Mould patches are more likely to appear in a humid environment with insufficient ventilation. We naturally assume mould spread with old properties. But the truth is that the rainy British weather and our property structure can contribute to the formation of unpleasant patches inside most homes.
Thankfully, homeowners are quick to spot the culprits. An unfinished basement — if you have one — is likely to turn into a pool of stagnant water during heavy rain. Wet basements increase the humidity levels at home, and we all know what that means. Alternatively, when it’s not coming from the ground, it’s the roof. Water infiltration through the roof tends to accumulate in the loft, soak through the insulation and spread a musty smell inside your home. Finally, the last most common thing most homeowners check is their windows. From inadequate frames to old windows, when the cold air pierces through, you can be sure that the outdoors humidity is finding a way into your property.
Yet, when you’ve checked all the usual spots and still struggle to get rid of mould spread inside your home, you need to think outside the box. The best course of action in this case would be to call up professionals offering mold inspection in Tucson, AZ (or elsewhere more relevant) in order to find the root of the problem and deal with it. If you want to report the problem accurately so that it can be dealt with faster, it can still be helpful to find the source yourself. Here are 5 other places at home that can be a source of excess moisture.
#1. The bathroom
Your bathroom is an entire room inside your home that is fully dedicated to creating moisture. However, with the right design in place and appropriate ventilation, you don’t have to worry about your shower area becoming a mould trap. Ideally, you want to invest in the right materials that are unlikely to trap humidity. It can be a good idea to think about bathroom remodelling if you are concerned about your installation mouldproof-ness. Can you use waterproof shower panels in a wet room? Most definitely, you can and should consider materials that are specifically designed for a wet environment. Unlike tiles that can leave too much exposure to mould growth along the grout, shower panels are waterproof, budget-friendly, and versatile. So, it’s worth rethinking your design to reduce persistent humidity levels.
#2. Your utility room
The typical British home has a utility room with a washing machine and sometimes a tumble-dryer. Due to the size of the average home,m not every homeowner uses a tumble-dryer. More often than not, the utility room is also furnished with a drying rack. On sunny days, you can hang your laundry outside to dry. However, with the British weather, you probably have to dry your laundry indoors most of the time. Unfortunately, this generates additional moisture levels. So, it can be a good idea to look for an alternative for big laundry days, such as a laundry pickup and delivery service. Aside from being convenient and time-saving, a laundry service also means that you don’t have to worry about wet clothes drying inside your utility room.
#3. Your kitchen
The kitchen used to be the hearth of the home. Unfortunately, it can also become the heart of your mould invasion. Indeed, the kitchen is one of those areas at home that can facilitate mould spread. Cooking can generate a lot of excess moisture when you cook with water. From boiling water in a pan to your kettle, it can be tough to control sources of moisture. Additionally, old appliances can also cause leakage that might go unnoticed. Your top priority to get hold of the mould is to identify the source of humidity. Appliances can be checked and repaired, or replaced. Improving your ventilation/extraction techniques will get rid of water droplets in the air.
#4. The entrance
How can your entrance bring extra humidity? The answer is simple: because we bring it from outside. The umbrella stand could create a small puddle of water as the umbrella dries. Similarly, wet shoes on the shoes rack also release excess moisture. If you have a rug in your entrance, the water could be absorbed out of sight. However, it hasn’t left your home. It can be a good idea to look for shoe racks and umbrella stands that can capture the moisture in a tray. So, all you need to do is to empty the tray.
#5. The warm summer bedroom
Summer in a south-facing bedroom is the worst experience! It’s way too hot for you to open the windows. So, you may not realise that the moisture builds up gradually. Indeed, in a warm environment, your body sweats to drops its temperature. The process creates added moisture to the room. Yet, when the weather too hot, you don’t want to let the warm outdoors air in. Unfortunately, this means you can’t expel the moisture.
Hopefully, this brief overview can give you new tips to fight off the pesky mould inside your home. Finding the source of your problem is key to permanent removal!