If you discover mould in your home, you need to act quickly to remove it and then take steps to prevent the mould coming back. Mould spores are an allergen that can cause reactions in people with weak immune systems and respiratory conditions including asthma, and some species of mould release toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can cause major health problems in children and older people.
Allergic reactions to mould can range from mild to severe and include:
If the mould spores are inhaled, they are more likely to cause problems in your respiratory tract and can trigger an asthma attack in people with the conditions.
Mould usually grows in damp conditions, and these are also associated with worsening underlying heath problems, so the longer the mould is allowed to persist, the more serious the reaction is likely to be.
With toxic black mould, the presence of mycotoxins can also result in long term problems.
Mould grows from microscopic spores that are carried in the air. Mould spores are present in every home, but they will not develop into colonies unless the conditions are right. If the mould spores land in a damp area with limited air flow to move them on, they will start to grow almost immediately.
The damp that allows mould to grow in the home is often a result of high humidity in the air. Water vapour from bathing, cooking and even breathing will form condensation on cold surfaces and as this is absorbed into plaster and wood, it will cause damp. It is this damp where the mould will usually grow.
Mould is a type of fungus which grows from spores. The spores spread across a surface using thin filaments that create a network called a mycelium. The filaments that connect the mould together are called hyphae and in effect, the whole colony of mould is a single organism. There are countless species of mould in the world, although only a few of these are seen in British homes.
Moulds can grow on almost any porous surface where there is some moisture and the most common species of mould that may be found growing in houses are:
This species can be found in darker areas such as under sinks and in cupboards. It prefers warm conditions and will spread most during the summer months when it is warm and humid.
Aspergillus will often be found in dusty environments. Damp patches in plasterboard can provide the ideal conditions for it to grow and it is common on walls.
You are most likely to find Cladosporium on softer surfaces including fabrics and wood. It grows below the surface and creates patches that are difficult to spot until it is ready to release spores.
Also known as toxic black mould, this species can form large black patches in areas with a lot of moisture such as bathrooms. Stachybotrys Chartarum may need to be professionally cleaned.
It is quite simple to clean mould from surfaces in your home. Dilute bleach with water at a ratio of one part bleach to four parts of water and then spray onto the mould. This will kill off the surface mould and allow you to wipe it away.
When using bleach or supermarket mould cleaner, it is important to work in a well-ventilated space and to wear gloves, mouth, and eye protection. Dispose of any cloths that you use in the bin to avoid spreading spores elsewhere in your home.
Unfortunately, mould cleaners will only remove the mould from the surface, and it can quickly grow back if the damp conditions remain.
To stop mould for good, you will need to take away the source of moisture. In most homes, condensation from cooking, bathing and drying clothes indoors causes an increase in humidity. Improving the airflow in your home will reduce condensation, and excess moisture can be removed from the air using extractor fans in your bathroom and kitchen.
Mould in your home can pose a threat to your health if it is allowed to grow. Preventing condensation reduces the damp conditions where mould can grow, and better ventilation will help. If you are concerned about the presence of mould in your home, please contact us today. Our local ventilation specialists can visit your home to conduct a free survey that will identify the causes of mould. Enter your postcode below to find an expert near you.
© EnviroVent Ltd 2024. All right reserved. Part of S&P Group.
