I came across a frightening statistic recently – around 40% of homes in the UK, Canada and across the EU are infected with damp and toxic mould.  Anyone who’s moved house recently will probably have come across many properties with damp, stained walls and even growth of mold spores.Most people, however, are not even aware of the issue.  Damp and mould problems are often in hidden corners of your home and many times it resides inside walls where you can’t see it. 

Illnesses
Mould arising from damp walls and structures can cause a scary range of health problems.Many times people get hayfever-like symptoms as a result of damp - watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion.Far worse is the recent study in the UK which linked damp with causing asthma in children.There have also been cases of serious respiratory illness arising from damp.  Another recent study even revealed a connection between mold and depression! 

Causes
Want to know how damp and mold get into your house in the first place?To start with, it’s important to state that mould occurs naturally in small amounts and can be sorted out quite simply.However the major problems start when it’s left untreated and allowed to spread.  Mould builds up as a result of too much humidity in the air combined with a lack of proper ventilation for the moisture to escape.The air inside a home becomes naturally humid after things like showers, cooking or tumble drying.But this moisture needs somewhere to go!Poor ventilation could be caused by dodgy workmen who cut corners on damp proofing when building the house.Another cause is when a house lacks proper air vents.And the more we are concerned about saving energy these days, the more we are tending to lock the air - and moisture - into our homes.

Prevention is better than cure
Hopefully by know you’re convinced that mold in the home is something that needs preventative action. And just because you don’t already have damp, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do act now.Left unchecked it becomes a lot harder - and costlier - to deal with.  Here are some top tips on how to avoid damp buildup in your home or workplace:

1. Dry up any build up of condensation you notice around the house within 24-48 hours.If you take away the moisture, you leave no chance of mold building up in the first place.
2. Give the moisture in your house an escape route by getting proper ventilation.Investigate whether you can put in better vents, or just make sure you leave a window open during high moisture times.
3. Think about cold surfaces around the house where condensation may occur, like pipes, roofs, outside walls and windows - and get them insulated.
4. It’s well worth considering investing in one of the many dehumidifiers out there to remove moisture from the atmosphere.  Certain portable air conditioners also do the job, with the added bonus of keeping you cool in the summer.
5. Be aware of your legal rights.Most of the time the fault lies with someone else, and they could be held responsible if things get really bad. Get on the phone to your home insurers and find out if they cover damp problems. If you’re renting, get your landlord to hire professional mould inspectors to deal with the problem.