Leaving lights on all day to prevent mould

[qld]

How effective is leaving lights on all day to prevent or reduce the growth of mould and mildew?

How important is light compared to the moisture in a room?

If i take the lamp cover off. Will that mean the heat from the lightbulb will spread further across the ceiling?

http://media.photobucket.com/image/lightbulb%20cover/pastense/misc/lightbulb2.jpg

[glenn k]

What makes you think that light stops fungal growth? I remember when about 4 a friend and I discovered a plant that grew to about 2" under the shed and dropped to nothing in the sun. But his mum told us that it was mould growing on cat ####. it probably dehydrated.

[kiwigeo]

Is this a wind up or do you just have a fetish for light bulbs???

To my knowledge fungi and mildew dont photosynthesise so theyll thrive whether the light is on or off. Humidity would be what you want to control.....

If the room is damp and you have a mildew/fungis problem then improve ventilation or reduce room humidity with a dehumidifier. If that doesnt work then move to South Australia.






How effective is leaving lights on all day to prevent or reduce the growth of mould and mildew?

How important is light compared to the moisture in a room?

If i take the lamp cover off. Will that mean the heat from the lightbulb will spread further across the ceiling?

http://media.photobucket.com/image/lightbulb%20cover/pastense/misc/lightbulb2.jpg

[Christopha]

This is a serious leg pull!
Congratulations qld. May I suggest another of these a little closer to the 1st of April?

[Ian Smith]

This is a serious leg pull!

If it is he's a serial offender.

Sadly, I think he's fair dinkum

Ian

[echnidna]

I would wash the ceiling with White King, let it dry. This will kill all the surface spores.
Then use an oil based undercoat, which will prevent mould from coming through again from the ceiling lining.

Then a topcoat, acrylic or oil is ok.

ps even a couple of light coats of spraycan primer or undercoat will stop the mould from coming through.

I have seen mould resistant paint but can't comment as I have never used it.

[rrobor]

I think this guy needs reported to somebody, there must be a law against torturing native species of life wth light. Hmmm.

[qld]

This is serious.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5613/sevenwattbulb.th.png (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/sevenwattbulb.png/)

This is a seven watt bulb I have behind a wardrobe.

[qld]

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5613/sevenwattbulb.png (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/sevenwattbulb.png/)

[Ian Smith]

Qld,
You are trying to treat the symptom rather than the disease.

If you have a mold/mildew problem then you have an excess of moisture. Better ventilation may help alleviate the problem, but I reckon all your light bulbs do is help you see the stuff more easily.
I think this particular life-form does well in any environment, hot or cold, as long as there is moisture, and that's you problem

Ian

[qld]

These bulbs are just part of the solution

[Ian Smith]

These bulbs are just part of the solution


I'm sure I'll regret this .... How are they part of the solution?

Light and/or heat will not prevent the growth of mold - at least not on the scale you are talking about.

You have to get rid of the source of the problem - moisture.

Ian

[rrobor]

I agree with Ian. Certain moulds are higly toxic to man. There are houses in USA where people had to move and leave everything because there was a specific tipe of mold growing in the house which was so toxic it was unsafe to attempt to remove it. If you have mould of that magnitude you are playing games with your health. Fix the reasons why, dont try sticking band aiids on it.

[Waldo]

I'm sure I'll regret this .... How are they part of the solution?

Light and/or heat will not prevent the growth of mold - at least not on the scale you are talking about.

You have to get rid of the source of the problem - moisture.

Ian

I'll now regret subscribing to this silly thread too, but this will work...


:ft:

If your mould survives that, well :shrug:

[Christopha]

I really don't believe this thread.... :O

[petersemple]

A little bit of clove oil in water is pretty good to get rid of mould. I'm sure if you google you'll find the correct proportions.

Peter

[kiwigeo]

Mould not the only problem in this thread.

M is for mould....M is for moisture. No moisture...no mould. So simple.....even a mould could understand it.

[rrobor]

Could accept that from a pom but from an Ausy tist tist Whats wrong with the great Australian Tea Tree oil, sure keep the crusties away from between the toes.

[kiwigeo]

Light bulbs are great for athletes foot....the trick is holding the things between your toes.



Could accept that from a pom but from an Ausy tist tist Whats wrong with the great Australian Tea Tree oil, sure keep the crusties away from between the toes.

[Kev Y.]

qld,
dont listen to all those others. Leave the lights on all day and all night, it wil do nothing to inhibit the growth of the mould, but it will keep me in a job :)

[Alastair]

I beg to differ with the flaming.

I would suggest that it is only the method in doubt; the theory is fine.:D

What he is suggesting does work in confined spaces.

Living in a QLD type humid climate some years ago left shoes, leather coats etc in the cupboard covered in a grey film of mould. Installing low wattage lights behind covers at the bottom eradicated the problem.

Kiwigeo is correct, in that you must dehumidify. However, by slightly raising the temp in an enclosed space, you reduce the RH, which has a similar effect. It also induces air circulation, which helps.

Doubt if it will have any measurable effect in an open room, though.:no:

But then I doubt that one of the dehumidifying absorbers would work either?

Answer would need to be a dehumidifying air conditioner, I would say.

[qld]

I got some desk lamps pointed a few inches from the wall in some particular trouble spots. What do you think about that

[rrobor]

I think thats fine, It will stop the paint from yellowing and as the heat creates drying and air movement it will help stop mould. pitty that the method used is the most wasteful. But if thats your thing, go for it.