When it comes to mould prevention, there are a few things we constantly find ourselves repeating. Ventilation and keeping your house aired out with low humidity is of course very important, and that combined with insulation is probably the most important things to monitor and improve your home against mould growth. One of the worst insulated places in our homes are windows. In fact, on average households lose about 30% of all their energy out the window. If your windows aren’t sealed properly or are old enough that they aren’t double paned, you’re probably losing a lot more.
This is because it doesn’t matter how much insulation you have if there are holes and spaces for warm air to easily escape and cold air to come it. Gaps will also cause humidity to collect leading to mould problems and excess energy expenses. Fortunately, sealing your windows is pretty easy.
Identifying the Source
Before you begin sealing or replacing all your window, it’s important to know if they’re even leaking. Sometimes this is quite obvious. If you feel a draft around a window, there’s a good chance it needs some work. However, you can also use incense to find less blatant problems. While inside, slowly burn the incense near all the joints and seams of your window. Where the smoke flickers are your problem areas.
Let us Handle It
Once you’ve located all your windows that aren’t sealed properly, you’ll want to make sure you don’t have mould problem already starting. Give Amity Environmental a call at (403) 667-8264 and we’ll make sure that there is no mould – and remove any that is there – before you start sealing. After that, check the condition of your weatherstripping. Research on the internet or call in a professional if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for. If the weatherstrip is in good condition (or once it’s been replaced), it’s time to recheck if they’re sealed properly.
Other Problem Areas
Any windows that still flicker the smoke probably have the window frame coming away from the wall. This is fixed by caulking. Which caulk you use will depend on what sort of materials your window frames and home exterior are made out of. Make sure to research thoroughly or hire a professional; otherwise the results may be ugly or fail to stop the leak.
Having windows that are great insulators and well sealed is important for your house’s ability to be energy efficient and reduce your risk for mould and mould related illness. It’s so important that we recommend talking with a professional if you aren’t confident with doing the renovations yourself. Remember to inspect for mould before resealing though!
Have a mould or asbestos related question or problem? The experts at Amity Environmental would be happy to help! Call us today at (403) 667-8264.
