Frequently Asked Questions

Mould is a generic description for fast growing fungi that grows like mycel and which normally generates a large amount of spores in the indoor air. They rely in damp surroundings to be able to grow and spread and they use organic materials for their nutrition.

Common for all moulds are that they can cause allergic reactions and lead to health issues in humans. The cause of this can be both the spores and the toxins that moulds release.

You can find more information on our page “All about mould”.

Mould can be found everywhere in nature and this is why spores will find their way into buildings, for example when windows are open og via our clothes. When the spores have got access to damp conditions and organic materials they then live on then they will multiply and grow and create new colonies. Spores can also enter buildings via moisture, plants and new furniture.

The spores won’t be able to thrive in dry environments and we won’t normally notice them. The next lot of cleaning tends to eradicate them at this point.

Mould grows on organic materials in colonies, shaped like thin threads, known as hyfer. The hyfers creates mycel.

Mould reproduces by forming spores that get dispersed into the surroundings via the air. If the spores land somewhere moist and damp and with organic material available then the spores will grown and create new mycel. New colonies can also be created if mycel is dispersed through the air.

If you’re unlucky enough to have a gotten water damage then mould can grow within a couple of weeks.

Mould needs oxygen and nutrition and moisture to grow. Buildings always contain oxygen and nutrients and this is why if there’s moisture added, this will help the mould thrive.

It is pretty much impossible to avoid mould spores entering buildings because moulds are found all around in nature. If oxygen, nutrients and a moist environment exist inside a building then the spores will grow and multiply.

Moulds live on nutrients from organic materials and are therefore often found on wood, points, wallpaper and dust.

Mould can be found in nature and will grow both in soil and on plants. Mould spores are released which are so small they’re invisible to the naked eye. These spores will find their way into buildings and this is where they will grow and multiply on damp surfaces.

Mould will thrive in moist surroundings. This is why mould tends to grown in basements, lofts, bathrooms and other damp places.

In the right conditions, with enough heat, moisture and nutrients, mould can grow in one to two weeks.

Some moulds and mould spores can cause allergic reactions and a few types and produce toxins that can lead to illness. Mould could worst case, lead to long lasting health issues.

Not all types of mould will cause reactions in humans. Roquefort cheese is an example of this, with its taste coming from blue mould (Penicillium roqueforti), which is added during the production. But if you discover mould in your home or your workplace then you should make sure you remove is as soon as possible.

Moulds can cause various health issues. Head ache, shortness of breath and allergic reactions can all be caused by moulds.

Mould can cause many health problems such as headaches, shortness of breath,  allergic reactions and can trigger asthma or cause symptoms to worsen.

Black mould can lead to headaches, respiratory problems, and trigger several other allergic reactions. In addition, mould can worsen symptoms in individuals who already suffer from asthma. Black mould can also trigger asthma and chronic allergies.

All types of mould produce spores, but not all produce toxins. If there is damp in a building for an extended period, it can lead to the growth of house mould and basement mould in addition to the existing moulds. It is important to be vigilant against house mould and basement mould as they can cause wooden structures in houses to deteriorate and quickly spread to the rest of the building.

Symptoms of hay fever can be caused by allergies triggered by dust mites, pet dander, and mould spores. Mould spores spread in a similar way to plant pollen and can cause hay fever in the same manner. Mould spores are reproductive cells, similar to small seeds, and can form new mould. The mould species Alternaria and Cladosporium usually cause hay fever or other allergic reactions and discomfort caused by Aspergillus and Penicillium is also quite common. Mould species Botrytis and Mucor can also trigger hay fever. If you are affected by hay fever or experience symptoms during pollen season, it may be helpful to monitor the levels of pollen and spores in the air.

Mould can lead to various health problems such as headaches, shortness of breath, and allergic reactions. The symptoms that asthmatics already have can worsen and in the worst case, mould can trigger allergies and asthma.

Some people are more sensitive than others to the spores and toxins released by mould. Speak to your doctor to learn more about how mould can affect your health. We recommend that you always ensure to remove mould as soon as you discover it – and address the underlying cause of its growth. Most people will not be affected by, for example, a small colony between bathroom tiles. However, if there is more mould in your home than that, you should make sure to remove it.

