The Role of Good Ventilation in Stopping Damp and Mould

There are numerous ways to prevent damp and mould from infiltrating a property. The ones which usually come to mind tend to be costly, like waterproofing and installing drainage systems. Yet although these are important, there is an easier and often cheaper solution that regularly gets overlooked: ventilation. This article will explore how good ventilation helps prevent damp and mould, and how you can improve the ventilation in your property.

How Moisture Builds Up Indoors

Understanding the role of ventilation in stopping damp and mould begins by understanding how these things form in the first place. You probably know that they are caused by moisture getting inside a building, but where does that moisture come from? Often, the answer is the things we do in our everyday lives, like cooking, boiling the kettle, bathing, and even breathing. All of these activities release water vapour into the air, causing it to become humid.

When humid air comes into contact with cool surfaces like windows, walls, and ceilings, it condenses back into a liquid. This means that if the humid air we create when we shower or cook is not removed from our homes, it will cause condensation to appear on the surfaces inside our homes, making them become damp. These damp, moist surfaces are ideal breeding grounds for mould, which usually follows.

How Good Ventilation Helps

Ventilation refers to the movement of air within a structure, and generally, the more movement there is, the better the ventilation. This doesn’t mean there needs to be a draught, but there needs to be a sufficient flow of fresh, dry air to replace the humid air before it has a chance to condense. This can be achieved naturally, by opening windows, doors, and vents, or it can be achieved mechanically, for example, by using an extractor fan.

Areas That Need Ventilation

Certain rooms and spaces are more prone to condensation and mould growth than others. These include spaces where moisture is regularly released into the air, such as kitchens and bathrooms, which is why there are usually extractor fans in these rooms. Extractor fans work as condensation solutions by instantly removing humid air. Basement humidity reduction is also important because it is hard for air to circulate in underground spaces without windows. This makes them especially prone to condensation.

Tips for Improving Home Ventilation

There are some simple things you can do to improve your home’s ventilation, starting with opening the windows daily, using the extractor fan when cooking or showering, and not drying clothes indoors. Trickle vents are an affordable solution that can also increase airflow with minimal heat loss, but serious cases might require more expensive solutions, such as positive-input ventilation systems. However, they cost less in the long run than repeatedly paying for wet wall repairs and other damp-related services.

Ventilation is a powerful tool for preventing condensation, which is a leading cause of damp and mould. To learn more about prevention or to get help with your damp or mould issue, call up London Damp Proofing Ltd on 0208 226 6330.