How to Prevent Mould in Your Home with the Right Temperature

Why mould growth is linked to energy and heating

Mould growth is something many UK homes deal with, mainly in the winter months. This happens when moist air touches cold surfaces like external walls, window frames, or loft spaces that do not have enough insulation. When this moisture hits a cold spot, it turns into condensation. These damp conditions are just right for mould spores to settle and start spreading.

At the same time, people have to deal with higher energy bills. This makes it hard to keep homes warm while controlling the cost. If you try to save on heating, it may put the right temperature for your home at risk, and that can lead to problems with visible mould. Ofgem says the usual UK dual-fuel home now pays over £1,600 each year on energy. Many people feel the need to turn down their thermostat because of this. But if you keep your home too cool, there is a bigger risk of visible mould, dust mites, and health issues like asthma or a runny nose.

What temperature prevents mould growth?

Most expert advice says you should keep your home at a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C. This helps stop mould growth. Living rooms are best when they are warmer, from about 20 to 21°C. Bedrooms can be cooler, but if they stay below 16°C for a long period of time, it can cause more condensation.

Keeping the temperature steady helps to keep soft furnishings and internal doors dry. This makes sure mould spores do not spread as much in your home.

Why do cold surfaces matter?

Even when the heating system is working, cold surfaces like external walls, roof tiles, or single-glazed window frames can still make condensation happen. When warm air touches these spots, the water in the air turns into drops. This makes damp patches. After a while, these damp places can be where black mould starts to grow.

Homes that have poor insulation or not enough loft insulation let warm air leave faster. A house without good cavity wall insulation will also lose heat. This means there is a bigger gap between the warm air inside and the cold walls outside. It can make it hard to stop mould from growing. Good wall insulation helps with mould prevention.

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How do humidity levels affect mould?

Temperature is just one factor in this problem. Relative humidity is also very important when it comes to mould growth.

• Mould spores like to grow when humidity levels are over 65%.
• The best way for mould prevention is to keep the relative humidity at about 40–60%.
• When moisture levels go higher than this, you will see condensation. This can cause damp issues.

How to measure and control humidity

1. Hygrometer: This is a small digital tool that tells you the relative humidity in a room. The price is about £10 to £20.
2. Extractor fans: Have these in bathrooms and kitchens. They help to remove excess moisture and keep the air from getting too moist.
3. Trickle vents: You should leave these open on new double-glazed windows. This helps fresh air come in and moist air move out.
4. Heat recovery ventilation: These special systems swap moist air with fresh air. They also keep most of the heat inside, which helps you lower heat loss and boost energy efficiency.

What role does ventilation play?

Even warm homes can get damp if there is not enough air moving around. A washing machine, tumble dryer, or clothes drying in the house puts a lot of water into the air. The air must get out, or it will turn into water drops on walls and ceilings.

Best way to ventilate your home

Proper ventilation is one of the best ways to control moisture levels and keep mould growth away. When you let fresh air move through your home, it takes out excess moisture from things like cooking, showering, and drying laundry. If you do not have this airflow, moist air will stay inside. This makes it easy for condensation to form on cold surfaces, like external walls and window frames, giving mould the ideal conditions to grow.

Here are some of the most useful things that you can do to make the air flow better in your space:

• Open windows for short bursts: Even when it is cold, try to open windows for about 10 to 15 minutes each day. This lets in fresh air and pushes out moist air, helping everyone breathe easier. Do not keep windows open all day because that uses more energy and can make heating costs go up. Short bursts are much better for keeping the house warm while you get rid of excess moisture from the air.
• Use extractor fans: A kitchen or bathroom can get full of moist air fast. So, it is a good idea for you to use an extractor fan when you shower or boil water. This helps get rid of moist air before it sticks to walls and surfaces. A new extractor fan with a moisture sensor will know when your room needs extra help and turns on by itself as moisture levels go up.
• Keep internal doors shut: When you are boiling water, using the washing machine, or creating steam, keep all internal doors closed. This stops moist air from going to the rest of the house. It also helps prevent water from gathering on cold walls and ceilings.
• Balance your heating system: If one room in your home feels much colder than others, you might start to see condensation on those walls or windows. A good way to get even warmth is to balance your heating system. A house that is evenly warm is much less likely to have damp spots over time.
• Consider trickle vents and heat recovery systems: A

The cost of mould in social housing and private homes

The impact of mould is not just about health. It also costs money for homeowners and landlords. This problem is often bigger in social housing. Many tenants in these homes have to deal with poor insulation, inadequate ventilation, and they cannot do much to update their homes. On top of that, energy bills are going up. This makes it tough for people to keep their homes warm all the time. When homes are not heated well, damp conditions get worse.

