Can High Temperatures Kill Mould?

After the cold weather and the high cost of living and energy that the UK has been forced to put up with, there are plenty across the country who may have developed mould as a by product of saving money on their heating bills.

That is totally understandable, but the next question to be answered is how can I remove mould from my property?

There are some who might take an active approach, using the likes of effective mould sprays, but there are also people who might be thinking that the higher temperatures we are now seeing in the UK during summer may be enough to kill of the mould.

So, can high temperatures or heat kill mould, and should it be relied upon to eradicate mould in your property?

Why Have I Got Black Mould in My Property?

Before we get into how to tackle black mould, and whether high temperatures are enough to remove them completely from your property lets first have a look into the conditions that allow for the nasty fungus to grow.

That’s what mould is at its core: a fungus. A living organism that, like any flora, exists solely to feed, spread, and reproduce.

Black mould for example thrives in areas with high levels of humidity. So, in rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, or any room where condensation is created consistently you may well find black mould growing if that same humid air isn’t allowed to escape.

You can learn more about how and why condensation might lead to black mould growth (and damp) on our website, but the short version is as follows.

If, over time, condensation is created in a property and not allowed to ventilate then the chances are that the same moist air is going to come into contact with the same surfaces over and over again in a short amount of time.

If this happens, the warm moist air is going to condense onto that surface – turning from a gas into a liquid, and once that happens, you have condensation. If that surface is never allowed to dry properly, then it will create the perfect environment onto which a black mould spore might land and begin growth.

That’s why black mould might initially grow in a space, but what might happen if that black mould comes into contact with high temperatures?

Will High Temperatures Kill Mould?

In short: yes, high temperatures can kill mould, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to disappear from the surfaces in your property on which the mould has grown.

Instead, the dead black mould will still be on your walls, your ceilings, and whatever else it has been growing on. In fact, with the mould itself being dead its more likely that the spores the mould releases to spread and grow are going to be released all at once.

Because the mould itself is ‘dead’ they will be unable to hold onto the spores for sporadic and controlled release, instead releasing all of the spores at once. Obviously, this is not ideal.

You also have to understand that just because the mould is dead, it doesn’t mean that the spores are any less likely to cause or worsen health issues. Mould spores are just as harmful coming from a dead section of black mould as they are coming from a live section.

Of course, the other question that needs answering is how high does the temperature need to be to kill black mould?

Will Summer Heat Kill Black Mould?

Sadly, no. If the temperature rises to a level where it can threaten black mould, then we are going to have bigger issues to face than the mould itself.

For black mould to be killed off by the heat, the temperature needs to be above 60°C. That’s around 140°f, and obviously very, very warm. 

So, unless you are living somewhere warmer than Death Valley on it’s hottest recorded day, we are afraid to say that the temperature isn’t going to effect black mould growth.

How do I Remove Black Mould Effected by Heat

Black mould that has been effected by heat is treated very much the same way that regular black mould can be.

First off, establish the level of damage that the black mould has done to the surfaces its growing on.

Sometimes the damage may be minimal, and you might be able to scrub away the black mould with a mould eliminator spray, and consider the task done.

However, in many instances you might find that the surface has been ruined. Black mould has been the ruin of many wallpapers, carpets, plasterboard, and other elements it has spread across. In these situations the advice would be to remove the mould afflicted surface entirely.

This might mean you need to replaster, repaper, or invest in a new carpet – but sadly the old one may be damaged beyond use.

Once you have sorted out the black mould itself, you need to address the source of the humid air that is encouraging the spores to grow into proper mould. Often, as mentioned before, its down to a lack of ventilation. A shower filling a bathroom with steam for example is going to easily lead to more black mould very quickly if that steam isn’t given a proper way to ventilate from the room.

So, look into what might be causing the steam to build up, ad what you can do to put a stop to it. If you struggle to control the condensation levels in your property, you can always talk to our team about a condensation survey.

Our surveyors are ready to help you put a stop to condensation and black mould in your property. Just call 0800 288 8660, or get in touch with us online to book your condensation survey today.

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