirting boards on external walls.

Mould is a living organism, so it is important that we get rid of it. To do this, you can wipe down the affected areas with a fungicidal wash, following manufacturer’s guidelines. To avoid mould reappearing we need to eliminate, reduce or extract the moisture in the air.

Once we have surveyed a customer’s home we will issue a report on what actions we can collectively do to improve the situation in their home and we will work with them on these actions. Whilst we ask that all customer’s contact us when they notice any damp or mould, there are a few things we can all do to reduce the chances of mould appearing in our homes:

• Ensure you turn on extractor fans where available in kitchens and bathrooms
• Open your windows slightly throughout the day and night, particularly in rooms such as bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens, during high-moisture activities such as bathing and cooking
• If available keep your trickle vents open at all times, this won't reduce the core temperature of your home but will help to remove the moisture in the home
• Keep furniture away from external walls of your home to allow the air to circulate
• Cook with saucepan lids on to reduce the moisture in the air
• Dry your clothes outside wherever possible or use a drying rack in a room with an open window
• Be mindful that pets contribute to the internal carbon dioxide levels which also correlate strongly with mould growth. A large dog can be the equivalent of an additional person so this is worth bearing in mind, especially for more than one dog or large dogs
• If using a tumble drier, make sure it is correctly installed and ventilated as per the type of drier
• If your home is considered as overcrowded, you will have a higher moisture content in the air. This means you will need more ventilation and will need to take more measures to stop the build-up of damp and mould. If this is the case, please get in touch as we may be able to help with a bespoke solution as traditional methods will not be enough to ventilate your home

For more information or to book an appointment for one of our team to visit your home, please contact 01271 312500 or email customercare@ndh-ltd.co.uk