Treatment of humidity, condensation and mold

Observation of the most common symptoms allows a diagnosis to be made.
The signs that do not deceive are:
1. The development and proliferation of mold on certain areas of the walls (corners of rooms, bottom of walls, concrete lintels, window towers and behind furniture;
2. An excess of relative humidity which manifests itself in fog on the windows;
3. In cold weather, appearance of water droplets on walls, floors, window lintels, window sills;
4. A musty smell inside the house.
5. During sudden changes in temperature, small puddles of water appear on the tiles, in the corners of rooms, on the floors and cold walls of cellars.

The damage is mainly located at the bottom and in the corners of the walls (traces of white, black and / or green mold), on the window towers, on the back of furniture, on leather objects or on wood. . There is also the formation of water droplets and mist on cold walls and glass surfaces.
The wallpapers, Gyproc (or Placo) panels which are factorycovered with a layer of cardboard (cellulose-based material) are elements conducive to the development of fungi of all kinds and a fortiori of molds.

In mycology, “mold” is a vernacular term for multicellular microorganisms, generally a variety of fungi from the order of fungi. There are endless species of mold. Their spores are present in the air, both outside and inside homes, awaiting the conditions for their development.

These symptoms should not be confused with the signs of a problem with porosity, capillarity or rising damp that would require drying of the walls by injections. Condensation is not related to the presence of moisture in the walls, nor is it “coming out of the wall”. Its origin is the saturation of the air with water vapor. This moisture in the form of vapor is produced by human activity inside the house. Human activities that produce humidity and sources of evaporation are numerous: cooking, showering, bathing, breathing, drying clothes … All these activities produce water vapor.
Above all, remember that a condensation problem does not make the wall wet in depth, only on the surface. There is therefore no need to further waterproof the house or the walls, what matters is to ventilate the house well.

Musty odors, mold spores and excess relative humidity, the lack of oxygen in the air are sources of discomfort and are harmful in the long term to the health of the occupants. Breathing unhealthy air is not desirable for anyone. People with asthma or chronic bronchitis should make sure they breathe fresh, healthy air. To do this, its habitat must be ventilated regularly. Ten minutes of ventilation morning and night is not enough.
For our neurons to function properly, the brain needs sufficient oxygen supply. During winter many dwellings have an obvious deficiency in terms of air renewal. By cooking, heating and even breathing, we produce CO2. Without regular air renewal, our homes accumulate this toxic gas and we live in an atmosphere saturated with CO2 without even realizing it. This results in a lack of oxygen which has a negative effect on health: our alertness is reduced and our ability to concentrate is impaired.

Before doing any work, in order to eradicate the complex problem of condensation, it is necessary to:
1. Determine the premises to be treated as a priority;
2. Calculate the volume of these premises;
3. Determine which building materials were used for their construction;
4. Consider the tolerable noise level in the room.
5. Check whether the premises have an exterior wall on which to place the local ventilation system that will suit the room in question.
6. Determine if the walls, roof have been insulated, and how effectively.
7. Check whether the windows are fitted with double glazing and any grilles.

It is clear that window ventilation has reached its efficiency limits. Opening windows for ten or even thirty minutes in the morning and evening is not enough to guarantee a healthy atmosphere inside a home. If some people continue to sleep with the window open, this variety of badass tends to disappear. During the day, leaving a window open also poses a security risk.
In the city, the noise and pollution generated by traffic leave few arguments in favor of a window ventilation solution. Not to mention that the windows and doors have become increasingly airtight.
To prevent the development of molds and the harmful effects of condensation, it is also evident that mechanical ventilation is the solution promoted by design offices, architects and health organizations.
Spot spraying with bleach or fungicides can kill mold, but this technique is not effective over time. In addition, toxic products are added in the house without promoting the renewal of the essential air, it is a stopgap.
We will hardly speak more about humidity absorbers, “D” systems which are expensive in salt refills and which are not an ideal solution for health since they do not allow any supply of fresh air.
The same goes for the electric dehumidifier which is an efficient device, but its power consumption and noise level cause problems for long term use. Like absorbers, electric dehumidifiers do not provide a solution in terms of renewing fresh air and extracting stale air. Their only job is to remove moisture from the air.
To combat condensation problems by ensuring a supply of fresh air, the solutions are the permanent and reasoned ventilation of the home in combination with the insulation of thermal bridges and cold walls.
A plethora of ventilation systems are available on the market. The technical advisor will advise you in establishing a choice, a configuration that will combine several devices. They will be selected based on the answers to the following questions:

• What noise level will be emitted by the ventilation device;
• How much fresh air should you bring in depending on the volume and use of the room?
• How much stale air should I extract?
• In which case is it preferable to install a single flow Mechanical Ventilation? Should it be centralized (VMC) or local?
• In which case should you install Double-flow Mechanical Ventilation? Should it be centralized or local?
• What type of extractor to install in a bathroom?
• What type of extractor will be suitable for a toilet?
• What ventilation grilles should be placed on the front or in the windows?

A complementary solution to fight against humidity by condensation is to insulate all the cold walls of the home. This work does not dispense with the need for mechanical ventilation, on the contrary! Since the housing is more airtight, it will require even more ventilation.