Do Dehumidifiers Stop Mould?

Mould in your home generally occurs as a result of condensation.

Condensation occurs when heat and moisture in the air are confined to a certain area, as this heat tries and fails to escape, droplets of water are created on cold surfaces. A good way to think about this is having a hot shower on a cold day and not opening your window.

The reason condensation creates mould is that a damp and humid environment is the optimum condition for mould to grow. In regards to windows, it is a big problem if there is mould on your windows (it can usually be found in the corners of the windowpane or the walls connected to the window).

The true danger of mould is that its particles can travel through the air without us seeing it, incidentally, this means opening a window with mould on it runs the risk of that mould being blown inside your room alongside the fresh air.

That being said, condensation is not the only cause of mould, it can occur from leaks in the structure of a building too. Aside from this, mould can develop from out-of-date food, which spreads to other food that is left near it.

Do dehumidifiers stop mould?

Dehumidifiers can be a valuable asset in helping to prevent mould, however they must be used in conjunction with a ventilation routine to prevent mould. They do not destroy or stop mould that has already grown.

In such an instance, using a mould surface remover would effectively remove the mould.

However, if the area the mould has developed in has an internal leak, or any compromises that cause it to develop condensation, that must be addressed in order to guarantee the mould won’t return.

What is a ventilation routine?

A ventilation routine is spending at least 20 minutes a day with windows open in the home. Houses with more than one floor should have windows open on each floor, and each floor should have windows on opposing sides of the house open, this will result in a cool breeze being able to flow freely through the house.

This helps to regulate the temperature within the house, therefore making it less prone to condensation.

In condensation hotspots such as the kitchen and bathroom, open the window when cooking or showering respectively, this allows excess steam to escape rather than accumulate to create condensation.

What can I use to help prevent mould?