Fungus in the house: who is to blame and what to do?

There are several reasons for the appearance of mold fungi in rooms. Most often, they occur due to poor ventilation, as well as due to insufficient thermal insulation of the walls.

The reasons for the appearance of mold in the bathroom and near the dormer window, which you can see in the photo, were probably both of these conditions.

Bathroom

The bathroom, the room most exposed to moisture, creates particularly favorable conditions for the intensive reproduction of mold fungi. When taking a bath, about 1000 g of water vapor is formed, and when using a shower, this amount increases significantly. If the resulting water vapor is not systematically removed, it condenses on the walls and ceiling, and this is how a favorable environment for the development of fungi arises on damp surfaces.

The problem of rapid mold spreading is not only aesthetic. In the process of affecting walls and ceilings, the fungus not only damages them, but also negatively affects the health and well-being of the residents of the house. In a poorly ventilated bathroom, you can constantly feel damp air and a heavy, unpleasant smell.

Bathroom in the attic. Despite the presence of a window and a ceiling fan, mold develops quickly in this room. The reason for its appearance on the outer wall near the attic window is poor thermal insulation - in winter, the wall fragment in this place is much colder, sometimes even freezing.

The absence of natural ventilation, and the installation of only an exhaust mechanical fan in this case is an ill-considered solution. It should be remembered that the short period of operation of such fans lasts only during the use of this room, and it is usually not enough to remove the "used" air. The rest of the time, the fan is inactive, accordingly the ventilation gap is closed, air comes in small quantities or its inflow is completely blocked.

Attic

In this case, the homeowner should consult a specialist who will help to accurately determine the cause of moisture in the bathroom and organize the normal operation of the ventilation system. To get rid of excess moisture, long-term ventilation and heating of the room are also necessary. Most likely, it will be necessary to insulate the wall near the dormer window (the method of least interference in the existing structure is to make an inspection hole in the plasterboard and fill it with heat-insulating material, such as mineral wool).

In order to eliminate mold near the dormer window, first of all, it should be thoroughly dried, cleaned and so-called preserved, i.e. reduce the risk of damage to the wood, since the wooden frame is affected by putrefactive microorganisms under the influence of moisture and freezing. Painting the wood will not solve the problem of moisture removal and will lead to the appearance of more fungus.

The conservation procedure should be entrusted to specialists who professionally service such windows, who, using the necessary tools, will examine the moisture level of the wood, since it may turn out that the wooden profile needs to be replaced.

Ventilation in the bathroom can be improved by installing a ventilator in the roof window. However, all windows in the house should be equipped with ventilators - they provide a constant flow of fresh air, which is necessary for health.