Home Sweet Home? How Damp Can Ruin Your Health

You'd be forgiven for thinking that people in the Western World live in relatively good conditions - but did you know that nearly half of all houses in Europe and North America have serious damp and mold problems.Those who rent their homes, particularly on the lower end of the market, will no doubt have come across mold infestations when looking at properties.However the majority of folks don't even know about the problem.A lot of the time damp lurks in corners that we just dont notice - and often it's hiding inside walls and structures. 

Health problems
Scientific studies have shown damp to cause serious health problems.Many times people get hayfever-like symptoms as a result of damp - watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion.Far worse is the recent study in the UK which linked damp with causing asthma in children.  Damp can also cause serious respiratory problems in the long run.  Another recent study even revealed a connection between mold and depression! 

Causes
You may be wondering, how this stuff manages to infect your home?In small quantities, mould is entirely natural and can easily be dealt with.  But the real problems occur when it is allowed to spread and develop fungal spores.  Mould builds up as a result of too much humidity in the air combined with a lack of proper ventilation for the moisture to escape.  Moisture builds up in a home from baths and showers, tumble dryers and cooking.But it needs to go somewhere!Poor ventilation could be caused by dodgy workmen who cut corners on damp proofing when building the house.  It also down to lack of proper ventilation.One bad side of being concerned about saving on heat loss and going green at home is that with all the insulation there's often nowhere for moisture to escape.

Prevention is better than cure
I hope I've managed to convince you that the threat of mold is a problem that shouldn't be ignored - we should all be worried about preventing it. And just because you don't already have damp, it doesn't mean you shouldn't do act now.If it does appear and spread, getting rid of it can be a real headache.  Here are some top tips on how to avoid damp buildup in your home or workplace:

1. Dry up any build up of condensation you notice around the house within 24-48 hours.Don't forget - mold cannot survive without water in the atmosphere.
2. Give the moisture in your house an escape route by getting proper ventilation.If there aren't proper air vents to the outside, get them installed.
3. Insulate cold surfaces where condensation might collect, such as windows, pipes, roofs and external walls.
4. It’s well worth considering investing in one of the many dehumidifiers out there to remove moisture from the atmosphere.  Certain portable air conditioners also do the job, with the added bonus of keeping you cool in the summer.
5. Know your rights.If things get really serious it can have awful consequenses on both your life and your finances. Get on the phone to your home insurers and find out if they cover damp problems. Landlords are frequently guilty of dealing with damp with a lick of paint - don't stand for it, have them call in a professional mold inspector.

Portable Room Air Conditioners – How To Buy Portable Air Conditioners

Dehumidification and cooling are the main functions that portable air conditioners have. You can cool down your attic or room on the spot, or you can use them as space heaters or fans. The problem with them is their price.

They´re mobile, trouble free and much easier to install than it would be if you would put in a window unit. Still, a window is still needed in the vicinity to vent the hot air outside. They come with a foam insert and an exhaust tube, with the water being drained out the window or inside a bucket. They´re pretty heavy, even if they´re portable, with a weight between 50 and 90 pounds.

Usually, their height is around 30 inches and they take between 12 and 18 inches of space. Like most other electronics, they have energy efficiency ratings, and choosing one that is higher will insure a smaller electrical bill in time.

Sizes of Portable room air conditioners

Some of the available portable air conditioners can cool down a room with a size between 150 and 200 square feet. These are usually of the 7500-8000 BTU power.

They´re the most economical and small units you can find. In some cases, they will come with separate dehumidifier and cooling functions for you to choose from. An air filter, a timer, three cooling fan speeds and a temperature display are some of the functions you can choose from.

If the room is bigger than 200 square feet, you should go with a 9000 BTU unit instead. Some of them come with an ion generator and come in two different sizes, 9500 and 11500 BTU. Both these types of models have remote controls and multiple speeds to choose from.

The most recent ones even come with self-evaporating technology. There are even 10000 BTU units available, which can take care of a 250 square feet room, and they also come with a washable activated carbon filter, two speed fans, 8 hour timer and a remote control.

To make a choice of a portable air conditioner, the rooms required to be conditioned and the cumulative square footage of these have to be considered. This data can be used at the US Department of Energy's air conditioner size calculator to finalize what strength is required.

Further, the style has to be selected. When portability is the prime requirement, a free standing air conditioner is the ideal choice. The different types in these are:
In order to be able to choose a portable air conditioner, you need to know how much square feet a room has first. You can use this data together with the US Department of Energy site, which offers a size calculator, and find out how much strength you need.

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