Mold Prevention Tips

Jun 21, 2018 by

Mold Prevention Tips

Control dampness – Moisture is the key ingredient for mold growth. Cleaning and keeping the area dry will help prevent mold from regrowing. If conditions aren’t improved, mold can regrow in as little as twenty-four hours after the area was cleaned. Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.

Image: Moldy basement wall due to leaky pipe.

Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dish-washing, and cleaning.

Humidity levels should stay between fifteen percent (15%) and below forty percent (40%) during the heating season, depending on the outdoor temperature.

Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Add mold inhibitors for mold prevention to paints before painting.

Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.

Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

Dead mold can continue to cause allergic reactions in some people so it is important that the mold is properly managed, neutralized and also removed.

To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency’s publications about mold at
https://www.epa.gov/mold/

Next : How to Avoid Sick-House Syndrome

read more

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

How to Find Indoor Mold

Jun 18, 2018 by

How to Find Indoor Mold

Indoor Molds can be found just about anywhere, but most often they are found indoors on or around plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, air-conditioning systems and water-heaters. It is also quite commonly found near points such as roof leaks, improperly sealed windows, foundation slab cracks, unsealed concrete foundations, cracks in siding and plumbing leaks. It can also be found, as in the picture at the left, behind wallboard or flooring, especially in humid climates or when insulation is lacking.

Image: A lot of mold was hidden behind these sheetrock panels, invisibly but negatively affecting the health of everyone living there.

Checking for Hidden Mold

Carpeting that has been water damage or is exposed to high levels of humidity is prone to mold growth. You can detect mold by lifting a small section of the carpeting away from the floor and looking for.

Get down to floor level – look under bathroom and kitchen cabinets in spaces that are not easily seen.

Open up wall cavities in the kitchen and bathroom to check for mold growth.

Air conditioners and furnaces need to be thoroughly inspected for stagnant water and serviced regularly. Furnace duct systems should also be thoroughly cleaned regularly.

Mold colors may be white, gray, black, brown, yellow or greenish, or a combination of these. Colonies of mold may appear cottony, velvety, granular, leathery and glassy.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR MOLD

Around and under plumbing fixtures:
sinks
tubs
toilets
showers
air-conditioners
heating systems
water-heaters

Places leaks from outside are likely:
uninsulated outside walls
improperly sealed windows
cracks in siding
roof eaves
concrete slab cracks
unsealed building foundations

Q. If you do have mold, do you need to call a professional?

A. Not necessarily, it depends on the type(s) of mold and how much has grown. If you have less than 10 square feet of molds that are strictly a Type I Allergen these may be usually be cleaned up and kept at bay using a soapy or 25% bleach and water solution. If, however, the mold is Toxic, the services of a professional remediation company should be acquired.

Next : How Mold Gets There

read more

Related Posts

Tags

Share This