Here are some ways that a damp home can affect your money:

• Increased maintenance costs for social landlords: When mould is found in properties, it often means repairs keep happening. Damp patches, peeling paint, and broken plaster all add to costs. Over time, things like soft furnishings, floor coverings, and wall insulation may need to be replaced.
• Damage to property interiors: Mould spores can stain walls and even rot wooden parts like skirting boards. If moisture gets into loft areas, it can harm roof tiles. Window frames can break down over a period of time, mostly because of condensation.
• Higher NHS costs: Each year, the NHS uses about £1 billion to help people who get sick from damp and mould. Problems like asthma, infections, and trouble with breathing all cost money. This shows how bad housing affects everyone.
• Impact on tenants’ energy costs: A home with poor insulation or inadequate ventilation takes more energy to keep warm. Tenants living in these homes might spend more money to heat their houses and fight off mould. This means higher energy costs and more pressure on their budget.

For both private homeowners and social landlords, the best way to lower costs over time is to deal with damp and mould as soon as you see them. If you invest in loft insulation, wall insulation like cavity wall insulation, or get adequate ventilation in your home, you can stop more damage from happening. This will also help to make your home much better at saving energy and increase its energy efficiency.

Health risks of a damp home

Living in a damp home for a long period of time can be really bad for health. Mould creates tiny mould spores. These mould spores float in the air. If you breathe them in, they can bother your lungs, eyes, nose, or throat. Sometimes, they may also cause allergic reactions. Some mould, such as black mould, can be especially dangerous if you do not get rid of it.

The most common health symptoms that you can get from being around mould include:

• Runny nose and throat irritation: Even a short time around mould can make you feel like you have a cold. The nose can run and the throat gets sore.
• Asthma attacks or worsening symptoms: People with asthma feel attacks coming on or feel their symptoms get bad when they breathe in mould spores. A damp home will make this happen more often. These attacks can get worse and feel strong.
• Allergic reactions: Mould spores start problems such as itchy eyes, skin feeling bad, coughing, and sneezing. People who spend a period of time near mould may get allergies that last a long time.
• Respiratory illness: Breathing mould for two weeks or more makes it more likely to get bronchitis, infection, or feel it is hard to breathe. This hurts young kids, elderly people, and anyone whose body has less strength to fight sickness.

Research from Public Health England shows that being around damp and mould in the home raises the risk of problems with breathing by 30–50%. If children live in homes with mould, they are more likely to feel sick and miss school. Adults living in these homes may also feel unwell more often, take more sick days, or have health issues that last a long time.

Living in a damp home does not just cause problems for your body. It can also harm how you feel and think. When you need to clean mould again and again, see visible mould on the walls, or feel worried about fixing things, it can make you feel more stressed or anxious. This is why mould prevention and moisture control in your home matter. They are good for your health. They can also make life feel better for you and those who live with you.

How insulation and energy efficiency reduce mould

Making your home better at saving energy can help keep it warm. It also helps stop water from building up on the walls. Using good wall insulation and loft insulation keeps the heat in. A proper damp proof course stops damp spots from forming on cold walls. All of these can help your place feel better and last longer.

These steps can bring down energy bills. They also make set up that stop mould growth from happening.

How to manage excess moisture

Everyday things that we do can put several litres of water in the air.

Tips for moisture control

• Use a tumble dryer that vents outside.
• Do not dry clothes on radiators.
• Wipe down window frames every morning in the winter.
• Clean mould early with an approved mould cleaner before it can spread.

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When to call a damp specialist

If you see a lot of mould, damp spots, wet places near the skirting boards, or leaks from roof tiles, it can mean that there are problems with the building. A damp specialist can look at these issues for you.

• There may be rising damp if the damp proof course stops working.
• A leak in the roof tiles or gutters can cause damp in the house.
• Bad cavity wall insulation might trap water in the wall.
• There could be long-term condensation if there is not enough ventilation.

Professional surveys are priced between £200–£400. They help you find the main reason for a mould problem and stop things from getting worse.

FAQs about mould prevention