Is someone in your house constantly coughing and sneezing? More often than not, you may be blaming the air pollution and the climate. However, the culprit may be something different. The dampness inside your house can be behind this. There might be leakages as well.
A damp environment is a breeding ground for several pathogens and mold. Many viruses and bacteria thrive in moist places. Hence, if you are exposed to such conditions regularly, you might suffer from respiratory ailments, skin diseases, eye irritation, and chronic illnesses. In fact, most upper respiratory tract infections occur due to excess moisture in the atmosphere.
Here you will know more about the causes, risks associated with dampness, and their prevention.
Causes of Dampness
Dampness inside homes occurs due to a variety of reasons. Daily activities like washing clothes, utensils, scrubbing floors, and cooking lead to moisture infiltration inside homes. When the vapors come in contact with cold air, it settles as residue on various objects. Most homes have double-glazing and insulation incorporated. Thus, it makes it difficult for the moisture to escape. Additionally, temperature fluctuations due to nonuniform heating and cooling can also lead to condensation.
Sometimes, the residual ice, after a snowstorm settles on the rooftop. And the water seeps through gaps present there. It also leads to moisture increase inside the homes, in crevices. Therefore, you need to get a metal roof repair fabricator to check on your roof occasionally. Make it a part of the maintenance measures for the house. The professionals can advise you and offer solutions on leaks and tears. You should watch out for the signs of moisture on internal walls, window sills, and wallpaper, too.
Health Risks
Mold spores pose the main risk to your health. Most people suffer from respiratory issues as a result of exposure to molds. Some common symptoms of dampness and molds are:
- Tightness in the chest
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Colds
- Breathlessness
If you are exposed to such an environment for long, mild symptoms can lead to chronic illnesses. You also need to understand that mold spores cannot cause diseases like Asthma directly. If you are already suffering from some similar condition, it gets aggravated.
Many people also suffer from skin diseases as a result of molds. You might watch out for the tell-tale signs. They include allergies on the skin, breakouts, and eczema. Red patches on the skin are often a sign of skin allergies due to molds.
Mold can also affect mental health. The stress of living in spaces with mold spores can be devastating. People get stressed about their belongings. This leads to depression. The repercussions of mold on health can cause long-term problems. It can be difficult to diagnose them initially.
There are certain groups of people who are more prone to these allergens. They include children, seniors, and people with existing skin issues or respiratory conditions. Moreover, a person with a weak immune system could also face significant problems in a prolonged period.
Permanent Solutions to Your Problems
You may observe that bedrooms are more prone to dampness and molds. It is due to the reason that most of them have heaters. At night, when you exhale, it increases moisture content. So you unknowingly inhale a lot of mold spores while asleep. Thus, the best way to prevent this is to keep the area airy at all times. Open the windows occasionally to let in the fresh air. Additionally, you can switch on heaters only when necessary. You can also get anti-mold paints and upholstery to use inside the bedrooms.
Another place prone to dampness is the bathroom. These places are always humid. If there is no proper ventilation system, it can become a breeding ground for molds. You need to control the condensation inside the bathrooms, to solve the problem from the root. There are several ways. For instance, you can seek help from professionals, fix exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms, install a ventilation system, etc., to reduce dampness. These measures tend to draw out the excess moisture from the space. Apart from that, they can keep your space odor-free. A portable dehumidifier will also do the trick by throwing out excess moisture.
Plants can also absorb moisture from the environment. Additionally, they also throw in more oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Thus, you will be helping the environment in more ways than one. You should refrain from hanging clothes for drying inside the home. It is a sure-shot mistake that can aggravate underlying symptoms of respiratory diseases.
If you start following these, you can reduce the recurrence of several diseases. Now, you know how to prevent moisture retention inside the home for a healthy life.
