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Incorrectly heated? Four tips on how to prevent mold in your home

2022-11-23T18:44:04.413Z


Avoid mold in the apartment: Four tips to prevent the worst Created: 11/23/2022, 7:30 p.m By: Andrea Stettner In the cold season, there is always mold in the apartment. Economical heating favors this. Experts tell you how to prevent it. As soon as it gets colder in autumn and winter, grey, black or green mold spots can appear in the apartment. In principle, however, mold can bloom in all color


Avoid mold in the apartment: Four tips to prevent the worst

Created: 11/23/2022, 7:30 p.m

By: Andrea Stettner

In the cold season, there is always mold in the apartment.

Economical heating favors this.

Experts tell you how to prevent it.

As soon as it gets colder in autumn and winter, grey, black or green mold spots can appear in the apartment.

In principle, however, mold can bloom in all colors - much to the annoyance of the residents.

After all, mold is not only an optical problem, it can also cause health problems such as asthma or allergies.

However, you often only notice it when there is already a musty smell in the bedroom or bathroom.

But when does mold form at all - and how can it be avoided?

Drying laundry indoors can lead to mold growth.

©Panthermedia/Imago

How does mold develop?

Mold always develops when there is too much moisture in the rooms.

The reason for this can be incorrect ventilation and heating, but construction defects or broken pipes also contribute to mold spreading in the apartment.

“We already produce moisture just by breathing and sweating.

In a normal three-person household, that's six to twelve liters a day," explains biologist and mold expert Kerttu Valtanen from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) to

Süddeutsche.de.

In addition, there is moisture from drying laundry in the apartment, from showering or cooking.

If this moisture is not removed, it condenses on cold walls and corners of the room and massive mold develops in some cases.

Heavy curtains or large wardrobes are also popular places where mold can quickly form.

You can find everything to do with household and garden tips in the regular living newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.

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Avoid mold in the apartment: the four most important tips

To prevent mold from forming in the living space in the first place, tenants and homeowners should above all keep an eye on their usage behavior - this can be influenced.

  • Maintain a minimum temperature

    : "Our recommendation for living spaces is a minimum temperature of 19 degrees," says mold expert Valtanen from the UBA

    .

    Below 16 degrees, the risk of mold increases enormously.

    Even at night, the room temperature should only be reduced by a maximum of one to two degrees.

    According to the biologist, if you want to save on heating costs, you can leave corridors and adjoining rooms colder.

  • Ventilate properly

    : According to

    Utopia.de

    , the rule of thumb is to ventilate for about ten minutes two to four times a day.

    Tilting alone is not enough.

    Open the interior doors and create a "draft".

    If a lot of steam is produced by showering or cooking, it is best to open the window immediately afterwards or during it.

  • Drying laundry outdoors

    : If you want to save on electricity costs or don't have a dryer, it's best to hang up your wet laundry on the balcony or in the garden to let the moisture out right away.

    If this is not possible, be sure to ventilate properly and check the humidity using a hygrometer.

    According to UBA, the optimum humidity is between 40 and 60 percent.

    It should not be higher than 65 percent in the long term, as this encourages mold.

  • Don't put furniture in front of exterior walls

    : Mold can also form behind solid furniture if it's placed directly against an exterior wall.

    However, a cold interior wall, such as that facing the stairwell, also promotes the formation of mold behind furniture.

    Therefore, always set up cupboards and the like at least 10 centimeters away from the wall - or place them directly on interior walls.

  • 11 Energy Saving Myths Many Still Fall For - Do You?

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    Mold formation is also dependent on the insulation

    However, whether mold will spread at all and how severe the infestation is depends not only on how the living space is used.

    The insulation and the type of building also influence the formation of mold in the apartment.

    Once mold has formed, you need to act quickly: Tenants should inform their landlord immediately, otherwise they may lose their right to a rent reduction.

    Owners should immediately start removing the mold so that the fungal spores cannot spread further.

    Source: merkur

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