Vetilation

[ChablisLover]

Hi

We have some issues with mould.

I have asked dh who works at home to ventilate the rooms by opening windows each day not all day though just half hour or so.

He argues that this will have no effect but I was always under the impression it did. Dm always had Windows open and we never mould issues when i was younger.

Any ideas for cures and prevention?

Thanks

P.s. Mould seems to be coming from condensation

I always open windows for a little while, half an hour will do. I wait untill everyone is up and dressed so its not too cold getting ready on the morning. I turn the duvets back to 'air' the beds and open the windows.

When I was young my mam had these on the window sils as we had a lot of condensation - they soak up the water, and you can just squeeze them out every day.

You could also look into a de humidifier.

You need to treat any existing mould, you can buy special mould cleaner or wash it throughly with hot soapy water and bleach, then if you have it on your walls you need to get an anti mould paint - any diy store will sell it.

It will have an effect.

The science bit:

It is all about relative air humidities.

Mould occurs when the air is full of moisture and this moisture starts to condense on cooler walls or window frames. The amount of moisture that air can hold varies with temperature. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. The higher % of water vapour the air is holding ( compared with the maximum amount it can hold at that temperature) the more condensation and therefore mould you can get.

Let us say that your home is at a temperature of 20 degrees C and the air is totally saturated (a simplification, it won't be this bad) with moisture (due to drying washing, showers, boiling potatoes etc) Let us say the temperature of the air outside is 4 degrees C and (worst case scenario) is also totally saturated (it is raining and misty).

You open the window and let some of the 4 degree C air in. Some of your 20 degree C air goes out (with the water vapour it was carrying). When you close the window again the 4 degree C air starts to warm up. It was 100% saturated with water vapour at 4 degrees. As it warms up to 20 degrees C (assume heating is on) it can hold more moisture than before so becomes less than 100% saturated. It mixes with the previously saturated air and brings down overall % of water vapour in the air to lower than it was before. As the air is less saturated, less water will condense out on the cold spots!!

ventilation is the answer to condensation. If not fixed, ventilate more.

do you drape wet washing around the house, or on radiators?

Thanks for all the replies.

Would have a clothes horse but try not to put washing on radiators.

if you put your clothes horse, airer, or roll-away line in the bathroom, and leave the extractor running with the door shut, it will suck the moisture out and preventing it drifting around the house.

An extractor fan is typically 20Watts and will run for 24 hours continuously on 7p worth of electricity, but there are some daft people who think they are expensive.

I have a daft husband who thinks my a rated tumble dryer is expensive. But would rather pay that than have mould

me too. Typically 50p a load.

So you think the damp isn't coming from wet washing? Could it be from the bath or shower?

Has he been breathing a lot?

Is it an old house?

I think it is the shower in the ensuite. And people not opening windows because they get too cold. Poor sensitive soul that he is. I like my heat too but can manage to open the window after shower/bath.

Extractor fan in both bathrooms - linked to the lights so once light goes on fan goes on.

Dh seems think the double glazing seal has gone but I argue that if it had the condensation would be on the inside.

Also, we changed from single radiators to double radiators about 5 years ago and it seemed to appear about that time. None before. Coincidence maybe.

Have been fighting it since then but have got fed up.

If you have an extractor it is better to leave it running with the door and window closed. This creates suction which prevents water vapour diffusing through the house. Air is drawn in through the gap under the bathroom door.

Some people have an aversion to ventilation and will not open windows or leave fans running. In my experience it is usually women.

You will have to kill him and get a new one.

Must introduce you to dh. Even in the height of summer and he's in the house ( he works from home) all windows are firmly shut until I come home from work and as my mum says lets gods good fresh air in. Oh I do like a breeze in the house. Even can sleep better when house is aired.

He thinks someone or something might come in and steal him. Mores the pity they don't

Thanks for the sound advice piglet much appreciated.

agree with the others, you need to treat the mold as it can cause all sorts of health problems and start a good airing routine.

in germany, where they are quite obsessed with ventilation and even have it in rental contracts, you can get tables how long you should air for to reduce dampness and mold.
something like this if you scroll a bit down, you get scetches, how long to open windows to achive proper air exchange as explained by sarah.

what we do, after a shower leave the door to the bathroom door closed and the extractor running for a while.
we air (all windows open for 10min or so) in the mornings and evenings and just before bed. when we are at home another time or two during the day, especially when we have washing on the airer, which is most days.

My parents have the same problem OP.

Get the windows open,no sopping wet towels and get a dehumidifier.

My DM has window locks on all bathroom windows and they are never opened. Bathroom is ground floor extension with shower.
There's mould on every wall, on the pipes, on the external toilet bend, on every bit of silicone and even on the bathroom sink
As well as a soaking wet condensated tiled floor (deathtrap) and a stupendous collection of cobwebs. And a lovely sandwich box behind the loo to collect the drips from the cistern.
DD1 has asthma and I do wonder what being in there does to her.

We were up there yesterday and it was like walking on to a Hammer horror set. Grim.

Dh opened the trickle vents on the windows and it seems to help but i throw open the windows for an hour at least mid day and let the fresh air in.