Problems & Issues Archives - Healthy Homes Tasmania

Musty Odours

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:39:29 +0000

Musty Odours

Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory issues.

Musty Odours

Why does my house smell musty?

In the absence of a sewer problem, or a dead animal in the roof cavity, a musty smell is most likely more often than not mould.

Mould grows in the damp surfaces that are located around the home and emits microscopic spores that are carried in the air. That musty smell is sometimes referred to as “mould fart”. Mould does not have to be visible to be present indoors, it is generally smelt first before it is seen.

Do I Have A Mould Problem At Home?

Mould does not have to be visible to be present indoors, it is generally smelt first before it is seen. Mould has the potential to create significant structural issues in the home and also impact health in significant ways.

Mould is a fungus, and as mould grows and spreads, certain gaseous chemicals are produced as byproducts of fungal metabolism. Although mould smells can vary, here are some o the most common characteristics

Musty and Stale — like old socks or a stuffy attic that hasn’t been aired out in months
Earthy — like a dense forest, rotting wood, or the dirt underneath decaying leaves
Damp — like wet dog fur or a dank locker room
Rotting or Fermenting — like ageing cheese, decaying fruit or fermenting alcohol
Sour and Tangy — like armpit odour after a vigorous jog

We always recommend to follow your nose when identifying if you have a mould problem. Alternatively give us a call to arrange your complimentary inspection and quote to solve any mould issues we may find.

Common Types of Mould in Homes

The most common types of mould include aspergillus, cladosporium and stachybotrys atra (also known as black mould).

Aspergillus is a fairly allergenic mould that is commonly found on foods and in home air conditioning systems.
Cladosporium is typically a black or green “pepper like” substance that grows on the back of toilets, painted surfaces and fiberglass air ducts. While this mould is nontoxic to humans, it can trigger common allergy symptoms, such as red and watery eyes, rashes and a sore throat.
Mould that appears to be orange or red in colour is typically found outdoors, given its nature to thrive on decaying plants or moist wood. It is harmless to humans
While White mould may not technically be a type of mould, it does indicate that mould is only in the early stages of growth and can easily be treated.

Is mould bad for your health?

In addition to being unsightly and causing unpleasant odours, mould can cause health problems. Mould-related symptoms can include sneezing; itching skin; skin irritation; watery, itchy eyes; and headache.

The more extreme health issues related to mould growth could be respiratory issues, where you may struggle with breathing and regular occurrence of nose bleeds which may be generally unexplained.

If you experience any of these symptoms and suspect they may be related to mould in your home, you should take immediate steps to remove the mould.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post Musty Odours appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

High Energy Bills

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:39:25 +0000

High Energy Bills

You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania

High Energy Bills

Reduce Energy Bills and become more energy efficient with healthy homes Tasmania

No one likes paying more than they need to when it comes to basic utilities. Understanding where you can get the most cost effective investment is key to how you can start making a big impact on your energy bills.

There are many factors to consider as part of this including the size and build of the house, what type of existing heating you have, how many people live in the house and when the largest portion of the energy is used are just a few of the factors to consider when addressing your energy consumption issues.

We only recommend products and services that are appropriate for your situation, and will provide well considered advice and recommendations. It may start with something as simple as replacing your halogen lights with much more cost effective LED Lighting, or you may be losing all the heat your heat pump is generating, simply because the house is not insulated.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post High Energy Bills appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

Poor Insulation

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:39:02 +0000

Poor Insulation

Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature is what Healthy Homes Tasmania does very well.

Poor Insulation

Temperature Control throughout the Home

Keeping the warmth in is key to making your home more comfortable and system won’t have to work as hard either.

Coming home to a cold house in the middle of winter in not pleasant? Even if you have a efficient heat pump or wood heater you may be loosing up to seven degrees Celcius if your home is not insulted properly. You may be loosing heat through cracks in the floor boards, through the lack of decent insulation, or old insulation in the ceiling. Even gappy insulation which is common if you have traditional halogen ceiling lights causes unnecessary heat loss for your home.

Good insulation is like wrapping your home in a thick Doona… Great for winter to retain heat, and also keeps your home cooler in summer. It is also one of the most cost effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home

How to save money keeping my home cooler in summer and Warmer in winter

Insulation is a very popular method for regulating room temperatures through warmer and colder months. The team at Healthy Homes Tasmania are able to supply and professionally install insulation across walls, subfloors and roof cavities for new homes or existing homes.

We are not afraid of small spaces, in fact we love them, which is why getting maximum insulation coverage for us is a breeze. Don’t be let down by poor workmanship and call the team at Healthy Homes Tasmania to insulate your home.

Workmanship and Quality Assured by Healthy Homes Tasmania

Ensuring you have a professional installer undertaking the work to insulate your home is paramount. Roof cavities and subfloor access can be extremely poor, our team work efficiently to ensure that the job is done right and no areas missed when it comes to insulation.

