How to tackle dampness - Mold?

​Damp homes promote mould and dust mites which can cause respiratory problems. While dehumidifiers and ventilation systems help reduce the symptoms of the problem, it’s important to track down the underlying cause of dampness in your home. The problem may be relatively cheap and easy to fix.

• Signs of dampness
• Where does excess moisture come from?
• How to tackle sources of dampness inside
• How to tackle sources of dampness outside

Signs of dampnessInside

• Musty smells
• Damp or mouldy clothes or shoes in wardrobes
• Mould forming behind paintings, mirrors and furniture
• Mould, stains or watermarks on ceilings or walls

Condensation on windows, especially in bedrooms, isn't necessarily a sign of excessive dampness if it only happens occasionally during winter.
Outside

• Rotting wood in the structure of your house
• Musty smells or mould under the house

Where does excess moisture come from?InsideThe average NZ family produces up to 8 litres of moisture in the home each day from activities like cooking and showering. This is normal and can be managed by insulating, heating and ventilating.
Find out if your house is dampTo prevent mould growth, the amount of moisture in your home (relative humidity) should ideally be below 65% most of the time, and rooms should be heated to at least 18 degrees.
To assess the temperature and relative humidity in your house, try using a simple, low-cost hygrometer. Take readings over a few days or weeks in different rooms of your house, especially in winter, to find out where you might need to address dampness issues.
 Learn more about hygrometers
OutsideSources of moisture, such as leaking pipes or damp rising from underneath your house, are often hidden and can go undetected for a long time, damaging to your home.

How to tackle sources of dampness insideTop tips

• Eliminate avoidable moisture - dry washing outdoors rather than indoors.
• Extract moisture by using extraction fans (vented externally) in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry.
• Air out the home regularly - open doors and windows to create a cross draft, or use a ventilation system.
• Keep the home warm - insulation and heating improve ventilation effectiveness and reduce the risk of mould growth on cold surfaces.

Watch: How to fix dampness in your home | 2:55 min


Bathroom, kitchen and laundry

• Avoid drying washing inside - dry it outside or under a covered verandah, garage or carport. If it’s raining, use a clothes dryer (ducted to the outside).
• Use lids on pots when cooking to reduce moisture and save energy.
• Install a shower dome to stop steam escaping into your bathroom.
• Use extractor fans - read our tips below.

Ensure extractor fans are:

• vented to the outside in your bathroom, kitchen and laundry - fans should not vent into your ceiling space
• properly sized and located for the type of room - undersized fans or ducting will be noisy but ineffective
• turned on before having a shower or bath - shut the bathroom door and leave the bathroom window open slightly to improve the fan's effectiveness
• left running for a few minutes after a shower or bath with the bathroom door shut and window open until most of the moisture has cleared
• cleaned regularly to maintain their performance.

Living areas and bedroomsAvoid unflued gas heatersUnflued gas heaters can be portable or have pipes fixed to the walls. They release large amounts of moisture and toxic gases into your house, and can also be a fire hazard.
If you’re using a gas heater or LPG portable heater without a vent or flue:

• always keep at least one window open to allow fresh air to enter the room
• never use in bedrooms.

Furniture

• Keep away from external walls (especially uninsulated walls) - leave a gap of 10cm or more to avoid mould growing behind furniture in winter.
• Keep mattresses off cold floors - put them on a bed base to let air circulate underneath.
• Leave wardrobes slightly open for ventilation.

DehumidifiersDehumidifiers are useful when it’s raining, but are unlikely to stop mould growth unless you tackle the sources of damp, and heat and ventilate your home. At low indoor temperatures, desiccant dehumidifiers tend to be more effective than refrigerant compressor dehumidifiers. Although they use electricity, it’s eventually released as heat and helps warm up the room.
Whatever type of dehumidifier you use, run it together with a heater - a warm room makes it easier for a dehumidifier to extract moisture.

How to tackle sources of dampness outsideUnder floors

• Look for leaks from showers or pipes under the house and fix any issues.
• Check for blocked or leaking downpipes and gutters, and ensure downpipes connect to storm water drains - this is best checked during heavy rain.
• Look for surface water flowing under your house during heavy rain - reshape the outside levels or install drainage channels or subsoil drains as needed. Ask a licensed drain layer for advice.
• Check there are vents on all sides of the house in the subfloor walls - inadequate ventilation is the most common cause of subfloor dampness. Install vents where they are missing - ask a qualified builder for help on sizing.
• Uncover vents blocked by plants, soil or pest barriers, and clear the subfloor area of obstructions.
• Install a vapour barrier (thick polythene sheeting) on the ground under your house. This keeps the moisture in the ground and stops the air under the floor from getting damp. New Zealand Standard NZS4246 has detailed instructions on how to do this.

 How to install a vapour barrier - NZ Standard for installing insulation
If you’re not sure about any of these actions, talk to a qualified builder.

Floors, walls and roofs

• Look for leaks in wall and roof cladding and flashings.
• Check plumbing pipes and services for leaks and moisture getting into walls or floors near showers and baths. Leaks like these are often hidden and can go unnoticed.

Measuring the moisture content of your home's materials is often the easiest way of finding hidden leaks. Talk to a registered or accredited building surveyor who is experienced in non-invasive moisture measurement techniques.
Registered building surveyors - New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors website 
Accredited building surveyors - Building Officials of New Zealand website 

Concrete floors and walls

• Check for damp patches and white mineral deposits which indicate moisture is coming through. Lift flooring to check the concrete floor surface.
• Waterproofing sealants/moisture barriers can be applied to seal the concrete or masonry. Seek advice from a qualified builder about the best product for your situation, and also discuss any improvements to drainage that may be necessary.

Construction moistureIf your house is new or recently renovated, there’s probably excess moisture in some of the construction materials that needs to dry out. This may take a few months but you can speed up the process with heating and ventilation.
Find out if your home is warm, dry and healthyUse HomeFit to find out if your home is warm, dry and healthy - it's a free online check designed by the Green Building Council.
Do the online check at www.homefit.org.nz

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