How Do I Avoid Mold in My Bathroom?

mold growing on bathroom tiles in TorontoIs your bathroom getting moldy?

Mold is a microscopic fungus that grows naturally on decaying vegetation under humid conditions. It propagates itself by releasing spores (approximately the same as seeds) into the immediate atmosphere, where they drift along until they settle in a humid place.  A bathroom is the perfect environment for mold to grow.  You have humid conditions (hot showers) and a lack of ventilation (small windows and an exhaust fan you never use).

How to Tell If You’ve got Mold

At first sight, new mold looks like a dirty stain that someone’s spilled. It could be in designer colors of pink, brown or black.  Mold comes in all forms and colors.  It will gradually spread and start leaving a musty sour odor on your clothes and furniture, and in your cupboards too.

Discouraging Mold

The general trick is to prevent your bathroom from seeming like a tropical forest full of things that mold just loves. Here’s how to go about it:

Get Rid of Clutter – The first victims are going to be your precious pot plants because having them in your bathroom is as good as hanging out a welcome sign for mold. Your next step is to get rid of all your unnecessary bric-a-brac unless you really have to have some. Finally put out the towels to dry somewhere else, before they start smelling musty too.

Create Less Humidity – Hot baths and showers are debilitating and unhealthy. What’s the point of washing yourself when you’re already sweating before you’ve finished. Try taking cooler baths and showers. You’ll be amazed at how cleaner and more refreshed you feel afterwards.  If you can’t live without a hot shower, be sure to properly ventilate the bathroom after so that the humid air doesn’t sit there.

Improve Air Circulation – Mold loathes fresh air. Install a suitably-sized extraction fan to ventilate the shower, and make sure the windows are open when you bathe. If you don’t, then the humidity’s going to settle everywhere, including in inaccessible areas where you can’t see it developing.  If you have a bathroom without windows, then you most likely have an exhaust fan.  People hate to use these for some reason, it uses very little electricity and can save you the headache of a moldy bathroom if you use it regularly.

Dry Off Wet Surfaces Afterwards – Mold only grows in grout because we let damp linger there. You’ll soon spot where you’re not drying properly, because that’s where the mold will start. Your bathroom will look bright again, and you’ll have less cleaning to do.

Turn on The Lights – Now you have your sparkling bathroom back, you’ll want to leave the lights on so you can admire it regularly. The good news is that you’ll be inhibiting mold as you do so, because the fungus detests bright illumination.

Mold growing behind bathroom wall in Toronto home

Getting Rid of Mold

It’s pointless trying to wipe mold away because the individual fungi are so small that you can’t see them. Besides, you’re helping spores to propagate. To get rid of mold you have to kill it. You could use a proprietary mold cleaner. However you’ll get similar results with a 50:50 chlorine bleach solution and an atomizer. If you follow up with a weekly dose of sprayed neat vinegar, it most likely won’t come back again.  If you suspect mold starting to grow in inaccessible areas, such as behind the walls, then you may want to consider calling in a mold removal specialist as mold tends to grow if left untreated.

Detecting Water Leaks In Your Basement

leaking basement where foundation meets first floorWinter in Toronto is cold and wet.  The thawing periods in between the freezing weather is where many basement starts to show signs of leaks. AS accumulated snow and ice start to melt, it makes it’s way into the earth, leading to basement leaks. Of course,  It can come from a number of areas, including sources inside your home.  Each problem has it’s own potential solution,

Almost every basement leaks from time to time, especially if it’s never been properly waterproofed from the exterior. It’s a natural phenomenon because building materials are porous unless treated properly, and structural cracks develop as the ground settles over time. This leaves important clues for anybody who knows what they are about. You just need to think logically about what causes dampness, and which of the following apply to you:

1- If your basement ceiling is moist then the water is likely coming from a drain or water pipe above, that could have sprung a leak. Alternatively, your problem could be the consequence of warmer air condensing on cooler pipes and dripping down. These are simple problems the average home handyman can probably fix themselves.

