How to Prevent Damp in the Home

With it being the season of winter and the cold setting in damp and mould can become a big problem. As the temperature drops the moisture in the air will often become condensation. This can be a nightmare when it begins to run down the cold walls and windows destroying wallpaper, furnishings and anything else that touches these damp areas.

Besides the fact that breathing in this damp air is bad for your health it really destroys your mood as well and puts a real chilly atmosphere throughout the home. Left untreated this damp will turn to mould as if it couldn’t get any worse!

The saying goes “prevention is better than cure”, so if that be the case we will take a look at what can be done to prevent the damp from ever occurring….

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Prevention

Dehumidifiers

If we want to address the damp issue we must look to addressing the moisture in the air. One efficient way we can do this is to use a Dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are specifically designed to reduce the moisture content in the air. There is a fan within them that draws in air. The air will then touch the dehumidifiers cooling system thus turning the air to condensation and retaining the excess water within the appliance.

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Ventilation

Ventilation sounds like the obvious answer to dealing with a damp problem but in the winter months it is not so easy to open all your windows to air the place. It is cold outside and we are all thinking of how to keep the heat in not let it escape! So when it comes to ensuring good ventilation in the winter months it is a good idea to check that all extractor fans and ventilation ducts are in good working order and that they are not blocked or clogged in any way.

Trapped warm air means the air is not able to circulate freely and so can be a breeding ground for mould. It is a good idea therefore to ensure furniture is at least 50mm away from the surrounding wall so that the air can move around the home.

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Special Paints

There are paints available that are specifically formulated with damp and mould in mind, paints such as warmcoat insulating paint . These paints are designed to insulate your wall and warm your home thus preventing the cold walls that create the condensation on connection with the moisture.

Damp Detector

Can’t yet see a problem but would like some way to check and be sure? You can now buy these small hand held appliances called Damp Detectors. They can be used to check foundation walls, floors and timbers. These devices work by testing the electricity resistance between two electrodes. If water is present in the tested area the electricity in the device will flow more freely. A dry area will resist any flow.

Treatment & Removal

When damp and mould is already an issue and the problem is the clean up and how to get rid of it there are a range of paints, sprays and sealants designed for this purpose.

Cleaning Sprays such as HG Mould spray effectively remove the unsightly stains caused by mould fungus and algae. These stains are also often found on the seal of the bathtub and tiles. A mould spray would be a good way to tackle these.

Fleetwood Damp and Water Mark Paint is a specially formulated paint that can be applied to damp walls and ceilings. It seals in and blocks damp and water stains. This is best used as an undercoat and a topcoat is recommended.

There are additives available such as VC175 mould stop paint additive that can be added to any paint. This way you can revive the look of your walls with the peace of mind that the mould will not resurface. Mould Stop was developed many years ago to deal with massive house mould problems in the steamy subtropical climates of Northern Australia and is now available right here.

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Winter can be a tough time to brave but it will be a lot easier if we can at least have our home to relax in. Don’t let damp and mould get you down. Tackle it head on!