Humidity and Mould: How to Avoid Indoor Pollution?

November 19th, 2019

Keeping your home dry and mould-free is vital to maintaining healthy indoor air quality for your family – something we care deeply about at Solution d’Air. Dampness is one of the most common causes of indoor pollution in homes, and this extra moisture promotes the growth of mould.

Mould, a fungus, can be both invisible and odorless, or alternatively, may produce stains of a wide variety of colours and have a strong, musty odour. Either way, mould grows and spreads if left on its own. There is no safe limit for mould in the home, and any level of mould can cause health problems such as:

  • eye, nose and throat irritation
  • coughing and mucous (phlegm) build-up
  • wheezing and shortness of breath
  • worsening of asthma symptoms
  • other allergic reactions

Homeowners will naturally be on the lookout for moisture and mold after water leaks or flooding. But it’s important to remember that high moisture and mould growth can be caused by regular, everyday activities like cooking, doing laundry, and showering. These activities can create condensation in your walls and in addition to mould growth, can lead to structural damage and wood rot.

The key to mould control is humidity control. As such, here are some things to do to control humidity and mould in your home in order to avoid indoor pollution.

Check for existing mould

It’s important to remove any mould that already exists. Even if you don’t see any visible signs of mould or mildew, if you smell a musty, earthy odour in your home, there’s undoubtedly mould in your house somewhere and you need to find it before it leads to health problems.

Key materials to search are damp wood, paper, fabrics, drywall and insulation. Look for stains or discolouration on floors, walls, window panes, fabrics and carpets. Common damp spots include basements, closets, window sills, roofs, and around sinks, tubs and pipes.

Mould can also lurk inside walls or above ceiling tiles and is not always obvious to find. Start by checking anywhere that is damp, especially where water damage has happened.

Remember: any areas that have been water-damaged in the past and weren’t dried within 24-48 hours are at a high risk of mould growth.

Increase Ventilation

Poor ventilation is a major cause of low indoor air quality and is easy to fix in spaces that produce moisture like kitchens, bathrooms and basements.

Here are some simple solutions to help avoid indoor pollution caused by humidity and mould:
• Run kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans during, and for several minutes after cooking, bathing, or showering.
• Open windows and doors (weather permitting), or run an air conditioner with the vent control open to remove humid air and introduce cool air
• Double check that dryer, stove, kitchen and bathroom fans are venting well to the outside.
• Change or clean furnace, central heating, air conditioner, and dehumidifier filters regularly. Dust and dirt which accumulates in these filters will restrict airflow and decrease the efficiency in removing excess humidity in your home.

Decrease Dampness

  • Regularly check the seals of bathtubs, showers, toilets, and sinks to ensure water is not leaking into floors and walls.
  • Declutter the basement of items where dampness collects such as cardboard boxes, old books, unused furniture and clothing.
  • Use a dehumidifier or air-conditioner to keep humidity at approximately 50% in summer and 30% in colder weather. Humidity gauges, called hygrometers are inexpensive and easy to find at most hardware stores.
  • Keep gutters and eavestroughs clean so that water does not leak into walls. The same goes for basement window well drains.
  • Ensure eavestrough downspouts are directed away from the foundation and extend at least 6 feet in order to prevent water from entering the basement.

Homeowners can usually clean small and moderate areas of mould on their own. If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to find the source of the mould or deal with it on your own, we invite you to contact us at Solution d’Air immediately, to limit any additional damage to your home, and to protect the health of you and your loved ones.

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