Mould at Home: Preventing It Is a Sustainable Choice

The presence of mould in the home is not just an aesthetic problem; it can be a risk to the health of the occupants, especially children and the elderly. However, what you may not know is that mould at home is a symptom of unsustainable choices. Can you tell which ones?
 

Why does mould appear at home?

The link between mould on walls and excessive damp is something every homeowner knows. What they may not yet know is that this annoying and unsightly fungus also forms on walls because of wrong, unsustainable choices and habits.
Some people use the kitchen and bathroom a lot without airing the rooms. The steam rises, settles on walls and ceilings, and is not easy to dry without opening the windows. The same goes for those who wash floors with plenty of water and then do not air the rooms. This is how mould forms just above the skirting boards.
The first and simplest way to prevent mould is to air the rooms, opening the windows in the morning and closing them after at least half an hour, even in winter. During the day, it is a good idea to open them when cooking or showering, or to opt for tilt-and-turn windows.
However, airing the rooms is sometimes not enough. Some homes are not perfectly insulated and let moisture through, which settles on the walls and forms mould. This is harmful to the appearance and functionality of the home, but also to its level of sustainability. Why?
 

Mould is a symptom of an unsustainable home

If the walls and roof are not properly insulated, thermal bridges form that cause condensation, a breeding ground for mould. This means there is also heat loss inside the home and that the occupants, in order to find their thermal comfort, turn the heating or air conditioning up a lot.
This behaviour not only leads to sky-high energy bills, but also to consuming more electricity and gas, with no respect for the environment.
 

How to prevent mould sustainably?

To prevent mould in your home sustainably, there are simple solutions, some of which come from our grandmothers’ experience. Common ingredients such as lemons, baking soda and vinegar are powerful allies in the battle against mould. As well as being effective, they are ecological and safe for the home environment. Lemon, for example, is great for removing mould from surfaces, while baking soda neutralises unpleasant odours and acts as a cleaner.
Of course, these home remedies are not effective if a large amount of mould appears, in which case a team of experts is needed to remove it.
Beyond natural remedies, proper maintenance of the HVAC system is crucial to preventing mould and odours at home. Regular cleaning and replacement of filters, together with checks of ducts and components, keep indoor air clean and healthy, reducing the environmental impact of inefficient HVAC systems.
We also recommend getting low-consumption dehumidifiers and running them several times a day for better living comfort and to remove the moisture responsible for mould.
As we have already mentioned, making sure the home is well ventilated and that there are no water leaks or seepage in the walls is another important step in preventing mould, protecting both health and the environment.
 

Thermal insulation against mould

Fighting mould and reducing energy consumption is not just a dream, but an achievable reality thanks to thermal insulation with sustainable materials. It is the definitive measure for creating a healthy, comfortable and environmentally friendly home.
What are the most ecological insulation materials? We often talk about them on the Diasen blog, as they are the flagships of our products:

• Cork: a natural insulator with excellent thermal insulation and breathability, ideal for temperate and Mediterranean climates
• Hemp fibre: a green building material with excellent insulating capacity, hygroscopicity and fire resistance
• Wood wool: made from recycled wood, with excellent thermal and acoustic properties and moisture regulation
• Expanded clay: ideal for insulating subfloors, cavities and roofs
• Cellulose: obtained from recycled paper, with good thermal insulation and hygroscopic properties.

With these materials, it is possible to insulate the external walls, roof, floor and windows. Heat loss through these surfaces can increase energy consumption, but with proper insulation this phenomenon can be limited and the costs of heating and cooling rooms significantly reduced.
Another solution you can find on our website is thermal insulating paint. This type of paint contains fragments of cork, pumice or perlite that create a barrier to the passage of heat, helping to maintain a constant and comfortable indoor temperature. Choosing sustainable materials for thermal insulation not only offers immediate benefits in terms of living comfort and energy savings, but also long-term benefits for the environment.
 

Conclusions

Mould is not just an aesthetic problem; it is a health risk and a sign of an unhealthy, unsustainable home. To combat mould for good and create a healthy, comfortable and environmentally friendly home, it is essential to insulate the house with natural, breathable materials such as those offered by Diasen.
Diathonite Evolution and Diathonite Thermactive are two bio-mortar plasters based on natural raw materials such as cork, hydraulic lime, clay, diatomaceous powders and plant fibres, which offer excellent thermal insulation as well as acoustic insulation and fire resistance.
Thermal insulation with Diasen is a long-term investment that pays for itself over time thanks to energy savings and the benefits to health and wellbeing.
Fight mould in your home and choose sustainability.