I read some scary statistics the other day – over 1 in 3 people in North America and Europe live in houses with damp and mold problems.If you’ve moved home lately chances are you’ll have encountered at least one nightmare property infested with mould.But there’s a real lack of awareness about the problem.  Damp and mould problems are often in hidden corners of your home and many times it resides inside walls where you can’t see it. 

Illnesses
Damp has been linked with an alarming range of illnesses.Many times people get hayfever-like symptoms as a result of damp – watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion.It can be a nightmare for asthma sufferers, and there’s even been a study connecting it with causing asthma during childhood.  Damp can also cause serious respiratory problems in the long run.  Another recent study even revealed a connection between mold and depression! 

Causes
How, then, does this fungal intruder enter your home?  Well the first thing to say is a bit of mould is entirely normal and can be found everywhere.  But the real problems occur when it is allowed to spread and develop fungal spores.  Mould builds up as a result of too much humidity in the air combined with a lack of proper ventilation for the moisture to escape.Humidity in the house can come from a range of everyday activities, like taking a shower, using the dryer and cooking.But it needs to go somewhere!  Lack of ventilation can be down to poor workmanship and failure to ensure proper damp proofing when the home was built.Often there aren’t sufficient air vents in a property.  This is becoming more and more common these days as we seal up our homes to keep the heat in and reduce energy costs.

Dealing with damp
I hope I’ve managed to convince you that the threat of mold is a problem that shouldn’t be ignored – we should all be worried about preventing it. This is true even if your home doesn’t have any damp.  Once it takes hold, it can be very difficult and expensive to get rid of it.  Here are some top tips on how to avoid damp buildup in your home or workplace:

1. Dry up any build up of condensation you notice around the house within 24-48 hours.Don’t forget – mold cannot survive without water in the atmosphere.
2. Give the moisture in your house an escape route by getting proper ventilation.  Consider installing air vents or opening a window after showers.
3. Be sure to have any cold surfaces insulated where possible – they’re the places where condensation often develop at home.
4. It’s well worth considering investing in one of the many dehumidifiers out there to remove moisture from the atmosphere.  Certain portable air conditioners also do the job, with the added bonus of keeping you cool in the summer.
5. Know your rights.If things get really serious it can have awful consequenses on both your life and your finances. Check if your insurance policy covers mould damage. Those living in rented accomodation should ask their landlord to have damp and mold professionally looked at.