Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a mouldy home?

Mould is always about moisture. Much of the moisture we see in our homes is due to local climate (it’s humid), geology (sandstone holds moisture), geography (sloping blocks means lots of subterranean water flow) and topography (tree cover means absence of drying sun). Or, in some cases, the home’s design does not allow for sufficient natural cross flow ventilation.

It’s important to remember that the principal sources of dampness in any home are the washing, breathing, sweating, cooking and cleaning human occupants.

There are many mould species and some can be toxic. There is no simple way to determine whether the mould you see/smell is toxic or benign. However, the treatment/elimination process is the same, irrespective of mould species.

Here are the typical symptoms of a mouldy home:

Visible mould to ceilings/walls.
Musty odour
Mould on shoes/clothes in wardrobes
Mould on leather goods and other porous surfaces.
Window condensation
Allergic or other adverse health reactions (unexplained sinus or headaches?) from occupants (or visitors)
Unusually cold home.

I only have a little bit of mould?

There's no such thing as "just a little bit of mould". You cant really have a little bit of a broken leg.

I live in a rental mouldy rental property?

You are obliged to take reasonable steps to ventilate your home and keep it clean.

However, a mouldy home is a damp home and, in the absence of a building/plumbing leak, you will need supplementary mechanical ventilation to make your home habitable.

Your landlord has a legal obligation to provide you with a habitable space. A mouldy home is not a habitable space. Don't take no for an answer from your property manager or landlord. If the problem is not addressed in a timely manner, seek advice from your relevant state government rental tribunal (google rental tribunal "your state")

How do I clean mould?

Don't use bleach or any chlorine based product.

Visit san-air.com.au for an all natural, safe, Australian developed product for killing mould. If you can spray and wipe a kitchen bench, you can kill mould (but it will return if you don't fix the ventilation problem).

Will a dehumidifier fix the problem?

Possibly – but dehumidifiers that suit small spaces only are expensive to run, looks like a pet R2D2 in your room, require maintenance, and do not provide any fresh cleansing air.

What about air purifiers?

Air purifiers take particulates out of the air – but they do not provide any fresh air. Air purifiers are highly unlikely to solve a damp mouldy home.

What about my reverse cycle air conditioner?

These are pretty efficient heating and cooling devices. If you run the heating often enough (very expensive) you will probably control dampness but an air conditioner does not introduce fresh air to a room. In a temperate climate like most of Australia you need fresh air ALL of the time and heating and cooling SOME of the time.

My bathroom has lots of steam and condensation?

Possible causes:

existing bathroom fan is not powerful enough.
if you have an open shower, the absolute volume of cold and warm air "colliding" creates a condensation cloud that a jet engine couldn't clear.
your fan is not "fed" by enough fresh air to replace the extracted air.
the fan is too close to a window and no air moves "through" the bathroom.