When you want to prevent dampness and mould growth from occurring in your property, a good place to start is to understand condensation. This is when moisture becomes trapped in the air, then hits a cold surface such a window and becomes water again. Believe it or not, we can create over a litre of water per day just by our breathing as a result of condensation.
Some other causes of condensation is the excess moisture caused by leaking pipes, rain seeping through the roof or getting in through window sills. Common household occurrences like the moisture created from cooking, taking hot showers, doing the laundry can all build up and create a breeding ground for mould.
When there is mould in your property, you have potential health risks that can be quite serious. It can cause problems for those with respiratory problems creating infections and it is especially hazardous for the elderly, babies, and pregnant women.
Let's take a look at the five steps to free your property of dampness and mould, and learn what to do to prevent it from being a problem in the future.
1. Get rid of existing mould in the property
In order to kill and get rid of mould, you need to thoroughly clean all the walls, ceilings, hard floors and window frames with a fungicidal wash. Then you can paint the walls with a fungicidal paint. A nice natural cleaner is undiluted white vinegar that will also kill the bacteria that forms the mould. Remember, to carefully dry the washed areas. Try to dry clean carpets rather than a wet shampoo method.
2. Eliminate excess moisture
The most common household areas that cause excess air moisture are the bathrooms and kitchen. Inform your tenants to turn on the bathroom fan when taking a shower, close the door and open the window for a bit after they've finished. In the kitchen, cover pots that have boiling liquids. Again, have them turn on the fans and open the window or door a bit. When weather permits, dry clothes outdoors if they can, or put them in the bathroom with the door closed and window open. If there is a dryer available, be sure it is vented to the outside.
3. Have proper insulation
Another very effective way of preventing condensation is having your walls properly insulated. This is a problem of many of the older properties. The areas you want to consider are cavity insulation, draught proofing windows, external doors, and insulating the loft or cellar. Also, do some research to discover government grants that may cover your costs for things like secondary glazing and insulation work.
4. Increase ventilation
Ventilation is the best way to remove excess moisture from your property, so work with your tenants to ventilate at all times. Open the windows in the kitchen and bathroom and close the doors to limit moisture from spreading to other parts of the house. Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes, and ensure your chimneys are not blocked. During the cold months, it can be tough to let in the cold air for บ้าน มือสอง a bit, but know that you are also removing the moist air.
5. Heat your property
During the cold weather, another way to ward off condensation is to keep the property comfortably warm, especially when no one is home. Remember, condensation is caused by cold surfaces so even just a bit of heat that runs regularly is effective along with the other warming methods of insulation and draught proofing.
Avoiding damp and mould in your property is really about having a balanced combination of proper heating, insulation and ventilation. Once you have this managed, condensation should not be a problem to you.
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