Breaking the mould

Ventilation experts are now offering a condensation and mould service to landlords to help them eradicate this costly problem. Tom Wodcke, Product Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia explains there is now a raft of tools available to help landlords simply and effectively deal with condensation and mould.

Condensation and mould can be hard to treat... Since condensation and mould is such a widespread issue it is not surprising it is to be addressed by the government with the proposed Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill. Landlords may soon be obliged to ensure fire safety, adequate heating and sufficient ventilation plus, under the proposed Bill, residents would have the right to sue landlords who let properties that aren’t “fit for human habitation”.

Luckily there are experts on hand, that can help navigate landlords towards the correct solution for their particular application. Condensation and mould is not a new problem, but improved insulation and air tightness of existing properties without considering ventilation is causing a rise in new cases. Ventilation manufacturers have therefore been working hard to design solutions specifically for social housing so it meets residents’ needs and effectively keeps condensation and mould at bay.

Expert Advice
When it comes to ventilation social housing has a very specific set of needs. It is therefore vital to have expert advice from someone who understands the sector. To tackle condensation and mould effectively just selecting the correct products is not enough, social housing providers need to use all the tools available to them. Manufacturers, such as Vent-Axia, now offer a range of services to help landlords cure condensation and mould in properties.

The first step in treating condensation and mould is to correctly diagnose the problem. Experts like Vent-Axia can now help with this by offering free of charge, no obligation site surveys where ventilation consultants can provide landlords with advice to determine if ventilation could be the solution to the condensation and mould problem. Following the survey, social housing landlords will be provided with a report which will outline recommendations and if necessary products that should be installed and where they should be located. This is a valuable service since it can help landlords deal with condensation and mould complaints; provide due diligence in the form of a report; ensure the correct product is installed; and provide expert ‘know how’ on curing the property.

If the site survey determines that ventilation is required the next step to treat the problem is the product installation. Vent-Axia also provides a supply and fit service, so whether landlords need planned maintenance of housing stock or require a rapid response to a disrepair case, qualified ventilation experts can carry out the ventilation installation. This gives landlords the peace of mind that a condensation and mould problem in their housing stock can be quickly and effectively solved.

Best practice is important when it comes to tackling condensation and mould since the problem can return to properties if it is not dealt with effectively. Vent-Axia is committed to improving ventilation and indoor air quality and so offers Toolbox Talks for installers which offer hands-on training, illustrating the best practice installation of ventilation products. This aims to helps improve the first-time fix rate, saving time on site for installers and helping ensure the right ventilation is specified for a job.

Hand-in-hand with Toolbox Talks, CPD Seminars are also available for building surveyors and technical officers which helps increase their knowledge of the problems and solutions associated with condensation and mould, providing up-to-date specialist knowledge. Thus, helping in the fight against condensation and mould.

Finally, social housing landlords should be assured that there are ventilation products designed especially for the sector that can help in the fight against condensation and mould. Expert advice will ensure that products are installed that meet with the needs of an individual property, there are a range of different products available including: Positive Input Ventilation (PIV), such as the PoziDry ProTM ; filter-free extractor fans, such as the Lo-Carbon Revive; and decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV), such as the Lo-Carbon Response. All these technologies provide fresh air creating an environment in which mould and condensation find it hard to exist, resulting in a healthy indoor environment while ensuring the ventilation meets the needs of individual applications.

With condensation and mould a costly blight for social housing providers it is important for landlords to utilise all the tools available to them to help ensure the issue is resolved and doesn’t return. This will help ensure happy residents living in a healthy environment and happy landlords with healthy housing stock.

www.vent-axia.com