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Prevent Dangerous Mold from Growing Inside Your Home; Helpful Tips from Foremost
(Grand Rapids, MI) The temperature is rising and the days are getting longer, signifying spring. As you think about cleaning out the garage or washing the winter off your windows, take a moment to consider one of the most damaging household hazards that arises out of warmer temperatures: mold.
Mold occurs naturally. Outdoors it plays a positive role in breaking down dead organic matter like fallen leaves and trees. Indoors however, it should be avoided. If mold grows within your house and causes damage, most insurance policies won’t cover the cost of repair.
Mold generates from tiny spores. These spores are undetectable to the eye and float through the air both indoors and outdoors. When the spores land on wet surfaces inside your home, mold will begin to grow. While there are many types of mold, none of them will grow without water or some type of moisture.
Molds produce allergens, irritants and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Sensitive individuals may have allergic reactions from inhaling mold spores or touching mold. Reactions range from asthma attacks to eye, skin, nose, throat and lung irritation. That’s why it’s very important to prevent the growth of mold in your home by avoiding moisture accumulation.
Prevent Moisture Build-Up
- Clean up the area immediately when you detect a water spill or leak. If wet areas are cleaned up within 24-48 hours of the spill or leak, in most cases mold will not develop. If the leak is caused by a faulty pipe, repair the pipe or the cause of the leak. Rust is an indicator that condensation occurs on a drainpipe. The pipe should be insulated to prevent condensation. Otherwise the problem will continue and mold will develop over time.
- Clean and repair your roof’s gutters regularly. Moisture can easily build up in a gutter from changing weather and temperatures.
- If you use a window air conditioning unit, keep the drip pan clean and the drain line unobstructed.
- Keep indoor humidity below 60% (ideally between 30-50%) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter that can be purchased at many hardware stores for $10-$50.
- If you see moisture or condensation collecting on windows, walls or pipes act immediately; dry the area and remove the moisture source.Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
- Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible.Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.
- Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or washing dishes by hand.
The key to mold prevention is moisture control. Without moisture, mold is not able to grow. By taking a few simple preventative steps, and by drying spills immediately and repairing leaks, you can make your home comfortable and reduce the amount of excess moisture.
Remember that mold damage is hazardous and expensive to fix, since most insurance carriers do not make provisions for it. For more home safety information visit www.foremost.com or www.mygreathome.com.