What Is Room Dehumidification And How Does It Prevent Mould?

CONTENTS

• What is room dehumidification?
• How dehumidification can reduce excess moisture
• What types of dehumidifiers are there?
• How does room dehumidification prevent mould?
• How to know if your room requires treatment
• Other ways to prevent mould and lower humidity
• Get in touch

Living in a country that experiences fluctuating weather patterns as the UK does exposes our homes to humidity and moisture. These can build up over time, resulting in mould growth taking over your home without immediate intervention.

When damp and mould have damaged your home, ICE Cleaning’s technicians offer high-quality mould remediation services that can restore your home. Our drying techniques include room dehumidification, and we locate the source of mould and damp to prevent its future return.

Read on to learn more about room dehumidification and how it can prevent mould.

What is room dehumidification?

This type of drying process is a specialised and industrial-grade method that thoroughly eliminates excess moisture and damp in an affected area. A room could be damaged by water damage due to a leak, flood, or fire, requiring professional cleaning services.

Large industrial dehumidifiers operate with fans that circulate dry air around an affected area, capturing excess moisture and eliminating it effectively. All room dehumidification processes are personalised depending on the room size, type, and dampness levels.

How dehumidification can reduce excess moisture

Excess moisture occurs if there are elements in your home producing it. Water is all around us and in the air, and human activity often creates more of it throughout the day. Cooking, bathing, and breathing all contribute to excess moisture.

Dehumidifiers work by removing this water from the air, lowering the humidity in your home to a comfortable level. Ideally, your home’s humidity should be below 50% because this prevents mould and dust mites from taking over.

What types of dehumidifiers are there?

Aside from home ventilation systems containing dehumidifiers, there are two other options to consider if you want to install a dehumidifier in a specific room. Each dehumidifier will have a specific method of collecting moisture, so finding the right one for you is important.

Refrigerant dehumidifiers

These dehumidifiers are effective and energy-efficient devices for humidity regulation. They work by cooling the air in an affected room, condensing water vapour and draining it to dry the air. The air is then reheated and returned to the room, preventing excess moisture from building.

Desiccant dehumidifiers

This dehumidifier is opposite to refrigerants, using heat to remove moisture from the air. It takes the water vapour into the device, heating it to draw the dampness out and condensing it. The device stores humidity taken from the air, then pushes warm air out which circulates throughout the room.

If you are unsure what dehumidifier works best for you, then you should keep in mind that these dehumidifiers will work best in rooms that are the opposite of what the device does:

• Refrigerant dehumidifiers — work best in warm rooms
• Desiccant dehumidifiers — work best in unheated rooms

How does room dehumidification prevent mould?

Because dehumidifiers work to capture moisture and effectively dry a room affected by damp, this removes one of the environmental factors that mould needs. Mould is a type of fungus requiring moisture, warmth, and dead organics to feed from.

If one of those elements is removed, mould cannot grow, thus preventing its growth in the first place. Room dehumidification removes that key element, and it helps you understand how mould grows and what you can do to stop it.

How to know if your room requires treatment

Various elements cause excess moisture and accumulate into warning signs that your home is too wet and humid. These signs can be easy to dismiss, but you must always act when you spot them. These signs could include:

• Condensation on windows
• Mould growing around windows or in the bathroom or kitchen
• Peeling and bubbling wallpaper
• A musty smell in the property
• Silverfish, woodlice, and mould mites in your home
• Clothing struggling to dry indoors or staying damp

These signs can lead to structural issues in your home as well as mould, so it is imperative that you seek room dehumidification services from a mould removal company immediately. These will inevitably trigger mould growth, which is harder to stop than excess moisture.

Other ways to prevent mould and lower humidity

Dehumidifiers are costly for some people, so it is not usually the first option for preventing mould, lowering humidity, and reducing excess moisture. There are other ways you can lower the likelihood of these elements taking over your home, including:

• Opening windows and doors to circulate air
• Closing doors to the bathroom and kitchen when in use
• Installing extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom
• Wiping down condensation and foggy windows
• Drying clothes outside or on a heated clothes horse
• Clearing your home’s gutters often
• Inspecting the property for leaks or burst pipes

Get in touch

If you need room dehumidification services or mould remediation, our team here at ICE Cleaning can be on-site at your earliest convenience. Our mould removal services come with a lifetime guarantee*, so if mould returns to your property, we will clean it again, free of charge.

If you want to learn more about our variety of mould and drying services, get in touch with our team at 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. Our teams are stationed nationwide, and we can answer your call at any hour, day or night, 365 days a year.

*subject to advisories