How To Prevent Mould In Your Home Over Winter

Not only is mould a real eyesore, it’s also a serious health hazard. All of us should be careful to limit our exposure to mould, but you’ll have to be even more cautious if you have children or live with anybody experiencing respiratory issues like asthma.

However, as winter and lower temperatures settle in, so too do some unwelcome guests – namely mould and mildew. These dangerous fungi thrive in damp, dark environments, making winter the ideal breeding ground for the growth of mould in your home. Sounds fairly bleak right?

Not to worry, that’s where taking preventative action can save the day. Even if the challenge is a little harder in the colder months, it’s much easier to stop mould from growing in the first place than it is to remove it (or any damage it causes to your belongings and furniture). There are a number of steps you can take to become a self-proclaimed mould-buster this winter.

Keep Humidity At Bay

One of the primary factors contributing to mould growth in the home is excessive humidity. It’s likely that indoor humidity levels will be at their highest in winter due to the fact you’ll have your heating on more than often. As you crank the thermostat up, humidity levels in damp spots like your basement or bathroom will rise thanks to extra water vapour and this will encourage mould to grow if not properly tended to. Invest in a dehumidifier for these problem areas to keep on top of humidity levels in your home and try to dry wet walls and surfaces when possible to limit the amount of moisture being added to the air. 

Ventilate Properly

If you’re not sure how to prevent mould in your home over winter, one of the easiest things you can do is ensure adequate ventilation in your home. It can be tempting to keep the windows firmly shut throughout the colder months to conserve heat in your home, but this will likely do more harm than good as there will be little opportunity for moisture to escape. Open the windows for even just a short period each day and make sure you use extractor fans in particularly moisture-prone areas like your kitchen or bathroom.

Heat recovery systems are also an effective way to improve the ventilation of your home and prevent mould growth. These clever and quiet ventilating systems work twofold. Firstly, to efficiently heat your home by extracting waste heat from stale air and transferring it to your home as fresh air via a heat exchanger. Secondly, by taking the heat from air being cycled out and transferring it to clean air from outside, a heat recovery system disposes of unwanted pollutants and moisture that would otherwise contribute to the growth of mould. 

Insulate Your Home

Proper insulation is a serious asset in winter. Not only does it keep your home warm, but it also contributes to the prevention of condensation. If your home lacks adequate insulation, warm indoor air can come into contact with cold surfaces such as walls and windows and lead to a build-up of moisture that provides an ideal environment for mould growth. By improving your insulation and sealing any gaps in your windows, walls and doors, you can minimise the potential for condensation and therefore prevent mould in your home over winter. 

Stay On Top Of Cleaning

Though it might sound obvious to hear that proper cleaning contributes to a healthy home, you might be surprised to learn just how much staying on top of the cleaning can specifically prevent mould in your home. This is because regular cleaning not only removes the existing mould spores but also eliminates the sources that sustain them, whether that be in the grout of bathroom tiles or within carpets and upholstery. Making time to hoover and wipe down surfaces frequently is a really easy way to keep mould at bay and stamps out possible problem areas before they have the time to truly form.

Don’t Add Unnecessary Moisture To Your Home

You might not realise it, but the mould growing in your home could be the result of your own actions. Yes, it’s sometimes hard to completely avoid dampness if you live in an old or poorly insulated house, but your everyday habits might also be making the problem worse. 

One of the biggest culprits in this regard is your clothes airer. Drying your clothes indoors without suitable ventilation encourages moisture to settle on the surrounding walls and ceilings, promoting the growth of mould. It’s much better to dry your clothes outside or use a properly fitted tumble dryer instead, but if you have to settle for indoor drying due to the wintry conditions outdoors then try and keep windows open and place a dehumidifier in the same room as your airer. 

So there you have it, five easy ways to prevent mould in your home over winter. Focus on keeping key rooms ventilated and stay proactive if you think that conditions are worsening. If the problem is beyond prevention, make sure that you speak to an expert at the earliest opportunity – after all, your health is the most important thing.

You can also speak to the team here at Pipelife if you would like any expert advice on the possible ways to ventilate your home, particularly via a heat recovery system.