Health Issues

Can damp, mould and condensation affect my health?

Yes, if you have damp and mould you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.

Who's affected?

• Some people are more sensitive than others, including:
• Babies & Children
• Elderly People
• Those with existing skin problems, such as eczema
• Those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma
• Those with a weakened immune system
• These people should stay away from damp and mould.

How Does Mould Affect Your Health?



Moulds produce allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), irritants and sometimes,toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks.

Causes of damp and mould

Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames.

A newly-built home may be damp if the water used when building it is still drying out – for example, in the plaster on the walls. Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation.

If you have mould or damp in your property it is important to find out why you have excess moisture in your home. When you know what's causing the damp, you can make sure your home is repaired or take steps to limit the moisture in the air. Our surveyors at Eurodamp UK will find the cause and provide costings to rectify the problem.

What are the signs of mould?

Mould in the home can usually be found in damp, dark or steam filled areas e.g. bathroom or kitchen, cluttered storage areas, recently flooded areas, basement areas, plumbing spaces, areas with poor ventilation and outdoors in humid environments. Symptoms caused by mould allergy are watery, itchy eyes, a chronic cough, headaches or migraines, difficulty breathing, rashes, tiredness, sinus problems, nasal blockage and frequent sneezing. In extremely rare cases, over-exposure to mould may result in bucal mould growth leading to death by asphyxiation.



If you see it and smell it, you’ve usually got it. Mould can grow visibly in different colours. Black, dark green, white, orange, yellow, blue or violet. Generally the easiest way to find out is to use your senses. Does it smell musty or earthy? The only sure way is to test it. Again, if you see and smell it, you have mould. The circumstances that merit pre-testing are few. It isn’t necessary to know what species it is; you just need to get rid of it. In the event that no water intrusion or mould (visibly or by smell) is present, you should hire a professional to investigate.

How do I get rid of damp and mould?

If you have damp or mould the first thing to do is find the cause which our surveyors will check all walls with hi tech moisture meters. Damp and mould can affect your health, so it's important to get rid of it as quickly as possible.

Causes of damp and mould Damp and mould are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames. In a newly-built home damp can occur if the water used when the house was built is still drying out.

Condensation

Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation. Condensation forms when the air indoors can't hold any more moisture. Cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors and breathing without adequate ventilation can all cause excess moisture. Droplets can form on indoor surfaces such as mirrors, windowsills and on walls, particularly when they're cold.

You can help prevent the build up of condensation by:

• Putting lids on saucepans, drying washing outside and avoiding using paraffin or bottled gas heaters.
• Opening the bedroom window for 15 minutes each morning.
• Making sure your home is well insulated.
• Heating your home a little more.
• Ventilating rooms regularly and leaving doors open to allow air to circulate, unless you're cooking or showering.
• If you're cooking, showering or bathing – opening the window, putting the fan on and closing the door of the room you're in. Installing an extractor fan and air vents.
• Repairs may be needed to get rid of any leaks or to improve ventilation.
• Once your home has been repaired, or if your home is damp because it's newly built, it may take weeks of heating and ventilating it to dry it out.