Warm, humid air in your home or workplace is not just uncomfortable, it can also put people’s health at risk and damage your property. It’s recommended that you keep humidity levels in indoor environments below 50%.
ICE Cleaning’s mould removal services can restore your property to a safe environment again. Its fully trained mould specialists will follow a nine-stage process to remediate all the mould in your home and can give you peace of mind that it’s gone for good.
Keep reading to find out how high humidity can affect indoor air quality.
Humidity increases pollutant concentrations
The concentration of indoor air pollutants depends on the temperature and amount of water vapour in the air. These indoor air pollutants can affect human health, as well as their mental health, concentration, and productivity.
Chemical pollutants like ozone, tobacco smoke, and radon are one of the types of pollutants that can benefit from high humidity. The chemicals and water vapour in the air can interact and become respiratory and dermal irritants.
Exposure to some of these pollutants like radon and tobacco smoke can cause serious health issues, too, like respiratory problems and even cancer.
High humidity can also influence the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials and increase the rate of which they emit pollutants. These pollutants can affect your health in a number of ways, from liver damage to problems with your central nervous system.
Humidity can influence the amount of biological pollutants in the property, as well. Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mould grow in warm, moist environments. Humidity can increase your exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses, potentially resulting in health problems.
The effects of mould growth
Mould exposure is particularly dangerous as it can cause a range of health problems from an allergic reaction to respiratory infections. People with pre-existing health conditions, and very young or elderly people are especially vulnerable to mould.
It can also damage the surfaces it grows on. Mould feeds on organic material like fabric, wood, and certain building materials which may lead to structural problems in the property, and require expensive repairs and replacements.
How to reduce humidity levels in your property
- Purchase a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air and keep your home dry and cool
- Install ventilation fans in the bathroom and kitchen as lots of steam and humid air is produced when washing and cooking
- Have any leaks in the property fixed by professionals as soon as possible
- Don’t dry clothes indoors as the humid air can get trapped in your home
- Regularly open windows to ventilate the property
ICE Cleaning’s mould experts are available across the country, day and night, 365 days a year. They can even diagnose the specific cause of the mould in your home and advise on how you can prevent it returning in the future.
You can find out more about ICE Cleaning and its range of specialist cleaning services on its website.