We have seen way too many jobs that have had poor workmanship and not provided the homeowners the results they have been expecting through a good quality insulation job completed.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post Poor Insulation appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

Crying Windows

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:38:43 +0000

Window Condensation

Window condensation is the most obvious example of a damp home. At night glass panels are colder than the air, which results in condensation to form "crying windows".

Window Condensation

Do you have trouble with window condensation?

Window condensation or crying windows is an indicator of a major internal dampness problem within the home. Damage to paintwork, rotting curtains and blinds or just the aggravation of having to wipe windows every morning can cost you financially and emotionally.

Condensation is a sure sign of excessive internal moisture and inadequate “drying” ventilation.

Dampness-related issues, such as the occurrence of window condensation and mould in houses, have a well-documented adverse effect on health. Dust mites and mould colonies are able to thrive, thus inflaming the respiratory tract and negatively impacting the autoimmune system, particularly for the young and elderly

How does Window Condensation Occur and why?

Window condensation is the most obvious example of a damp home. Australian homes typically experience condensation from April to October. At night, in autumn and winter, glass panels are colder than the air, so the moisture in the air condenses to form “crying windows”.

Most damage is caused by condensation and there is a number of causes which make this possible in the home.

Humid air from normal household activities (showering, cooking, breathing, drying clothes)
Lack of adequate ventilation, mostly because we are trying to keep the cold out
Fluctuating room temperatures, in particular sudden drops of temperature overnight

Colder air cannot support as much water vapour as warmer air, so the excess water vapour is converted into liquid water on your windows, window frames, skylights and even walls.

Effects of condensation in your home

Window Condensation left untreated can have a significant impact on your home or place of work. Window Condensation can create the following issues;

Water damage to window sills and carpets
Allows mould to grow on blinds, window sills, wall and ceilings – as well as clothes!
Allows musty smells to form
Allows dust mite colonies to get out of control (Note: proteins in dust mites, as well as their faecal matter, can cause respiratory inflammation, particularly with children and the elderly)

Left untreated, Window Condensation can have potential health implications:

Toxin and chemical build-up
Dust mite allergies
Mould allergies
Sick Building Syndrome
Asthma attacks

Eliminate window condensation with Healthy Homes Tasmania

Looking for a reliable solution for air ventilation to avoid issues with Window Condensation? Healthy Homes Tasmania recommends an inAIR PPFV system.

An inAIR PPFV system with its automated, thermostatically controlled function will ensure sufficient air is introduced into a home to constantly dry the internal surfaces such that the condensation cannot form.

Installing the AirQ ducted circulation system will circulate air around the house to distribute warm air from living room heaters or solar gain from the roof. It will also increase the ambient temperature of homes by utilising free solar heat from your roof cavity.

Healthy Homes Tasmania provides services to eliminate window condensation for residential and commercial applications. Whether you require a solution for your home or office, Healthy Homes Tasmania is here to resolve window condensation / crying window issues.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post Crying Windows appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

Asthma & Allergies

admin — Mon, 16 May 2022 22:55:37 +0000

Asthma & Allergies

With over 300,000 solutions like ours installed across Australia and New Zealand, it is no wonder we are Australia's Favourite solution provider.

Asthma & Allergies

Health Homes tasmania leads the way in reducing Mould Related Triggers which cause Asthma and Allergies

World Health Organisation research suggests you are more likely to have your health affected by an allergen inside your home than outside.

Infants and elderly are particularly at risk. A well ventilated home is a healthy home. Australians spend tens of thousands of dollars on making their homes more beautiful – surely an investment in a healthy environment makes sense.

The Best Solution for Asthma and Allergy Sufferers is Healthy Homes Tasmania

Looking for a reliable solution for air filtration to avoid issues with Asthma and Allergens? Healthy Homes Tasmania recommends the inAIR85 PPFV or the inAIR99 PPFV with HEPA filtration upgrade.

What is an PPFV System? PPFV stands for Positive Pressure Filtered Ventilation Systems. Positive pressure ventilation is a form of air filtration that involves the delivery of clean air or a mixture of oxygen combined with other gases by positive pressure into your home via the system.

An inAIR PPFV system is an automated, ducted, medical grade filtered positive pressure ventilation system. What’s more, the system captures that free warm air in your roof to heat your home in winter and that free cool night time air to cool your home in summer.

There are over 300,000 of these type of systems installed in Australia and New Zealand. Frankly, if you are building a new home and don’t have one these on your must have list – you’re crazy!

Investment and Warranty

The system needs to be sized to your home. For average house sizes 100m2, 200m2, 300m2 expect to pay $4250, $5250, $6250 respectively. These prices are fully installed including GST and 5 years warranty.

