How Can You Prevent the Growth of Mold?
You don’t have to be someone who suffers from asthma or other respiratory problems, you don’t have to be a certain age or a certain gender…you just have to be someone who breathes to be affected by the growth of mold in your home, business, school or any other place where you spend a lot of time.
The fact is, just about anyone could be at risk.
We all know that mold requires organic material for food and growth, but even more necessary to its survival is moisture.
The thing about moisture…
In many people’s homes, due to types of heating or other circumstances, the air is too dry, which for some causes dry, itchy skin and even bloody noses. So, in order to avoid this, they run humidifiers or keep tea kettles simmering on the stove to put moisture into the air.
This type of activity can put too much moisture into the air and can be just what mold spores want and need for growth and reproduction.
So where do you draw the line?
How can you reduce moisture in your home to prevent mold growth?
- The humidity in your home should be below 60%. There are inexpensive instruments available in hardware stores, called hygrometers, that can do the measuring for you.
- Determine ways to increase air circulation in your home:
- Keep doors between rooms open
Keep furniture from being pushed up against walls- Use ceiling fans
- If you have concrete floors in your basement, consider painting them
- Always use a ventilation fan when showering and in addition, open a window
- Don’t leave your damp towels in a heap on the floor
- Using a dehumidifier will help eliminate excess moisture from your home
- Make sure your attic and crawl spaces are well ventilated
- Keep outside sprinklers from watering the walls of your home
- Along with keeping your moisture levels within healthy guidelines…repairing leaks and other water damage immediately will help prevent the growth of mold.
Don’t let mold compromise yours or your family’s health, give us a call for a free assessment.
