Help with black mould please

Grovey1

rachelandgromit wrote: »

Hi

Live in a detached bungalow built in 1991. Never experienced problems in summer, but in last month or two (wet, cold weather), started to get black mould around all UPVC windows (the walls) and in paticular, areas of the bathroom, and the bedroom has a 'musty' smell to it.

The bathroom, I can put down to our very hot, steamy baths and that we don't have much ventilation in here and I keep forgetting to open the window
However, I'm not sure what is causing it elsewhere. The guttering isn't blocked, there is no water leaks (I've been up the loft) and I try and keep away furniture from the outside wall. I know the bungalow doesn't get much ventilation as we both work long hours and I've noted the last few nights when it has been really cold, when I wake up and turn my mobile phone alarm off, the screen on it is practically wet. The heating is on a timer, but only on for limited amount of time. There are no airbricks in the house and I'm thinking that getting perhaps one of those fancy sliding ones put in may help, even if it's just in the bedroom and bathroom problem areas. What do people think? Is there anything else I am missing?

Rachel

For a tempoary measure u could open the windows on night lock just to let the air flow through just open the window about half inch then the handle should close down in lock position you can also put in trickle vents in the exsisting windows as well hope this helps pm me if you have any questions.

rachelandgromit

Thanks for this. I've got a new thread open for an extractor fan which may help certainly in the bathroom. Having had a few discussions with family and friends, certainly leaving the bathroom doors open after baths won't help as the main bedroom is opposite the bathroom and the 'steam' can't escape. Won't help the problems in the bedroom. I've now made sure the bathroom window is open fully after a bath, but all other times is 'on the catch' so it is open by a little gap then 'locked' if that makes sense. You are right, both bedroom windows face onto the front so it's impossible to leave them open when we are at work as they only have one opening (half of the full window) which means you could practically climb in and out of it! I could leave it 'on the catch' so locked but with around 1cm gap, but I'm really reluctant to do this when we are at work even though I know it's impossible for anyone to get in and they'd be stupid to try in full view of the cul-de-sac. I have been opening both windows though when I can. One thing I can't work out, is that I have some drawers on the outside wall, although they do have a gap behind them of around 10cm, but the back of the drawers go green/grey mouldy, but the wall isn't mouldy at all? Is this a ventilation problem too?

muckybutt

As has already been said Black mould is a ventillation problem, personally I would have a look at Whole house ventilation systems and if money allows a heat recovery system too.

http://www.dealec.co.uk/acatalog/wholehouse_ventilation_and_heat_recovery_systems.html

Just to point out that there are many more products and companies that do these systems, the above link is just to show you the system and what it does.

Grovey1

rachelandgromit wrote: »

Thanks for this. I've got a new thread open for an extractor fan which may help certainly in the bathroom. Having had a few discussions with family and friends, certainly leaving the bathroom doors open after baths won't help as the main bedroom is opposite the bathroom and the 'steam' can't escape. Won't help the problems in the bedroom. I've now made sure the bathroom window is open fully after a bath, but all other times is 'on the catch' so it is open by a little gap then 'locked' if that makes sense. You are right, both bedroom windows face onto the front so it's impossible to leave them open when we are at work as they only have one opening (half of the full window) which means you could practically climb in and out of it! I could leave it 'on the catch' so locked but with around 1cm gap, but I'm really reluctant to do this when we are at work even though I know it's impossible for anyone to get in and they'd be stupid to try in full view of the cul-de-sac. I have been opening both windows though when I can. One thing I can't work out, is that I have some drawers on the outside wall, although they do have a gap behind them of around 10cm, but the back of the drawers go green/grey mouldy, but the wall isn't mouldy at all? Is this a ventilation problem too?

Get trickle vents added to the windows and just leave them open it shouldnt cost that much