Four Tips for Preventing Mold Growth In Your Home
You spent a lot of time and money looking for the perfect place to live and you may have looked at many properties before deciding on yours. However, one thing that might not have crossed your mind is looking for and preventing mold growth in the home.
Mold often brings to mind giant green and black spots of fungus all over your walls, but mold is not always so obvious and can be present in even the cleanest of homes. Mold is everywhere in nature and the spores are airborne. When mold meets moisture, it grows and reproduces by releasing more spores. You could develop various health issues if you’re allergic to mold, or become allergic by being exposed to it.
1. Crucial for Preventing Mold: Check for Moisture
Moisture and mold go hand in hand, so it stands to reason that you should check all water sources in your home where moisture can pool. For example, make sure there are no damp spots or leaks under your kitchen or bathroom sinks, behind the fridge, and around the toilet. Eliminating moisture is your best bet for preventing mold.
2. Keep Your Cool
Humidity is a source of moisture and helps feed mold. During warm weather, use fans and air-conditioning to keep air circulating and flowing through the house. This will help reduce humidity levels and prevent mold. You can also purchase a dehumidifier to help remove moisture from the air.
3. Start At The Bottom
If you have a basement or a crawl space, make sure there’s proper ventilation. Also, check for moisture coming into the house through any leaks or cracks in the basement floor. Don’t have insulation put in the basement unless you’re certain there are no moisture issues. If not, the insulation could trap the moisture and become a mold breeding ground. Keeping basements dry is best for preventing mold.
Even if you don’t have a basement, you should hire a professional to have your foundation inspected for cracks which can allow moisture from the ground below to seep up into your home. If undiscovered and untreated, this can lead to mold and other issues.
4. Don’t Forget to Check the Laundry
Don’t leave wet clothes lingering in the washer or dryer because the damp environment can be a haven for mold. And double check that your dryer vent is free of lint, functioning properly, and vents to the outdoors.
Being exposed to mold can cause allergic reactions like sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes and can cause respiratory issues for asthma sufferers. Children and the elderly are usually more susceptible to mold-related health issues, but mold can still affect healthy people across all age groups. Although you can do your best in preventing mold, the best way to know that are no hidden mold issues in your home is to have it professionally inspected so that you can breathe easy.
Peconic Home Inspections offers mold inspections and sampling to the East End of Long Island and Suffolk County, New York. Contact us to schedule an appointment.