Mould or on Walls and Ceilings can be a problem in homes or businesses but, thankfully, we have some really useful tips on how to help stop mould forming in your property and what to watch out for.
Mould on walls can be caused by a number of factors, which we will investigate further during our mould or mold (as they say in the USA) surveys. This can include things we have written seperate articles about:
Regarding how to help stop mould on walls, we created this useful visual quick interactive guide below including some top tips, so please take a look:
Mould on Walls – Tip 1 (Improve Ventilation)
Although there are many things that can help prevent mould on walls and ceilings from forming (some of which are not obvious), if we were to give one tip it would be to improve ventillation in your home, especially in areas which have higher levels of humidity from water sources (more on this later).
Ways to help improve ventilation in your home (especially in higher risk areas for mould on walls):
- Open windows more where possible
- Or use trickle vents on windows
- Install effective extractor fans or a PIV unit
- PIV stands for Positive Input Ventilation system
- This includes extractor fans near your cooker
All of these are especially important after doing the things we listed above like taking a shower.
If you think you have a bathroom leak, leading to a ceiling leak below get in touch with leak detection experts such as ourselves as soon as possible.
Mould on Walls – Top Tip
Leak Detection Team
“Mould on walls is much more common to see in winter months of the year so be extra vigilant when the temperature drops and watch out for condensation on walls which can later cause mould on walls.”
Mould on Walls – Tip 2 (Control Sources of Moisture)
As we said above, sources of water / moisture in your home can contribute to mould on walls. These things can include some of the following:
- Bathrooms and showers (especially)
- Kitchens, especially after cooking
- Utility rooms, including washing and drying clothes
- Plants and animals in your home (and people!)
- A hidden water leak in your property
On the last one, if you think you have a water leak, we offer a leak detection service locally. We also provide remote monitoring systems to aid with understanding mould on walls.
Some of these can be worse problems in winter, especially as high moisture in the air (relative humidity) can settle on cold surfaces as condensation as the water vapour returns to a solid state. As we said above, this can contribute to mould on walls as mould needs moisture to grow (like plants do).
Mould on Walls – Tip 3 (Temperature & Humidity)
Humidity, or to give its proper name ‘Relative Humidity’, can be a big contributing factor to mould on walls as high humidity can lead to condensation which in turn can lead to mould on walls and ceilings in your property.
Relative humidity defined as “the amount of moisture / water in the air, expressed as a percentage, relative to what the air is capable of holding at a given temperature”. So basically, say relative humidity is at 50%, then the air is at 50% capacity of what it is capable of holding. 100% humidity is effectively saturated air.
We discuss mould on walls and mould spores in our article about an air quality meter.
Clearly we use professional, highly accurate and calibrated temperature and humidity measuring equipment (aka hygrometers) or moisture meters. However, there are some relatively cheap household humidity sensors available on Amazon for example, some of these are smart humidity meters which will track over time and alert you if humidity is high in your home. We have tips to reduce humidity.
Mould on Walls – Tip 4 (Cleaning)
The first thing to point out here is that, when talking about mould on walls, when we say cleaning we are talking about it as a preventative measure not mould removal cleaning. That is different and clearly carries risks (especially respiratory risks from exposure to mould) from disturbing the mould spores into the air.
If you have bad mould, consider contacting a professional mould remediation company such as ourselves. We will not only help with the mould but can offer a mould survey to help identify the causes (otherwise you risk it returning). What we are talking about here is preventative cleaning. On the subject of cleaning chemicals, check out our article about hazard symbols and their meaning.
One thing to say here is – DO NOT USE BLEACH TO TREAT MOULD, this is a misconception as it can superficially look like it has treated the mould, plus bleach is a harsh substance which can cause damage too. Specialist such as ourselves use bespoke antimicrobial products.
One of the things that mould likes is what we call ‘lack of disturbance’ to form. So regular cleaning and wiping down of surfaces can help prevent mould on walls from forming. This is especially important for areas where moisture is higher (like bathrooms) and where condensation forms. For more about this see our article which is a guide to what is condensation.
Mould on Walls – Tip 5 (Professional Mould Remediation)
As we said in the previous section, mould on walls or ceilings can get bad and be persistent. So if you have a bad mould problem in your property, especially if it covers a large area or is in a number of places, then contact us for help and we will discuss our mould remediation and survey services.
As we said above, we can not only help with removing mould on walls but identifying the cause. In some instances, this can be from a water leak, which we can help find with our professional and trusted trace and access service.
ATP testing can be used to help with different stages of mould remediation work. Plus, air scrubbers are often used to help remove mould spores and odours associated with them. We discuss mould on walls in our article about Christmas water damage safety and the related guide to Christmas mould tips.
Water Leak Detection Company – Areas We Serve
Here are the locations we operate as a water leak detection (and other services) company:
- Leak Detection in York
- Leak Detection Near York
- Leak Detection in North Yorkshire
- Leak Detection in East Yorkshire
- Leak Detection in South Yorkshire
- Leak Detection Yorkshire Coast
- Leak Detection in Teesside
We are experts in dealing with mould for people in the York and Yorkshire Coast area, so if you have been flooded, please contact our friendly team to arrange for help and guidance. We also deal with Yorkshire water leaks in local homes and businesses. Here are the local areas we cover.
At Rainbow Restoration – York & Yorkshire Coast we are experts in Leak Detection in York, including Commercial Leak Detection and also Water Damage Restoration, so if you would like help finding a water leak or getting your property back to normal after a water damage or flooding, get in touch with our friendly local team who will be happy to help you with this. We are based in York and help find water leaks in York.
How do I stop mould growing on my walls?
First and foremost, to stop mould growing on walls you need to understand the cause of the problem in the first place. People tend to think first about removing mould (remember that can be risky and increase exposure to mould spores) rather than what is causing it. Once you have understood the cause of the mould on your walls, which we can help with, then the best treatment will be advised accordingly. In many cases this can be something fairly cheap and simple to do.
Is wall mould harmful?
Yes, mould on walls can be harmful. It can cause respiratory problems, especially those who are vulnerable or who have other pre-existing conditions that may make it worse. Mould releases spores into the indoor environment which affects air quality for those living in it and breathing that in. If you have mould on walls in your home or business, and if needed, get help from a professional mould remediation company like ourselves.
Why am I getting mould on my walls?
There are often a number of related factors that can contribute to why you have mould on walls in your property. First of all you need to have mould spores present. Mould spores are common and are a bit like seeds waiting to grow. And like seeds, mould spores need moisture as one of the main reasons to grow on walls. There are a number of other factors too, each of which contribute in different ways. Even moisture or damp on walls can come from a variety of sources. They key thing is to understand why and where.