Ikiwa umepata kuvu nyumbani, fanya haraka kuondoa na kisha ufanye hatua za kuzuia kuvu kurudi. Spora za kuvu ni allergen ambayo inaweza kusababisha athari kwa watu wenye mfumo dhaifu wa kinga na hali za kupumua ikiwa ni pamoja na pumu, na aina zingine za kuvu hutoa kemikali zenye sumu zinazoitwa mycotoxins ambazo zinaweza kusababisha matatizo makubwa ya afya kwa watoto na wazee. Madhara ya mkojo yanaweza kuwa ya kiasi kidogo hadi kali na ni pamoja na: Ikiwa spora za mkojo zinapumua, zina uwezekano mkubwa wa kusababisha matatizo katika njia yako ya kupumua na inaweza kusababisha mshtuko wa pumu kwa watu wenye hali hiyo. Kwa kawaida, kuvu hukua katika hali ya unyevu, na hii pia inahusishwa na matatizo ya afya ya msingi, kwa hivyo kadiri kuvu inavyoweza kudumu, ndivyo athari mbaya zaidi inavyokuwa. Kwa kuvu nyeusi zenye sumu, uwepo wa mycotoxins unaweza pia kusababisha matatizo ya muda mrefu. Kuvu hukua kutokana na spora ndogo-ndogo zinazosafirishwa hewani. Spora za kuvu zipo katika kila nyumba, lakini hazitakuwa makoloni isipokuwa hali ziwe nzuri. Ikiwa spora za kuvu zinashuka katika eneo lenye unyevunyevu na mtiririko mdogo wa hewa ili kuzihamisha, zitaanza kukua mara moja. Mara nyingi unyevu unaoruhusu kuvu kukua nyumbani husababishwa na unyevu mwingi wa hewa. Mvuke wa maji kutoka kuoga, kupika na hata kupumua utaunda condensation kwenye nyuso baridi na kama hii inachukuliwa katika plasta na mbao, itasababisha unyevu. Kwa kawaida kuvu hukua katika eneo hili lenye unyevunyevu. Kuvu ni aina ya kuvu ambayo hukua kutokana na spora. Spora hizo huenea kwenye uso kwa kutumia nyuzi nyembamba zinazotengeneza mtandao unaoitwa mycelium. Filaments ambazo huunganisha ukungu pamoja huitwa hyphae na kwa kweli, koloni nzima ya ukungu ni kiumbe mmoja. Kuna aina nyingi za kuvu ulimwenguni, ingawa ni chache tu kati ya hizo zinazoonekana katika nyumba za Uingereza. Kuvu inaweza kukua karibu juu ya uso wowote porous ambapo kuna unyevu na aina ya kawaida ya kuvu ambayo inaweza kupatikana kukua katika nyumba ni: Aina hii inaweza kupatikana katika maeneo ya giza kama vile chini ya sinks na katika kabati. Inapendelea hali ya joto na itaenea zaidi wakati wa miezi ya kiangazi wakati wa joto na unyevu. Aspergillus mara nyingi hupatikana katika mazingira yenye vumbi. Sehemu zenye unyevunyevu katika mbao za plasta zaweza kutoa hali nzuri za ukuzi wake na ni ya kawaida kwenye kuta. Inawezekana zaidi kupata Cladosporium kwenye nyuso laini ikiwa ni pamoja na vitambaa na mbao. Mimea hiyo hukua chini ya ardhi na kutokeza sehemu ambazo ni vigumu kuziona mpaka iwe tayari kutokeza spora. Aina hii ya kuvu inaweza kuunda madoa makubwa meusi katika maeneo yenye unyevu mwingi kama vile bafu. Huenda ikawa ni lazima Stachybotrys Chartarum isafishwe na mtaalamu. Ni rahisi sana kusafisha kuvu kutoka kwenye nyuso za nyumba yako. Kuondoa bleach katika sehemu ya maji, na kuondoa sehemu ya maji katika sehemu ya maji, na kisha kuondoa kwenye mold. Hii itaua kuvu ya uso na kuruhusu kuifuta mbali. Wakati wa kutumia bleach au supermarket mold cleaner, ni muhimu kufanya kazi katika nafasi vizuri ventilated na kuvaa kinga, kinywa, na ulinzi wa macho. Tupa nguo zote ambazo unatumia kwenye chombo cha kutupa maji ili kuepuka kueneza spora mahali pengine nyumbani. Kwa bahati mbaya, dawa za kuondoa kuvu huondoa tu kuvu kutoka juu, na inaweza kukua tena haraka ikiwa hali ya unyevu inabaki. Ili kuzuia kuvu, unahitaji kuondoa chanzo cha unyevu. Katika nyumba nyingi, mvuke unaotokana na kupika, kuoga, na kukausha nguo ndani ya nyumba husababisha ongezeko la unyevu. Kuongeza hewa katika nyumba yako kupunguza condensation, na unyevu ziada inaweza kuondolewa kutoka hewa kwa kutumia extractor mashabiki katika bafu yako na jikoni. Kuvu katika nyumba yako inaweza kuwa hatari kwa afya yako ikiwa inaruhusiwa kukua. Kuzuia condensation hupunguza hali ya unyevu ambapo kuvu inaweza kukua, na uingizaji hewa bora itasaidia. Kama una wasiwasi kuhusu kuonekana kwa kuvu katika nyumba yako, tafadhali wasiliana nasi leo. Wataalamu wetu wa uingizaji hewa wa ndani wanaweza kutembelea nyumba yako kufanya uchunguzi wa bure ambao utagundua sababu za kuvu. Ingiza nambari yako ya posta hapa chini ili upate mtaalamu aliye karibu nawe. Enviro Venture Ltd. Sawa imewekwa. Sehemu ya S&P Group.