Mold spores are literally everywhere and usually cause no concern. But when mold grows indoors, exposure to it can cause various health problems and property damage. That is why mold prevention should be a priority for any homeowner. But to know mold prevention, we must first comprehend why it grows in the first place.
How Mold Develops in Houses
It needs only three things to develop:
- Temperature — Mold thrives in the range of 68°F to 86°F (exactly the exact same range we typically keep our houses).
- Water — Very little is needed. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor humidity over 60% is sufficient to allow mold to develop.
Since our normally warm homes normally contain a great deal of potential mold “food”, all that’s missing is water. And, regrettably, water is the most probable cause of property damage in the country. It might come from overflowing sinks, leaking or broken pipes/hoses, sewer or drain back-ups, over-ground water from heavy rains or river/coastal flood, and more. If the water contains any form of grime, then the growth can occur more quickly since dirt always includes an organic material.
Mold often appears as “growth” or even discoloration on materials such as paper or wood. Colors can range from white to orange, and from green to brown and black, and it provides a musty odor.
Exposure to indoor mold may cause various health issues. These range from minor irritations to allergic reactions, and even severe lung infections.
The IOM also associated indoor mold exposure with respiratory disease in otherwise healthy children.
They added, “Generally, it’s not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and the CDC doesn’t recommend routine sampling for molds” Considering all molds have the potential to cause allergic or allergic-like symptoms in humans, particularly sensitive people, you should remove them as soon as possible. Check this out for more information about mold removal.
The Way to Prevent Mold in Homes
There are several strategies to help control moisture and prevent mold growth inside your home. The basic rule is: if you can see or smell mold, then eliminate the excess moisture, then wash and eliminate any mold. It’s very important to rapidly identify and correct any moisture sources before health and structural problems develop.
Have a look at these mold prevention tips:
- Repair leaks from the walls, roof, gutters, and pipes quickly to reduce moisture. Inspect walls and ceilings for water stains.
- Keep indoor humidity at 30-50% by using a dehumidifier, air conditioner, or by opening doors and windows. Check the humidity levels every day.
- Prevent condensation from your home by reducing moisture, adjusting the thermostat, and insulating.
- Ventilate appliances that create moisture (cooking stove, shower, drier, etc.) using exhaust fans.
- Have your HVAC system inspected annually by a certified technician. Ensure that your HVAC drip pans are clean and flow correctly.
- After a flood, all moist areas in your home should be cleaned and dried within 48-72 hours with a water damage restoration specialist.
- Prevent mold growth on indoor plant dirt with the addition of a small amount of Taheebo tea into the water that you give to the plants.
- Should you rebuild or remodel, then use water-resistant building materials, such as tile, rock, deep-sealed concrete, waterproof wallboard, water-resistant glues, etc. In moisture-prone places, consider easy-to-clean, water-resistant floor coverings, such as stone or vinyl tile.
- Slope the ground surrounding your home away from the house foundation to keep water at bay. Provide drainage to direct water away from your property. Ensure the water stream from downspouts is steered away from the base.
- Ventilate any crawl area as much as possible to allow for thorough drying.
For mold removal services, call PuroClean!
Adhere to the following mold prevention tips to avoid this nasty fungus on your property. But should you discover mold in your home, step one is to discover and eliminate the water supply then call a professional mold remediation company, such as PuroClean. Our certified, professional technicians comprehend and employ industry-standard methods to purify mold completely. Learn more about disaster cleanup right here.
Irrespective of the circumstances — dealing with mold, water damage, fire/smoke harm, or biohazard remediation — call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage®. For many property damage scenarios, our specialists are standing by. We will mitigate the reduction to prevent further harm and will then offer recovery services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as rapidly as possible.