Do you get complaints from tenants regarding damp, mould or mildew?

 

Not withstanding all the recent rain and floods, modern insulation and double glazing sealing up the property and preventing air circulation,damp walls, mould and mildew has become a growing problem.

It is now proven that exposure to mould can seriously damage health. It can cause and exacerbate asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems as well as skin irritation and even severe allergic reactions.

It can be very difficult to cure as radiators warm the air and the moisture collects on the cold walls and soaks in like a sponge.

This warm air and moisture encourages the growth of the mould and mildew. And, so the circle continues. Remedial work can be difficult, expensive and not always successful.

People are now more aware of these issues and are not prepared to risk their families health and not only do they want a solution to this issue, but it also opens the landlord/agent up to the claim culture that has gripped the UK.

That’s the problem…Here’s the solution! Infrared heaters are low a cost solution.

They are easy to install, maintenance free, can be portable or fixed, do not require annual servicing or a gas safety certificate, have low running costs and most important of all are very affective at combating this problem and keeping the property and people in it warm.

Health Issues From Mould

As we now know, mould is proven to be very bad for our health and can cause asthma and other serious respiratory diseases. The lack of ventilation compounds the problem as the spores continue to multiply, circulating around the room being breathed in by the occupants. The elderly and young are especially vulnerable to these allergens and can be prone to various illnesses.

How Do Infrared Panels Cure and Prevent Mould?

Infrared heaters use the radiant principle to directly heat objects and surfaces. The infrared heat penetrates and warms the affected areas drying them and preventing condensation and moisture which is the cause of mould growth.

Traditional heaters use convection which heats the air, which in turn heats you. Hot air rises and cold air drops creating a circulation of air further spreading the spores and other allergens. Heating the objects rather than warming the air first prevents wasteful heat stratification associated with convection of warm air, typical of traditional heating systems.

Convection Current Flow Many people expect heat to rise, but in fact it’s only warm air that rises because warm air is lighter than cold air.

Warming the air creates a convection current with hot air rising to the top of the room. The rising warm air is replaced by cold air and this creates a convection flow.

With convection heating, such as traditional wall mounted radiators, much of the heat is lost to the unoccupied upper space of a room – this is a real problem in rooms with high or vaulted ceilings.

Especially with poorly or uninsulated properties. In properties with high ceilings, the air temperature may increase as much as 3°C for each vertical metre in a room. And of course, if warm air is lost through opening windows or doors, more energy is required to reheat incoming cool air.

Infrared Heaters – Highly Efficient

Infrared panel heaters however, emit up to 81% of their heat output in the form of radiated heat. Thus, convection is reduced and most of the heat is then radiated directly to the objects and occupants.

Radiated heats does not affect the humidity and helps to lower air circulation round the room reducing the spread of allergens. Infrared heats what it touches.

All objects have a thermal capacity. The amount of heat that can be absorbed and stored varies on the material. Brick walls and plaster, for example, have a high thermal capacity while glazed tiles and metal, store very little heat, reflecting most of it.

This stored heat is then released slowly over time keeping the room warmer for longer. This is why infrared heaters are not as affected by a door or window being opened.

Making them an ideal solution for large spaces and hard to heat rooms.

Another example of a thermal heat store in action is after a hot summers day when the ground, buildings and other objects have absorbed the infrared heat from the sun all day long. This stored heat is then released slowly back keeping us warm in the evening and into the night.

Here’s the technical stuff: How it Works.

If you have any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.