Signs Of Poor Ventilation In Your House

CONTENTS

• Does poor ventilation cause mould?
• What are the signs of poor ventilation?
• Health risks of poor ventilation
• Health risks of mould
• How to improve ventilation in your home
• What to do if you see mould in your home
• Get in touch

One of the main causes of mould is a lack of ventilation which can be resolved easily with just a few daily actions. As soon as you spot mould growing in your property, you must bring in mould removal specialists to get rid of it. 

Mould remediation services are just one of the many industrial cleaning services we offer here at ICE Cleaning. Our Dewpoint-accredited technicians identify the source of mould and effectively eradicate it to stop and remove the growth.

Read on to learn more about how poor ventilation can lead to mould and what signs to look out for.

Does poor ventilation cause mould?

Mould is a fungus that spreads through the reproduction of airborne spores, and it is these spores which persistently linger in many buildings. However, these mould spores often do not get the chance to grow due to air circulation.

When a property has good ventilation, the air circulates mould spores through the property and outside again. However, if your house has poor ventilation or there is a lack of air circulation, mould spores settle across various surfaces.

Once it has settled, mould spores will start to flourish in warm and humid conditions. Areas like bathrooms and kitchens that match these conditions require adequate ventilation to prevent mould which is why extractor fans are needed.

What are the signs of poor ventilation?

The best way to discern if your house has poor ventilation is through smell alone. Sometimes, strong odours will linger longer than usual, or a subtle, musty scent will build up in rooms. However, there are other ways to determine if your home is suffering from poor ventilation:

• Discoloured walls, tiles, and grout
• Consistently warm or hot rooms
• Rust staining on pipework
• Condensation on windows and mirrors
• Accumulation of dust
• High humidity levels

Health risks of poor ventilation

Mould is just one of the many outcomes of poor ventilation. It can also put you at risk of serious health problems. Polluted air is more common than ever, proven to have dangerous consequences for children and vulnerable individuals.

CO2, dust particles, organisms, and moisture combine in the air and linger within a space without proper ventilation. These elements can damage the body after long periods, resulting in symptoms and illnesses such as:

• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic colds
• Respiratory infections
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer

Health risks of mould

It may not seem that mould and mildew affect your health at first because the effects of mould on an individual can be subtle and require chronic exposure to cause damage.

Individuals living with large amounts of mould will breathe in mould spores daily, putting them at risk of developing long-term illnesses.

Some people are more sensitive to mould than others, like those with a mould allergy, asthma, or weak immune system. Those who are sensitive or experience chronic exposure to mould could display symptoms like:

• Coughing
• Stuffy nose
• Irritated eyes
• Sore throat
• Headaches

Black mould is dangerous due to the health consequences it can cause. Mycotoxicosis is an affliction that causes severe illness, requiring immediate medical intervention. With mycotoxicosis, you could experience:

• Respiratory tract infections
• Airflow obstruction
• Mucositis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Pulmonary haemorrhage
• Brain inflammation
• Cancer

How to improve ventilation in your home

An easy way to increase circulation throughout your home is to open doors and windows where possible and allow fresh air inside. Some other ways to improve ventilation around your home include:

• Fitting extraction fans in the bathroom and kitchen
• Using a dehumidifier
• Installing an air conditioning unit
• Building a ventilation system on the property
• Using an air purifier
• Using standing fans in affected rooms

Improving ventilation in your home removes a crucial factor that mould spores need to start growing. It can decrease humidity and moisture levels, too. By keeping a consistent level of ventilation in your property, you can keep mould at bay.

What to do if you see mould in your home

If you see mould in your home, it is integral to know that regular cleaning products or DIY solutions do not kill mould completely. Although mould removal products and vinegar can clean away the surface mould, the spores will remain present.

Mould is more than a surface issue as it embeds itself in porous surfaces and remains there despite the surface growth dying. Trying to clean it yourself may also expose you to harmful chemicals in cleaning products or aggravate mould into spreading more spores.

Whilst you cannot kill mould without professional mould cleaning services, you could slow the growth and prevent its spread by:

• Improving ventilation
• Closing bathroom and kitchen doors when in use
• Drying clothes outside
• Wiping down condensation when you see it
• Keeping your home clean
• Maintaining pipework
• Cleaning gutters often
• Contacting a mould removal company

Get in touch

If you struggle to keep mould at bay in your home, our technicians offer thorough mould removal services that can help remove mould at the source. We can provide you with high-quality cleaning services and professional advice to help you prevent mould from returning.

Our lifetime guarantee* ensures complete protection against mould. If you would like to learn more, reach out to us at 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk where our team are available 24/7, 365 days a year, nationwide.

*subject to advisories