People often stay away from excessively damp homes for a few reasons. One of them is because damp homes are a sign that there might be a major leak inside the home itself or a nearby area. Another reason is that damp conditions are bad for the likes of wooden items, as well as many other things we keep inside our homes, like carpets or even our own clothes.
All of the above-listed reasons are mainly concerning objects and the home itself, and not necessarily the well-being of the occupants inside it. Nevertheless, conditions such as excessive moisture and water damaged walls have been proved to have an overall negative effect on human health, including an increased risk of getting sick. This is mainly due to dampness favouring the growth of the following:
Mould – We all hate the look and smell of mould, and try our level best to get rid of it or at least avoid as much as we can. This is actually a good thing on your part, as several types of mould problems release tiny spores that aren’t too compatible with our bodies. Some of these spores are even toxic and can cause serious diseases if inhaled in large enough quantities.
Dust Mites – Dust mites do love damp environments just as much as they like dusty ones. If your home is relatively warm, then you have perfect place for dust mites to grow. Most people allergic to these little organisms will often feel it by the way of a stuffy nose, excessive sneezing and other symptoms which might make it hard for you to breathe properly.
Bacteria and Fungi – Some species of disease-causing bacteria thrive in humid places, and might multiplication at alarming rates inside home without proper damp proofing. They will often form large colonies on damp patches and any places with high moisture content. It will be hard to get rid of them, even if you use copious amounts of anti-bacterial solutions and remedies. Fungi floating in air and growing on various surfaces might cause skin allergies or diseases in some individuals.
Undesirable Pests – An owner of a relatively damp home might also have issues with keeping control of the population of pests like mice, cockroaches and rats. Studies have shown that these critters favour wet environments to dry areas, which means getting rid of them from a damp place with high moisture content is going to be a much harder task to accomplish. The presence of these pests also means having to content with any type of diseases carried by them, not to mention damage to your stocks of food and other materials.