{"id":9450,"date":"2019-03-07T16:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T15:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trotec-blog.com\/en\/?p=9450"},"modified":"2019-03-07T15:21:50","modified_gmt":"2019-03-07T14:21:50","slug":"trotec-adviser-mould-in-the-home-and-what-you-should-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trotec-blog.com\/en\/trotec\/trotec-adviser-mould-in-the-home-and-what-you-should-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Trotec adviser: Mould in the home – and what you should do about it"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"As the days are getting warmer, the heating thermostat control beckons. However, if the temperature in bedrooms at night or in hardly-used rooms sinks too low, the \u201cmould alarm\u201d is sure to sound! This is because damp air will start to condense in the cold parts of the home: the basis for the formation of mould that is dangerous to health. But where do mould and damp air actually come from?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Mould can simply spread through the air. They find suitable living conditions in living areas, normally meaning areas which permanently are sufficiently damp, allow mould to settle and make itself at home there. As a consequence of these unwanted house guests considerable odours as well as allergic reactions are a possibility. You should not take such cases of mould lightly. Therefore, the question is: Where does the moisture come from? There are two possible answers to this: Either due to a leak or it condenses from the moisture in the air.<\/p>\n

Water penetrates through a leak<\/h3>\n

Does moisture form on exterior walls, which then seeps through to the inside? Causes can range from cracks in the wall, unsealed areas in skirting or balconies or on guttering. These areas should be repaired and sealed up straight away. For tenants, your landlord is responsible for this. However, most of the time, water leaks within buildings are caused by leaks in water and drainage pipes or are due to silicone seals in showers and baths that need to be renewed. These occurrences may also be responsible for damp brickwork.<\/p>\n

Moisture mostly comes from humidity<\/h3>\n

In the most common cases, it is the resident themselves whose lifestyle causes the moisture sufficient for mould formation. 10 litres of water can quickly be produced in a small apartment daily: due to sweat and breathing, each person releases around a litre into the air Moisture per day, showering being the biggest contributor to moisture, followed by cooking and drying laundry. Pets and house plants also add to this volume. Over the course of one week, at least 70 litres of water can collect – totalling two bath-tubs full per month.<\/p>\n

Shock ventilation – the tricks of the trade<\/h3>\n

A large amount of moisture in rooms is there even though it is not in the air, because the air can only absorb so much water. Instead, moisture condenses on the nearest cool surface. In order that the Humidity in apartments does not exceed the recommended value of 40 to 60 percent, apartments must be regularly and thoroughly ventilated. Instead of ventilating for short periods every now and then, you should rely on the tried and tested \u201cshock ventilation\u201d method. When shock ventilating, open all windows to create a through draft. It is recommended to do this three times a day for five minutes at a time in winter and for 25 minutes at a time in summer. After getting up, showering or cooking, you should also ventilate your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen respectively.<\/p>\n

Should I remove the mould myself or call a specialist?<\/h3>\n

You will be able to easily treat small areas of mould around a confined area of water ingress or caused by condensation. Surface mould formation can be combated using suitable sprays, with black marks disappearing after a few days. The situation is different, however, if the mould has penetrated into the building material. For example, if there is mould behind wooden panels or under parquet or laminate. In these cases, it is best that you consult a specialist company.<\/p>\n

How you can best prevent mould formation<\/h3>\n