Mould & Condensation Specialist
Mould & Condensation Specialist
Everyone has the right to a warm, secure and decent home and to be treated with dignity and fairness. Yet many people in England are living in a home with damp and mould, which may put their health at risk. Estimates of the number of homes in England with damp and mould range from 4% to 27% of homes, or 962,000 to 6.5 million households.
What is humidity?
Humidity is the measure of moisture or water vapour present in the air.
Expressed as a percentage, it defines the amount of water vapour relative to the maximum the air could hold at a given temperature.
This invisible yet influential component of our atmosphere plays a vital role in shaping our daily experiences and comfort levels.
Understanding humidity is essential for managing our indoor environments, ensuring comfort, and mitigating potential issues associated with excessive or inadequate moisture in the air.
High humidity can cause a number of issues within your house.
The main issues are:
- Health Concerns and Allergies
- High humidity in a house can give rise to various health issues, with mould and mildew thriving in damp environments.
- Mould spores, released into the air, can be inhaled, leading to respiratory problems, allergies, and exacerbating conditions like asthma.
- Dust mites, another common allergen, flourish in humid conditions, contributing to skin and respiratory irritations.
Structural Damage
Excessive moisture poses a significant threat to the structural integrity of a house. Prolonged exposure to high humidity levels can lead to the decay of wood, corrosion of metal, and the deterioration of other building materials. This not only compromises the durability of the structure but also necessitates costly repairs.
What causes high humidity?
Everyday activities: Cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors, and even breathing release moisture into the air.
Poor ventilation: If moisture-producing activities aren't accompanied by proper ventilation, the moisture builds up in the air instead of being released.
Typically, a household of 2 adults & 2 children produces up to 100 litres of moisture a week. This can vary depending on the size of your home, lifestyle and appliances. If this moisture isn't removed through ventilation, it will build up on surfaces or stay in the air.
How Can High Humidity be reduced?
- Improving Ventilation
- Enhancing ventilation is a fundamental step in reducing high humidity levels within a house.
- Adequate airflow helps disperse moisture and prevents its accumulation in enclosed spaces.
- Simple measures, such as opening windows and using humidity tracker extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, promote efficient ventilation, allowing humid air to escape and fresh air to circulate.
- However, it also inhabits other rooms in the house. Consider installing a Positive Input Ventilation unit to take care of these rooms. These units "dilute" high humidity thus lowering the levels to a healthy one.