Mould can grow in places where it is not directly visible, such as behind wallpapers and panels. Infestations are only detected when the wallpaper starts to peel off or if there is an unpleasant smell.

Mould often has a bad smell, but it cannot always be detected by smell.

Mould exists in different forms and sizes. Indoors, mould is often visible in the form of green, white, brown, or black dots or patches.

Black mould exists in many different forms, sizes, and colours. Indoors, black mould typically appears as green, black, brown, or white spots/mould stains/damp stains.

Christmas trees can bring mould spores into the home. Once the mould spores have entered the home, they only need moisture to grow and develop into harmful mould. These mould spores can also cause health problems. Among them is Cladosporium, which can cause hay fever-like symptoms in some individuals. Aspergillus and Penicillium can trigger allergic reactions as well. Many people do not want to give up having a Christmas tree in their living room during the holiday season. In that case, there are some recommendations that may be wise to follow:

Avoid letting the Christmas tree dry out completely indoors before disposing of it. Dry branches spread the spores the most.

Lower the humidity in the room. This can help prevent the development of mould spores.

Ensure good ventilation.

Turn on the fan when cooking and use lids on pots.

Air out all rooms from time to time.

Laundry should be dried outdoors or in a dryer that blows the air out of the home, has a condenser, or has a water collector. Wet textiles lead to high humidity levels.

Yes, have a look at the options in our web shop.

Mould often grows hidden in the building’s structures (hidden mould). Therefore, it is not always possible to detect mould infestations using traditional methods without opening up the construction, known as destructive investigations. Even though the mould is hidden, it still spreads spores and toxins in the house. These can accumulate in dust, making it possible to detect mould DNA by analysing dust samples.

The DNA analysis is highly sensitive and very accurate. For single-story buildings with up to 150 m² of surface area, one sample is sufficient. It is important to take the sample as centrally as possible in the building. In larger buildings, one sample should be taken for every 150 m². In multi-story buildings, one sample should be taken on each floor.

You should take the sample as centrally as possible inside the residence/building, for example in the living room. If you suspect that there is black mould in a specific room/area, you should take the sample there.

You will typically receive the report 3-4 days after the sample is received in the laboratory. The report will be sent to the email address you provided during the ordering process.

If the analysis report indicates indications of mould growth in the building, you should consider conducting a more thorough investigation of the problem and its extent. You can seek assistance in identifying the source of the infestation. You will also receive advice on how to remove the mould infestation and prevent future mould growth.

If there is black mould in the building, it should be removed as soon as possible. If it is only black mould in a small area that can be cleaned, such as joints and window sills, you can usually clean it yourself. However, if a larger area is affected by black mouuld, it is advisable to leave the task to professionals. This way, you can ensure that the problem is completely eliminated and that the task is handled safely. If you choose to clean the black mold yourself, it is recommended to use professional and environmentally friendly cleaning agents.

If you find black mould in a building then it should be removed as fast as possible. If it’s just in a smaller area, which can be cleaned off, like a window seal or grouting then you can clean it off yourself with appropriate mould removers. Larger areas should be treated by professionals, this way you can be sure to get rid of the problem.

To clean it off yourself, you’ll need professional and environmental friendly cleaning agents.

To deal with removal of black mould yourself, we would recommend the following:

Identify the cause: Look around the whole room or building thoroughly. If there’s damp anywhere, furniture against an external wall or cold external walls then this could be a place to find mould. Is the place aired out regularly and at least twice a week? Es the extractor fan on during cooking? Is washing being dried indoors? Think about if extra moisture may be introduced into the indoor environment and how you could reduce it.

Eliminate the cause: If you can identify one or more reasons that mould have grown, eliminate these, e.g. dry washing only outside or ensure the extractor fan is always on when cooking and having showers.

Removal of black mould: If there’s mould only in a small area, you can remove it yourself. Use a disinfectant to remove the black mould and protect yourself according to instructions of the disinfectant. For larger areas, get a professional in.

Check the mould is gone: After removal, we’d recommend checking all the moulds spores are gone from the indoor air, using a quick test like these.

Additional treatment: When the area is cleaned up, it would be advisable to treat it with a solution to prevent further mould growth.

Radon is a gas found in the underground. It can seep into buildings and contaminate the air we breathe. Read more about radon here.

