Air bricks and damp

[Glen Youngman]

We have just noticed some mould above an inside wall skirting board on one of our outside walls. The house is a relative new build less than 10yrs old.

The wall has a definite cold spot and there is an above ground air brick adjacent to the area of mould.

Is there any chance the air brick and subsequent cold spot is the cause of the mould via condensation? I've been toying with the idea of trialling covering it up.

Thanks in advance if anyone has any suggestions

 

[Doggit]

If you cover the airbrick, then you'll get a build up of condensation under the floor, and that'll cause all sorts of problems.

Do you open the windows, or generally keep them closed. Mould is often caused by a build up of moisture in the house, and it'll always look for the coldest walls to settle out on, or where there's no airflow such as behind beds etc.

 

[Glen Youngman]

Thanks for that. It's in a cupboard under the stairs off our lounge, spends the majority of the time with door closed and no ventilation . Would running a dehumidifier if there on a regular basis keep the mould at bay?

 

[Doggit]

It would, but it still suggests that you've got excess moisture in the house. You could use some of the polystyrene lining paper on the walls, but the mould will then appear somewhere else.