The prevention of mould proliferation occurring or reoccurring in your property is certainly an achievable task. But first you need to understand what causes mould to multiply and become an issue.
Mould spores are everywhere inside and outside our properties. They travel from place to place in moist air. Mould spores need two things to multiply and spread: these are moisture and organic matter to feed off. Organic matter can include things like clothing, wood, soap, food and leaf matter.
The most common causes of mould growth in the home include:
- Poor ventilation. This is especially prevalent in cooler months when windows and doors are shut to keep out the cold. Unfortunately this also stops the natural ventilation and causes evaporation to take place through ceilings.
- Increased moisture production by things like heaters, ovens and stoves, showers and clothes dryers.
- Indoor heating during cooler times. The warm air produced from some types of heaters causes’ damp air, which contains mould spores, to rise and travel to coolers areas causing condensation and perfect conditions for mould growth.
- Leaking plumbing can introduce moisture to areas that you can’t see and should normally be dry.
- Blocked guttering and poor roof maintenance can lead to water leaks inside the home.
- Rising damp and damp sub-floors. If the ground under you property is damp it releases moisture and mould spores up through the floors and walls which provide the perfect substrate for mould multiplication. Finding mould in your floor and walls is usually the first indication that you have a damp problem.
Obviously the best way to prevent mould from multiplying in the home is to remove and lessen the causes of increased moisture as listed above. These can include but are not limited to the following steps.
- Install ceiling vents where possible. Ensure they are regularly cleaned to allow air to properly travel through them.
- Install roof ventilation fans or “Whirly Birds” to help draw warm, damp air out of the ceiling cavity into the outdoor air.
- Ensure kitchens, bathrooms and laundries are well ventilated by opening windows when in use or installing ducted exhaust fans to draw excess moist air outside.
- Try to open windows or doors in your home for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour per day in dry weather even in the colder months.
- Dust and vacuum regularly to reduce the available organic matter for mould to feed off.
- Fix roof leaks as soon as possible. Areas to be vigilant in checking are flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys, broken tiles and rusted metal.
- Ensure sufficient downpipes are installed to cater for heavy rainfall, so that overflow from gutters does not end up inside the building.
- Regularly clean gutters or install leaf guard to prevent leaves and debris from blocking the gutters and causing water to overflow into the property through the eaves.
- Create landscaping and paths that give a natural fall for water away from the building.
Whilst following these preventative steps as much as possible, there may still be times where mould outbreaks will occur. The faster these are acted upon and cleaned up correctly, the easier it will be to live in a mould free environment. If you do have a mould problem and are unsure of the best way to treat and remove it, call a professional.
If your property has a mould problem and is located in the Sydney, Central Coast or Newcastle areas contact the professionals at Mould Removal today on 0408 681034 or email info@mouldremoval.net.au for an obligation free quote to rid your property of potential health problems.