Inhaling air with radon can release harmful radioactive by-products into the lung tissue, which increases the risk of lung cancer. If radon is ingested with food or water, these by-products can damage the gastrointestinal tract.

The UK Health and Security Agency estimates that around 1100 cases of lung cancer each year can be attributed to exposure to radioactive radon gas in indoor environments. The number of people killed is at a similar level to the number of people killed on the roads. In other words, radon is a serious health problem.

You can measure the radon level in your home or workplace yourself. You can carry out the measurement electronically, or with so-called radon detectors. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends radon measurement with passive detectors, which are placed in the house or workplace and then sent to an accredited analysis laboratory for analysis. The measurement must be carried out over a period of at least 90 days to be validated by UKHSA.

You can measure the radon level in your home or workplace yourself. You can carry out the measurement electronically, or with so-called radon detectors. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends radon measurement with passive detectors, which are placed in the house or workplace and then sent to an accredited analysis laboratory for analysis. The measurement must be carried out over a period of at least 90 days to be validated by UKHSA.

Measurements should be made in all rooms where people spend at least four hours a day. These are the most common rooms in the home:

Bedroom
Living room/Kitchen
Home office

You should also carry out at least one measurement per floor.

In houses and flats with one floor, it must be measured in at least two rooms, one of which is a bedroom and one room that is often used by the residents, e.g. the living room. If the home has several floors that are used as living spaces, at least one measurement should be made on each floor. If a room in the basement is used living space, this is by definition a radon affected area and should be tested.

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends that you measure over a period of 90 days. You can measure over a shorter or longer period but both the measurement technology and natural variations in radon concentration from week to week, suggests a longer period is more appropriate.

Yes you can and as long as it’s a 90 day measurement from a UKHSA validated laboratory, the measurement season is taken into account. Because the radon concentration tends to be lower in the summer months and also less stable.

Your home must be used as normal during the measurement period. Therefore, you should not be away for long periods of time during the measurement period. If your home is empty while the measurement is being carried out, it may affect the measurement result.

If you are traveling during the measurement period, we recommend that you extend the measurement period by the time the house has been empty. You will then get a more realistic result.

You can use an electronic radon detector but need to be aware that the average shown on the display is NOT comparable to the Action Level of 200 Bq/m³, which assumes you are comparing the seasonally adjusted average from a 90 day, passive detector measurement. UKHSA have NOT approved electronic detectors for use with their measurement protocol and could only do so with a calibrated detector, which would be a detector costing somewhat more than a few hundred £’s.

It is easy to measure radon in the workplace with passive radon detectors. Purchase from at least a validated lab or ideally both validated and accredited and place them according to instructions.

You should have received instructions along with the detectors on how you should place them. You will also find the commission number and the password needed to log in to “My Pages” on the website, where you will register your information, the start and end date of the measurements, and the location of the detectors.

You may pack the detectors in an envelope and send them to:

RADONOVA
UNIT 12
MARKET INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
YATTON
BS49 4RF

Send an e-mail to info@agx-nordic.co.uk with your order number, your name, the address where the measurement is carried out, and telephone number. We will send your login details to you as soon as possible.

There may be a temporary error in the system. Try logging in again the next day. Enter the login details exactly as they appear, using upper and lower case letters. If you still do not succeed, send an e-mail to info@agx-nordic.co.uk with your order number, your name, the address where the measurement is carried out, and telephone number. We will respond to you with possible solutions as soon as possible.

Once the lab receives your detectors, they will be analysed within 2-5 days. Based on the analysis, a report is prepared. The report will usually be sent by e-mail no later than 10 days after the laboratory received the radon detectors.

The radon level should not exceed the Action Level of 200 Bq/m³ in homes and 300 Bq/m³ in workplaces.

Yes, if it’s not past it’s use-by-date. Contact us if in doubt, a date would be printed on the protective film, which would be long gone if the detector has been measuring.

The lab will always have a go at analysing but anything past the use-by-date may not be reportable.

You have 14 days right of withdrawal from the date of purchase, as long as you have not damaged the packaging of the individual radon detectors. Send an e-mail to info@agx-nordic.co.uk stating that you wish to make a return. You are responsible for the cost of the return and we will inspect the detectors when they arrive and issue a refund if there’s no damage to the radon proof packaging.