It’s that time of year again… the temperature is dropping, the windows are closed and the central heating is getting cranked up. All very warm and cosy, but it is also typically the time when an unwanted visitor starts to appear, too.
Black condensation mould is the bane of many a property owner and tenant. Warm moist air (even what we breathe out) hits cold walls and condenses (remember those science classes?) creating damp surfaces which become the ideal breeding place for black mould, which can often be mistaken for much more serious ‘damp’.
Black mould caused by condensation is not ‘damp’. What it is, is simple – a lack of ventilation. Think about it, black mould typically starts to appear in the colder months when our walls get colder from the outside weather and we stop opening our doors and windows, as much.
Not only this, but we stop drying our washing outside and start hanging it next to our lovely warm radiators. We also don’t want the cold air outside blasting us when we’ve just stepped out of a piping hot bath or shower, so we stop ventilating our bathrooms.
All perfect conditions for trapping moisture in our homes and creating black mould-loving condensation.
So, if you happen to spot some darkening in a corner of your ceiling or even an unwelcome patch of black furry stuff, don’t panic, it is most likely a bit of black condensation mould that can be dealt with and which can be prevented, going forward.
The golden rule being: ventilate, ventilate, ventilate!
For some helpful advice on how to deal with black mould, click here.
If you are in any doubt about whether you have got black condensation mould, or something more sinister, give a local damp specialist a call. They will be able to tell you what it is and help you fix it.
