Causes of Condensation and Mould: How to Properly Deal With Them

Condensation and mould can be a major irritation to deal with in your home, especially if you are renting your home. Your landlord may not be sympathetic to the fact that the problem is their fault and their responsibility. They are still likely to demand that you pay for the expenses of removing the mould and fixing any damage. Here is a guide on what you should do if you have a condensation or mould problem.

Cleaning mould and condensation

What Causes Condensation?

Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air comes into contact with a cold surface and turns into liquid. It’s a natural occurrence that happens most often in the winter. When the warm, moist air from inside your home meets the cold surface of your windows, it condenses and forms droplets of water. The same thing can happen when warm air from your house meets a cold wall, or when warm air from outside meets a cold pipe. Condensation is the result of a temperature change. If a building’s internal temperature increases, it will release water vapor into the air through windows and other openings.

Types of condensation

Relative Humidity (RH) Condensation:

This occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cold surface. The key to preventing this form of condensation is to make sure the inside surfaces are warmer than the outside surfaces. It’s often easy to tell if this is happening because you’ll notice damp patches on walls or windows that face outside.

Damp Basement Condensation:

This is more common than you might think due to low amounts of ventilation in many basements. The air outside is usually cooler than the air inside a basement, which creates an ideal environment for condensation to occur.

Hot Condensation:

This occurs when warm, humid air comes into contact with a cool surface such as glass or metal. It’s most likely to occur in kitchens and bathrooms where you’ll likely notice water droplets on mirrors and faucets.

Frost/Freeze Condensation:

Frost/freeze condensation can be quite dangerous, particularly if your home has older windows that aren’t insulated properly because it can cause them to break.

Solutions For Condensation

The best solution is to try to prevent condensation from happening in the first place. Minimize or eliminate drafts through windows and walls by making sure that they are well insulated, caulked, and weather-stripped. If you have an older home without double-paned windows, you might want to get them replaced with more energy-efficient models. Another solution is to use dehumidifiers to keep the indoor humidity down to a reasonable level.

When it’s too late for prevention, however, you can make sure that your windows are clean and free of streaks and film so that condensation doesn’t build upon them. You can also reduce the likelihood of mould growth by keeping your bathroom well ventilated so that some of the moisture can escape before it has a chance to cause a problem.

What Causes Mould?

Mould is caused by the growth of fungi in moist environments. The most common type of mould is the black, musty stuff that you see growing in spots where water has been allowed to sit for a long time. This can happen in basements, crawl spaces, and in bathrooms where the shower or tub hasn’t been properly cleaned and dried. Mould can also grow on food that has been stored in a damp place. To avoid this keep your kitchen and pantry clean and dry.

Mould spores are everywhere and they can be easily spread through the air. That’s why taking precautions when dealing with mould, such as wearing a mask and gloves when you’re cleaning it up is necessary. Keeping your home well ventilated and aired goes a long way to stopping the problem before it starts.

Solutions For Mould

The best way to deal with mould is to prevent it from growing in the first place. Make sure that your bathroom is properly cleaned and dried after each use. Keep cleaning supplies in the room, so that you can wipe down surfaces as soon as they get wet. According to the mould remediation specialist at Flood Doctor, you should regularly inspect your basement and crawl spaces for any leaks or areas where water might pool, and fix them immediately. If you see any signs of mould, clean it up right away with a commercial mould-removal product.

It’s also important to keep the humidity in your home under control. You can do this by using a dehumidifier, or by opening windows to allow the moisture to escape. Keeping your home well-ventilated will help to prevent both condensation and mould from developing.
Things To Remember:

– Dampness and condensation can cause a range of problems in your home, from mould growth to window and door drafts.

– Mould is caused by the growth of fungi in moist environments and can grow on food that has been stored in a damp place.

– The best way to deal with mould is to prevent it from growing in the first place.

– Keeping your home well-ventilated will help to prevent both condensation and mould from developing.

– Make sure that your bathroom is properly cleaned and dried after each use, and keep cleaning supplies in the room so that you can wipe down surfaces as soon as they get wet.

– Inspect your basement and crawl spaces for any leaks or areas where water might pool, and fix them immediately.

– If you see any signs of mould, clean it up right away with a commercial mould-removal product.

– You can also reduce the likelihood of mould growth by keeping your kitchen and pantry clean and dry.

– Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity in your home under control.

– Open windows to allow the moisture to escape and keep your home well-ventilated.

Prevent condensation with open window

Follow the steps outlined in this article, and make sure that every room in your house is properly ventilated, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your home is mould-free. If you have a problem with condensation or mould, don’t hesitate to contact a professional cleaning service. They will be able to make sure that your home is clean and dry, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.