DIY Solutions for the extra handy Person

Any tradesman or competent DIY’er should have no problems – systems can be supplied as a complete “plug n play” kit, with comprehensive instructions.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post Asthma & Allergies appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

Damp Home

admin — Mon, 16 May 2022 22:55:36 +0000

Damp Home

Dampness in the home is usually a sign of Rising dampness issues. The impact of rising dampness causes significant aesthetic damage and can also lead to structural damage that can create serious safety hazards if left unchecked

Damp Home

How do you know if you may have a Dampness issue?

A damp home is usually cold in winter, sticky in summer, has mould, odours and condensation. In the absence of a leaking roof or plumbing/drainage problems ventilation is the only solution.

Damp issues in Australia are microclimate driven. Houses in Australia tend to be one size fits all – but we have thousands of microclimates.

A house on Sydney’s northern beaches can be built exactly the same as one in Southern Tasmanian suburbs – but the demands of the local environment and lifestyle will affect internal dampness.

What are the Signs of Rising Dampness in the home?

Rising damp can be a serious problem, as if left untreated it can lead to structural issues. The damage it can cause to your plaster, flooring and decorative finishes as well as the musty smell also makes it very unpleasant to live with.

It can be hard to distinguish rising damp from other forms of damp like condensation or penetrating damp. The following are some of the more common signs of rising damp that you can look out for:

Tide marks of salts
Dark patches on walls that can be damp to touch – for a better indication of rising damp you want to determine that the brickwork / masonry is actually wet and not just the plaster or wallpaper.
Staining of wall coverings, peeling wallpaper & blistering paint.
Damp and musty smell.
Discolouration & fragmenting plaster.
Decaying timber e.g. skirting boards, floor boards, floor joists.

Healthy homes Tasmania recommends inAIR solutions to eradicate damp

Fresh air ventilation solves most damp and the resulting mouldy homes. The fresh air “flushes” the contaminated air and, more importantly, the fresh air dries the damp surfaces in which mould flourishes.

Your Healthy Home expert will assess your home to arrive at a comprehensive recommendation to improve your ventilation. For moderately damp homes, subfloor ventilation may be sufficient. For single rooms, some better use of windows and common sense might be the answer. For more serious dampness issues AirQ System and/or more powerful extraction may be warranted.

Investment in better ventilation solutions could save you Large repair or replacement works

Subfloor ventilation solutions can start from $2000, single rooms solutions around $750, and whole home automated inAIR PPFV systems start at $4000.

All solutions are customised to the home and the micro climate to ensure a robust efficient solution. Call or email for a complimentary assessment and quote.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues

Musty Odours

Musty Odours Musty odours in the home are almost certainly a sign of mould. When mould colonies are able to thrive, they can create respiratory

Problems & Issues

High Energy Bills

High Energy Bills You can significantly reduce your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient with Healthy Homes Tasmania Learn More High Energy

Problems & Issues

Poor Insulation

Poor Insulation Does your house suffer from very cold rooms in Winter and very hot rooms in Summer? Keeping your home at the right temperature

The post Damp Home appeared first on Healthy Homes Tasmania.

Mouldy Home

admin — Mon, 16 May 2022 22:55:35 +0000

Mouldy Home

Visible mould is mould that has reached a serious stage of infection and is a major health hazard to your family. Follow your nose!

Mouldy home

What does Mould Look Like?

Mould is not always easy to recognise. It often looks like ‘fuzz’ or appears to be a stain, smudge or discolouration. The most common moulds are black, green or white. However, mould can be many other colours, ranging from grey to orange to brown and can also change depending on age or life-stage.

What causes mould to grow indoors?

Mould only grows when there is sufficient moisture on a surface or humidity in the air. Common causes include:

Leaky roofs and walls including and blocked gutters and downpipes
Leaky plumbing
Condensation from cooking, showering, clothes drying and from breathing in areas with poor air circulation eg cupboards and corners and furniture against uninsulated outside walls.

Is Mould dangerous to your health?

Mould associated with damp buildings can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, wheeze, respiratory infections and worsen asthma and allergic conditions.

People who are more susceptible to these symptoms and other serious health effects include those with:

weakened immune systems
allergies
severe asthma
chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases.

You should seek medical advice if you are concerned about the effects of mould.

How can you prevent Mould Growth in The home?

There are three key areas you can address to reduce the propensity for mould growth in the home, this includes

Maintaining suitable ventilation throughout the home
Reduce Humidity
Controlling Moisture and Dampness
Mitigating Rising and Lateral Damp

Investment In Better Ventilation Solutions Could Save You Large Repair Or Replacement Works

Subfloor ventilation solutions can start from $2000, single rooms solutions around $750, and whole home automated inAIR PPFV systems start at $4000.

All solutions are customised to the home and the micro climate to ensure a robust efficient solution. Call or email for a complimentary assessment and quote.

Problems & Issues

Our team solve many common problems to create Healthy Homes and Healthy Lifestyles for our customers, every day.

Problems & Issues