mold quickly becomes a problem, especially in the summer. A basic prerequisite for mold formation is moisture
The residents themselves “produce” a lot of moisture (including sweating, showering, bathing, drying clothes, breathing air) - up to a total of twelve liters a day. But the temperature and a nutrient base also contribute to the formation of mold
But what helps to avoid this process at an early stage
Avoid mold: know the cause and remediation it at an early stage
If you want to avoid mold before it spreads, you first need to find out how it develops. As shown above, three factors are critical: moisture, temperature and nutrients
There is no need for condensation to form in the house. Already 80 percent moisture on a surface or 65 percent in a room is enough for the mold spores to settle. The moist air condenses in cold places in rooms (so-called thermal bridges). But it also happens quickly in areas such as window boxes or balconies. All those places in houses where there is hardly any air, such as behind cupboards, curtains or even under floor coverings, are particularly treacherous
In addition to moisture, mold feels particularly good at temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees. The underground plays a marginal role. Concrete, cement, wood, plasterboard and wallpaper can be a breeding ground just like paint or plastic
Prevent mold with simple tips
Basically, it should be noted that there are always a few mold spores in the normal air. The danger arises only from a certain concentration. Nevertheless, it should be prevented that the spores settle on a surface in the interior and spread. The only way to prevent this is by proper ventilation and heating
Ventilation in particular is often neglected in the winter months. Because many fear that too much heat will escape unused. Rather, it is about regularly opening the windows completely for five to ten minutes. In the best case, opposite windows and the inner doors are opened so that a complete air exchange can take place. To keep the heat loss as low as possible, you should turn down the radiators during this time
In contrast, tilt ventilation often does the opposite. Heat is lost unnecessarily and the rooms cool down heavily during the day. It doesn't just take more energy to warm up the rooms again. The temperature differences between the cooled surfaces and the heating air are therefore too great. In such cases, moldy areas often form around the windows
Proper heating should not be neglected either. Because warm air absorbs more water molecules than cold. The key here is which rooms are concerned and how long people are there. An average temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius is recommended in living rooms. The rest of the rooms can be a bit cooler
Prevent mold with home ventilation systems
In older buildings, natural air exchange via leaks, e.g. held in wooden windows. However, this is changing increasingly. Every renovation measure ensures that as little heating energy as possible is lost through leaky windows, window boxes or doors. However, this does not mean stopping the renovation, but rather that the ventilation must be adapted to the new conditions. So you should ventilate more often during the day to transport the moisture to the outside. New buildings are also becoming denser. Ventilation is particularly important here. In many cases, however, this cannot be done manually, since the residents are at work, in the university or at school during the day. Controlled living space ventilation offers a suitable solution
How do ventilation systems prevent mold
With controlled ventilation, you ensure a constantly healthy indoor climate and sufficient fresh air without losing heat. With integrated heat recovery, even heat for heating can be obtained from the exhaust air. The mechanical air exchange also ensures that the moisture is transported from the inside to the outside. The filters in the ventilation systems are a further protection, preventing dirt and particles from entering the interior with the outside air
In this way, both decentralized ventilation systems and central living space ventilation protect against mold growth by not only limiting the symptoms or effects of such an attack, but already preventing the causes
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