It has been proven that high levels of humidity and dampness are commonly associated with mould, therefore controlling humidity is a common strategy to reduce the chance of mould growth. The key is to get the humidity level between 30-50%- anything below 50% is more ideal.
What is Mould?
Mould is a type of fungus that breaks down dead material. This fungus thrives in dampness, moisture, warm air and other ‘feeding’ materials such as carpet, wood and even dust. Mould can also grow on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, insulation, and drywall.
Condensation is one of the most significant contributors of mould growth. Condensation occurs when air containing water vapour is cooled by contact with a cold surface, often see in kitchens and bathrooms. Condensation can also occur in less visible places like blocked-in fireplaces, behind furniture and even underneath laminate flooring.
Inside buildings are capable of holding various amounts of moisture. When the warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, like a window, it is no longer able to hold as much water vapour. With a lack of ventilation, the average household can produce around 14 litres of water vapour in just under 24 hours.
The most common indoor moulds are:
- Cladosporium- This mould can grow in either cold or warm areas and is typically found on fabric furniture or decaying wood.
- Penicillium- Penicillium can be found in both outdoor and indoor premises. Normally found contaminating textile products such as leather goods.
- Aspergillus- This mould grows indoors and is usually on dust and building materials such as drywall plastering.
Health Effects of Mould
Exposure to damp and mouldy environments can trigger nasal congestion, respiratory infections and worsen any asthma and allergy conditions. Another common health effect caused by mould is skin rashes. According to the NHS, allergic skin rashes commonly present as:
- Dry, red, and cracked skin
- A raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
- Itchy, red, watering eyes (conjunctivitis)
Ways to Reduce Moisture and Prevent Mould
To reduce moisture, you need to tackle the amount of condensation in your home. This can be done through ventilation systems that focus on providing clean, fresh filtered air.
When looking to ventilate a single room in your home, one particularly prone to moisture and condensation there are a few options available.
Heat Recovery Ventilation
Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems replace stale moist air with filtered, fresh, and warm air from outside. Our InAir™ Heat Recovery units provide targeted humidity and condensation solutions to reduce damp. This will provide a healthier and safer living environment as well as reducing damage to the building fabric.
When in Heat Recovery mode, our InAir™ IA60TWHRV unit can recover up to 90% of the room heat which is then put back into the incoming fresh air.
This reduces heating costs, is good for the environment, good for your health, and good for your wallet. The unit also takes heat that would normally be wasted when using a regular extractor fan. Using a Primary Filter, a HEPA filter, and an Activated Carbon Filter you are guaranteed to have excellent filtration running through your home.
The InAir™ IA60TWHRV unit can also operate as extractor fan, positive input ventilation unit or in a continually operating 'cycled' Heat Recovery Mode. For best results they should be installed in pairs.
Air Purification
Air purifiers can also be an important tool in preventing and eliminating mould however they typically serve a different purpose. An Air Purifier removes mould spores from the air which makes it harder for mould and mildew to create new colonies.
With Air Purifiers it is important to choose one with a HEPA filter as these are more likely to remove the smallest of mould particles. Choosing a purifier with a UV light can also destroy mould spores, reducing the chance of any other growth.
Our IA-450UV unit is fitted with an 8 stage air cleaning system featuring a Pre-filter, Carbon filter, Photocatalyst filter and a HEPA filter. The unit also comes with a UV light.
The IA-450-UV is perfect for removing pollen particles and is also recommended for:
- Reducing Allergies and Asthma
- Purifying and sanitising
- Cooling in summer
- Humidifying the room
- Capturing dust
- Killing Bacteria and Viruses
- Removing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)*
- Removing formaldehyde
- Reducing mould growth
- Removing odour, dust and smoke
- Removing pet dander