Mold can spread quickly and invisibly. It can grow on paper, clothes, carpets, foods, and in places you can’t see, like above ceiling tiles, areas inside walls where there are condensing or leaking pipes, and the backside of the drywall. Molds can produce allergens and irritants that may compromise and affect your health and can be hard and expensive to fix.
The best thing you can do if you’re that worried about molds growing in your home is to prevent them before they become a headache that can create structural problems and health issues. As we progress, we will walk you through simple guidelines to protect your house and family from molds.
How to Protect Your Home From Molds
Homeowners shudder at the thought of having molds growing around their houses. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy precautions you can practice to make sure your house is mold-free no matter the season. Here are five tips to protect your home from molds.
1. Look for standing water
If the air conditioner is not the issue, look for chronic dampness or standing water inside your house that increases humidity and gives way for the mold to flourish. Look for moisture or puddles around hot water tanks, basement doors, freezers, sump pumps, and windows.
Mold growth can indicate water damage, so do not hesitate to employ cleaning and restoration professionals to fix the issue and prevent more damage.
2. Eliminate clutter
Look around your house and check if there are clutters or too many unneeded things. If there are, try to minimize or remove the ones that aren’t required inside. Clutters can obstruct the airflow and prevent the HVAC system from efficiently circulating. Draperies or other things that block supply grilles can trigger condensation. This moisture can produce microclimates indoors that can feed and invite mold.
However, if it’s already too late to prevent molds in your house as they’ve started growing everywhere, it’s time to call mold removal professionals to keep the situation from worsening. You may visit their mold cleanup page to see their rates and other services.
3. Control indoor climate
Mold issues often emerge during the summer, when everybody is tempted to use the air conditioner. Unfortunately, the air conditioner will not dehumidify your air efficiently when you set the thermostat really high. Setting it too low will produce cold surfaces, which can cause condensation.
Setting the thermostat at about 75-78 degrees F can prevent moisture problems and optimize energy efficiency. Additionally, if you notice molds in your house after a fire incident, they may have emerged due to fire damage. Call contractors that offer emergency restoration services to deal with the issue and keep your house safe from any more damage.
4. Never dry clothes indoor
While it may look tempting to put your clothes on a radiator or clothes horse to dry them indoors, the moisture from the clothing will evaporate and settle on the walls and ceiling without proper ventilation. If you can’t afford a tumble dryer in your home, open all your doors and windows when airing your clothes.
5. Shut the doors and windows when AC is on
When doors and windows are open while the AC is running, you waste money, invite humid air into your cold house, and let the air conditioning escape. This will create condensation, which molds love. Keeping the windows and doors shut when the AC is humming can help prevent condensations inside your house.
