Mould and damp in living spaces

Save energy and prevent mould

Here are a few tips on how you can prevent mould and save energy at the same time:

• Heat regularly: Keep all rooms at around 19 degrees Celsius. It is better to heat evenly than to heat some rooms heavily and others not at all.
• Ventilate regularly: Open windows and doors wide so that moist air can escape quickly. Cross ventilation with windows opposite each other is particularly effective. This keeps the heat in the walls. It is particularly important to ventilate bathrooms after showering and kitchens after cooking.
• Check the humidity in the room: You can monitor the humidity with a thermohygrometer. When it's cold outside, the humidity in older buildings should be below 50% to prevent mould.
• Dry yourself after showering: Immediately remove splashes from tiles and joints with a squeegee. If necessary, you can also wipe with a cloth.
• Dry laundry properly: Use the balcony or drying rooms. If this is not possible, dry your laundry in a warm living room rather than in a cold bedroom or bathroom.
• Position furniture correctly: Keep exterior walls and, above all, exterior corners clear and leave at least 10 cm between furniture and walls. Avoid hanging curtains or pictures directly on exterior walls to prevent mould.

Basements and cellars

Special care should be taken in basement and cellar rooms, especially in summer!

Only ventilate these rooms when the outside temperature is lower than the room temperature, preferably at night or early in the morning. Warm outside air can cause condensation in cool basement rooms, which can lead to mould.