2- Surface water is a common cause of signs of damp on upper basement walls. It’s often caused by rain and flooding. If you allow water to pool on the surface, then the earth will absorb it because that’s what soil does. Where else do you think tree roots get their water from? It’s easy to figure out you need to lead storm water away from the walls of your house, especially near your basement location.

 

If the surface slopes towards your home then you need to re-grade it to a fall of one inch to one foot away from it. It will help greatly if you pave the immediate area too. This should deal effectively with damp showing in the upper parts of your basement walls. Don’t forget to clean out your window wells at the same time too.

 

  1. Ground water is usually the driver behind damp on lower basement walls and floors. This is moisture that travels through natural earth strata from elsewhere to your home. If your house is standing on a rise you shouldn’t have it. If it’s in a hollow then it’s inevitably there in winter. This is what causes damp on lower walls, and seepage through the joint between the walls and floor.

This is a tougher nut to crack, especially because problems behind walls and under floors that are hard to get to. If the leakage is radical you might have to excavate from outside and install the drainage systems builders call french drains and weeping tiles. If it’s minor, then a sump pump system might suffice.

It’s simpler when you understand the basics. However many of the cases we’ve dealt with had multiple causes that overlap. The best course of action is to look for the simple solutions and work your way back. If problems persist you’ll most likely want to call in a basement waterproofing company to conduct a full assessment of your water problems.

 

Is My Sump Pump Broken?

Sump pump installed in Toronto homeIt’s a homeowner’s nightmare, you come home after a relaxing vacation to find out that your sump pump quit on you, leaving you with a lovely welcome home present, a wet basement.

Unless a basement is professionally constructed with external french drains and thorough waterproofing, it’s bound to leak to an extent. This problem is especially prevalent in older homes where poorly-compacted earth may gradually subside. While quality sump pumps may seem to purr on endlessly, the time does eventually come when water starts pooling on the basement floor again.

When this happens the problem may not lie with the pump itself, because it is part of a system and the cause of the stoppage may lie elsewhere. It’s absolutely vital to remember that electricity and water do not mix. Make sure the power is turned off and the pump disconnected before you start. Never touch an electrical appliance with both hands if you have the slightest doubt.

Electrical Checks

Power supply is the logical place to start. However this is also the area where the greatest caution is required. If the sump pump is hard-wired to the mains distribution board you need to ask an electrician to perform tests. They will be able to confirm the integrity of the connection, or whether there is an electrical problem with the pump itself.

If your sump pump is of the plug-in variety (not generally recommended) then you can substitute another appliance that you know is working, and easily confirm whether there’s power to the pump or not. If it turns out that there are power supply problems or the pump is electrically faulty, then this is a job that needs the attention of a professional. If not, then here are a few other things that you could attempt.

Mechanical Integrity

Fill the sump with clean water and turn on the power. Does the pump start and run smoothly? If not, there are several lines of thought to follow:

  • If the pump doesn’t start then there may be a problem with the float valve. Lift it gently using a wood or plastic rod. If this causes the pump to start then the float valve is either stuck or dirty. Remember to turn off the power before you investigate.

 

  • If the pump is noisy or runs unevenly then you may be faced with a broken impeller or worn bearings. This is a job for someone with technical experience. It may be cheaper and quicker to install a new sump pump.

 

  • If the pump runs smoothly but the water level is unaffected then water is not passing through it to the drains. Locate the one-way valve a little thicker than the pipe on the delivery side. Disconnect the valve on the pump side. Loosely cover the exposed pipe end with a damp cloth and run the pump for just a second.

 

  • If the pump delivers water smoothly then your one-way valve is faulty and should be replaced. If not, then there is a stoppage in the pump itself. This could be a blocked filter which you should be able to clear easily. If not, then you’ve spent enough time on this one. Buy a new pump for the electrician to install. The old one belongs with the garbage!

Don’t always blame your handy little sump pump when water pools on your basement floor. There could be any one of a number of other things behind the problem. We recommend you test your sump pump from time to time during the dry season, and you have the time to repair and troubleshoot. The last thing you need on a cold and rainy Toronto day is a flooded basement.