1. Maintain proper ventilation :
- Ensure good airflow throughout your home by regularly opening windows and using exhaust fans in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom.
- Consider installing a whole-house ventilation system or a getting a dehumidifier if your room is consistently humid.
2. Control your humidity levels:
- Keep your humidity levels between 30% and 50% to inhibit mold growth.
- Use a hygrometer to monitor room humidity levels and change as needed with dehumidifiers or humidifiers.
3. Address leaks and water damage promptly:
- Fix any leaks in your ceiling, walls, or plumbing as soon as they are discovered.
- Inspect your room for damp and address it immediately to stop moisture build up.
4. Insulate and ventilate your loft space:
- Correctly insulate and ventilate your attic to stop condensation, which can lead to mold growth.
- Contemplate adding a vapor barrier to reduce moisture penetration.
5. Improve drainage and grading:
- Ensure that rainwater runs away from your home's foundation by maintaining proper grading and fitting gutter systems with downspouts.
- Use extensions on downspouts to re-firect water flow further from the house.
6. Fix cracks and gaps:
- Fix any crack in your home's outer wall to stop damp from entering.
- Pay additional attention to areas near windows, doors, and where utility lines enter the house.
7. Try to use mold-resistant materials:
- When modernising or improving the building, opt for mold-resistant plasterboard, insulation, and paint.
- Use mold-resistant flooring options like ceramic tile or laminate.
8. Clean and maintain HVAC systems:
- Regularly clean and service your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to prevent mold growth in ducts.
- Use high-quality air filters and update them regularly.
9. Monitor and maintain your cellar:
- Keep your cellar water free by using a sump pump and dehumidifier if you can afford one.
- Always use waterproof paint or sealants on basement walls and floors.
10. Keep moisture-prone surfaces dry:
- Wipe down any moisture-prone surfaces in your kitchen or bathroom to stop excess moisture build up.
- Try a moisture-absorbing product in wardrobess, cellars and other potentially damp or moisture prone areas.
11. Reduce inside moisture from plants:
- Overwatering your indoor plants could increase humidity levels. Be careful when watering plants.
12. Use extractor fans when possible:
- You can install and use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms to remove excess moisture at the source.
13. Regularly clean and maintain your home:
- Clean and disinfect areas prone to mold, like bathrooms, with mold-killing products.
- Vacuum and dust your home regularly to remove potential mold spores.
14. Be mindful of condensation:
- Insulate cold surfaces, like windows and pipes, to prevent condensation from forming.
- Upgrade to UPVc double glazing or use insulated glass on windows in cold climates.
If Damp Proof Company suspect that you already have damp in your building, it's crucial to address it right away. Mold can be harmful to your health, so consider consulting a professional mold remediation specialist for safe and effective mold and damp removal.
North West Damp Proofers offer a FREE damp survey for Altrincham Residents and are Specialists in all fields of damp proofing and energy efficiency within your home or business. Whether your problem is loft condensation, rising damp, penetrating damp, dry rot, black mould or simply heat loss then we can help.
Is your home damp? Does it have black mold that just wont go away? Is this starting to effect your health? Try contacting your local Bolton Damp Proofing Company to get that damp issue sorted before the cold weather sets in again.