Mold thrives in areas with high moisture content. Uncontrolled growth can severely affect the structural integrity of your home, where mold may eat away at the organic structural material. Additionally, harmful mold is a serious threat to your health. You risk developing allergies and respiratory conditions if you have a lot of mold in your home.
Unfortunately, mold can easily get inside your house through the air vents, open doors or windows, and heating systems. Worse still, mold can attach itself to your shoes, clothing, and your pet’s fur as well. Preventing mold from getting inside your house may be difficult. But with the tips below, you can significantly limit its growth, and by extension, the harmful effects mold may bring.
1. Maintain Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation is crucial in preventing uncontrolled mold growth. The air in your home holds some moisture that could condense under the right temperature conditions. If the temperatures in your house start to decrease, the air can’t hold much moisture.
But without good ventilation, the temperatures may rise inside your rooms. The excess moisture buildup ends up forming water beads on your floors, walls, or windows. The extra moisture, in turn, encourages mold to grow on these structures.
Surprisingly, although mold can get in through your windows, keeping the windows open can also limit mold growth. You could also make sure your furniture sits some distance away from the walls to allow better airflow in between the spaces.
If you have a closet that feels colder than the rest of the room, be sure to leave the closet door open. With enough fresh air, you don’t have a lot of moisture in these areas to encourage mold growth.
2. Keep an Eye on Humidity Levels
Humid environments are usually high in moisture. Because mold and mildew thrive when enough moisture is around, typical humidity levels in your home should lie between 30% to 50%.
But sometimes, opening up doors and windows may not be enough to lower the humidity inside your house. The summer heat may create a warm, humid environment that might be difficult to get rid of. Also, you might have some sections hidden away where fresh air can’t get to.
You could install a humidification system alongside your HVAC system to regulate air humidity. Purchasing a hygrometer can help you know what parts of your house need more attention. However, if you notice patches of mold on your walls, don’t ignore them. Contact your mold removal expert right away to ensure a mold-free environment for your family.
3. Fix Leaks and Water Damage Quickly
Water leaks – no matter how small – can significantly accelerate mold growth in your home. Rainwater leaking out from your roof might increase the dampness inside your house. The excess water might leak through because of clogged or damaged gutters on your roof.
Your basement could also fall victim to water leaks, especially if the ground near the home foundation doesn’t slope away from your house. Water could stagnate after a heavy downpour and eventually leak through the crawlspace and into your basement. Eventually, harmful mold could multiply because of the increased moisture, creating more problems for you.
You could install waterproof coatings, such as polyethylene plastic film, to prevent water from leaking through your roof. Also, regular gutter cleaning and inspections help to keep water damage at bay. Make sure that your house drainage works perfectly to protect your basement from water damage and increased moisture.
By employing these practices, you can significantly limit the chances of mold growing in your home. However, if you feel you have a mold problem already, contact us at Ace Restoration Services, LLC, as soon as you can.
