If you love to cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then one mistake you might be making could end up causing you serious problems. Steaming, boiling, or frying can generate a lot of moisture – and if you don’t take action this can end up causing you serious headaches.
If you aren’t doing enough to extract the moisture created when you cook, it can settle and create the perfect conditions for mould to thrive.
Andrew Pemberton, building engineer from the Professional Snagging Company said: “The problem is caused when you don’t use your extractor fan when cooking or don’t use it for long enough. If you turn your extractor fan off as soon as you are done cooking, you are allowing this moisture to stick around.
“Always keep your extractor fan on for at least 10 minutes after cooking, and if you can feel excessive moisture in the air, leave it on a little longer. If you have a recirculating hood, make sure the filters are cleaned or replaced regularly.”
There are a couple of other things that need checking when it comes to extractor fans, as a poorly installed fan can cause just as much damage.
Andrew said: “If you can access the space above your kitchen ceiling or behind cabinets, check whether the extractor ducting leads outside. If it’s venting into the loft or just ends abruptly, that’s a major problem as this moisture is being pumped out of sight, which can cause big problems down the line.”
One of the most dangerous problems which can result from not dealing with moisture is the formation of black mould – which can spell serious difficulties for not only your home but your health as well. Mould can cause paint to peel and walls to buckle, as well as serious respiratory issues for you and your family.
If you ignore the problem, the long-term consequences could go far beyond cosmetic damage.
“Once mould gets into your walls, it can be expensive to fix,” said Andrew. “You could end up removing kitchen units, plasterboard, or even face structural repairs if the timber in your home begins to rot.”
