black gunge

[babs]

Ok - weve been in this house for 10 months now. There is one of the bedrooms which has a built in wardrobe which was originally the fireplace. (Long since gone) When we moved in there was black stuff at the bottom corner of the wardrobe (under a shelf for shoes). We cleaned this off assuming it was dirt.

Now lo and behold it has grown back!!! What is it? The room also has a damp (bubbly paint effect) patch on the wall ouside of this wardrobe but on the same side as the black stuff.

This wall is an interior wall and is attached to the kitchen. We have checked the attic and the original chimney is not attached to the roof. There is no signs of water down the chimney.

What is going on?? Help!!!!!!!!!

The room also has a smell first thing in the morning (after the door has been closed all nite) ......However ..........this could be my darling daughter and her mut!! (small dog!)

 

[alice]

It sounds like mildew, to me. Have you tried a spray mist of chlorine bleach? Try that to kill the mildew, but, to get back to the root of the problem, you'll need to figure out where the damp is coming from and correct that.

Mildew is very bad for allergies, so it'll need to be thoroughly killed and removed.

alice

 

[NT]

Trouble with bleach is it quickly ceases being bleach, and a layer of dead material makes an ideal feeding ground for more. You really need to clean it off and reduce RH. A longer lasting mould killer may help.
http://www.wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Mould_Resistant_Paint

Inadequate ventilation might be the main cause. It sounds like your main cause is being followed by black pudding.


NT

 

[Raylea]

When we lived in ou flat 10 years ago not period about 1950, god it suffered with black mould partically in the cold months, condensation was the problem big time and it drove me mad big time. The mould was even on the windows, wall paper, in cupboards, bathroom need I go on. Bleach helped only for so long and Iwas spraying it like the clappers. In the cupboard we even tried the professional stuff followed by anti mould paint, nope still came back.

Needless to say glad when we sold that little flat.

Most rooms would have a whiff about them when the door is shut over night etc, suppose you have to tell the difference between daughter and dog and the smell of musky mould. No dought more ventalition is needed and hang on in there.

Raylea

 

[babs]

Daughter is hugely offened that i suggested it might be her or the dog! The room in question is in the middle of the house and would not have much ventilation. Outside window is in an a partially enclosed patio area. (Three walls, no roof if you get what i mean!)

Im sure the smell is damp but the funny thing is that right outside her bedroom door is the drimaster ventilation system! She does tend to keep the bedroom door closed thou so we will change that for now.

I was thinking would it help to rip out the shelf (as the black mould is under it) and possibly rip out the built in wardrobe? Do you think this is this necessary?

 

[babs]

And mostly the best thing of all is that it is only in this one room! Not through the whole house!

 

[chuckey]

Any "dead" space on an outside wall will attract condensation and hence mould. I have seen it exactly matching the shape of a bedhead pushed against an outside wall. Adults perspire a pint or so of water during their sleep !
The best cure is some form of air flow, a very small (and quiet ) fan or added internal insulation or heating to make sure that the inside surface of the wall at this point is warmer, so condensation does not occur.
Frank

 

[babs]

Hi Frank
This wall in question actually backs onto the kitchen wall! The walls are approx 1 foot thick and the mould and damp patch are backing onto where the cooker is. Could this be the sympton? Long shot i know!

 

[chuckey]

Yes, because the cooker itself is blocking the air flow behind it. When the cooker is off (overnight), the air behind it is cooled sufficiently by being in contact with the cold wall and condensation then occurs. Elsewhere in the kitchen the air is warmed by your heating to a temperature where condensation cannot occur.
If you have kitchen units fitted to this wall they too will have condensation/mould behind them - same problem, too cold for the moisture to remain as a gas in the air.
As an experiment you could temporarily move the cooker away from the wall and see if the mould disappears of its own volition. Takes a month?
As its not possible to vent the back of a cooker, the green solution is to increase the insulation qualities of the wall, so the inner temperature will be higher. The un-green solution is to run a heating pipe behind the cooker, so the air and wall will be hotter.
Frank

 

[babs]

Hi
We are in the middle of re fitting the kitchen and there is no mould behind the cooker. There is evidence of condensation on the bottom corner of a wall, but it is at the far end of the room. It is clear where this is coming from.

The shelf at the bottom of the wardrobe is being moved as i think that this is stopping air circulating in there.

How about a vent at the bottom of the cooker? We have a double oven with a seperate gas hob. The oven has no vents in the plinth or along the wall. Before i finish this kitchen will i install vent/s in the plinth? Will this allow the heat to escape?

 

[NT]

External ventilation can reduce RH, but is a cost & energy inefficient way to do it. A humidistatic dehumidifier is normally a better option, and works out cheaper.


NT

 

[babs]

The local diy store is selling humifiers. Not dehumidifers. What is the diff? The humidifiers are £100.

 

[alice]

Humidifiers? In the UK? Someone will have to explain that one to me. Are there areas so dry you'd need humidfier? Or is it just for people with lung problems or kids with croup?

A humidifier adds moisture to the air; a dehumidifier takes it out. Here in Texas, when the air is very dry it causes sinus problems for some people so they buy a humidfier for their home. I don't know why really, when they could just put a teakettle on the stove, but I suppose it's safer for some. We use dehumidfiers here to take water out of the air because dryer air feels cooler (much needed in TX) and inhibits mold and mildew.

I've thought about getting a dehumidfier for my basement in Suffolk, it has some minor mildew issues on one wall, but I'm thinking of just finding a way to increase the air circulation instead.

alice

 

[NT]

A water container that hangs on a radiator makes a Humidifier. Not what you want!


NT

 

[babs]

Wot is a cheap alternative for me?? I cant afford to buy a humidifier now!

 

[MdB]

Wot is a cheap alternative for me?? I cant afford to buy a humidifier now!

You want a dehumidifier not a humidifier. You should be able to pick one up for £30 to £60 from ebay or your local paper.

 

[Raylea]

you don't need an humidifier, that will add moisture to the air you want a dehumidifier. Have you a free recycle website for you area, if so you could post on it for a argently needed dehumidifier.

Raylea, (by the way we have free recycle here in essex)

Raylea

 

[babs]

Will a small one do for the bedroom?
What do i need to look out for?

 

[babs]

What i mean, will something like this below do my job?? Its only £19.99.


Mini Dehumidifier
This mini dehumidifier is a clean and simple way to control excess moisture. It is simple to use just plug and switch on, pulls the excess moister out of the air, it automatically shuts off when full and is very quick and easy to empty.

Lowers humidity level and removes odour by absorbing moisture. Ideal for small area such as kitchen cabinet, store room, bath room and wardrobe.

Features
Compact light weight and portable
Modern design with warm air outlet for drying purpose
350ml water tank capacity
Automatic shut off when full
Long life brushless motor
Easy to remove and empty water tank
Low noise when in use
Mains operated
AC/ DC Adaptor included
No chemicals used
Environmentally friendly

Dimensions
21.8cm by 15.4cm by 13.cm {approx}
Brand New Box

 

[NT]

What i mean, will something like this below do my job?? Its only £19.99.

if you gave us a link to more info perhaps. However the answer is almost certainly no.