Ever open a closet, box, or door in your home and be greeted by a sour, musty smell? If so, you encountered one of the most frequent indications that you have a mold problem. Mold growth is a concern because it can affect the health of a home’s occupants and cause damage to the home and its contents. In this article, we’ll discuss where mold is frequently found and how you can prevent it.
WHERE MOLD GROWS
Mold grows anywhere moisture can be found. Because of this, bathrooms and kitchens are highly susceptible to mold growth. The mold in these rooms can be most obviously found around sinks, tubs, and toilets. However, the steam caused by cooking or taking showers or baths can cause mold growth anywhere in kitchens and bathrooms.
Leaks in a home’s roof, walls, windows, pipes, or foundation can cause mold growth. This growth can be hard to see if it occurs within the structure of the home, such as behind walls, under carpeting, or inside window frames. Because of this, be concerned if any of these areas feel damp or show signs of water stains, peeling wallpaper, or paint damage.
A lack of air flow in areas of a house can also promote mold growth. Spaces that lack proper ventilation will not dry out quickly after experiencing times of high humidity. This causes closets, cupboards and drawers, and window-less rooms, particularly if they are closed off for extended periods of time, to be vulnerable to mold. The promotion of mold in these areas is especially high is there are a lot of organic items, like clothes and cardboard boxes, stored closely together.
PREVENTING MOLD GROWTH
To stop mold from forming within your home, you can take four easy steps:
1. KEEP HUMIDITY LEVELS WITHIN THE HOUSE AT LESS THAN 50%
Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help keep a home’s interior dry, so be sure to use them particularly during humid weather. Be mindful that humidity levels change throughout the day, so take frequent readings at different times to monitor levels.
2. FIX ANY LEAKS WITHIN THE HOME AS SOON AS THEY ARE DETECTED
3. CLEAN AND DRY OUT THE HOME IF IT EXPERIENCES ANY FLOODING
Cleaning and drying out a home after experiencing significant flooding generally requires professional assistance because of the short timeframe to safely prevent mold growth in these situations. The EPA states in their guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings that mold can begin to grow between 24 to 48 hours after flooding occurs. Professionals can use high-powered extractors and ventilation fans, in which consumers generally don’t have access, to dry out buildings as quickly as possible.
4. MAKE SURE THE HOME IS PROPERLY VENTILATED
Ventilation is another important key in the prevention of growth. Make sure exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom and dryer vents in the laundry room vent outside your home. Additionally, keep the climate within your home dry by improving its dehumidification.
If you live in Delaware or Eastern Maryland, contact First Class HVAC to develop or maintain a strategy to keep your home mold-free. We are a locally-owned and operated HVAC company that has been providing professional, fully-licensed services for over 40 years.