10 Facts and Ways To Prevent Mold Damage
Let’s talk about the “M” word. That word is MOLD! Having mold damage in your home might seem like the end of the world, and it is. All jokes aside, the more you learn about mold damage, the better equipped you will become to keep it out of your home. So let’s start with the basic facts that you need to know about mold.
- Mold particles are everywhere in nature. Mold outside of the home is great because it helps organic matter decompose for example; if a tree dies, mold will break it back down into soil. However, Mold inside your home is never a good thing, unless their mushrooms, who doesn’t love mushrooms? Inside your home, mold can cause structural damage to the building as well as many health problems.
- The health effects of mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma, pneumonia, flu-like diseases, and other respiratory problems. You can even be affected my mold even if you’re not allergic to it.
- Mold grows in moisture-prone areas, such as the basement, bathroom, and in flooded areas. Mold will also develop in hidden parts of the home, such as behind walls, under the floor, or in the HVAC system.
- Like I said before, mold particles are everywhere, meaning mold can’t be completely eliminated indoors. However, there are ways to prevent it from growing in dangerous amounts. For example, Controlling the moisture/ humidity levels, fixing leaks from the exterior and pipes, thoroughly cleaning and drying after a flood, and proper ventilation in bathrooms, laundry rooms, attics/basements and cooking areas.
- In order to control indoor moisture and reduce mold growth, you must control the humidity, keeping it between 30-60 percent. You can use air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Remembering to change the HVAC air filter regularly will also help. Using fans and opening windows will increase ventilation. And of course, venting the moisture-generating rooms like the bathroom to the outside.
- If you see water, Investigate it. Find the source, whether it be cracks in the attic, basement, bad plumbing, etc. and fix them immediately. Water usually doesn’t just appear out of nowhere, unless you have kids, so if you see it, find the source.
- Adding insulation to windows, piping, flooring, roofing, crawlspaces, exterior walls, and other areas on which condensation can form can help tremendously. A good insulated house can also reduce your electric bill. Two birds with one stone, am I right?
- If your home has been flooded, cleaning and drying affected areas within 24-48 hours will help prevent mold growth. Calling a water restoration company is the best way to ensure the proper steps are taken. By the way the best Restoration company is Brighten Restoration, Call Now!
- If you have a small area that is affected by mold (I’m talking 2 square feet or less) you can use water, detergent and scrubbing to clean it off hard surfaces. Afterwards, use fans and ventilation to completely dry the area. Of course, for larger areas, it’s safer to hire a mold restoration company.
- This isn’t the 50’s anymore people, don’t install carpet in moisture prone areas. These areas include the bathroom, the basement and anywhere by sinks or drinking fountains. Plus it’s so tacky, and so is that word!
So those are just some things you can do to avoid mold damage in your home. If you already have mold though, call us for a damage assessment, and while you wait follow our mold tips here.
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