Mold. The very mention of the word makes one shudder. Yes, mold may be beneficial — it’s required for the breakdown of organic materials in nature, for example — but it can also be quite harmful, mainly when it develops unchecked in your house. We at Crimson Home Inspection are familiar with mold festering and its prevention.
Why It’s a Problem
Mold spores are readily dispersed and cannot be eliminated. Mold may grow on anything, including carpet, clothes, food, and paper, in places you cannot see, such as the backside of drywall, regions within walls around leaky or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles. So, mold is not only difficult and expensive to remove, but it may also create allergies and irritants (and, in rare cases, poisons) that can harm your health.
So, what can you do if you’re worried about mold in your house? The ideal method is to prevent mold from becoming an issue. The key to mold avoidance is simple: management of moisture. Here are many methods for controlling indoor dampness and the mold that thrives on it.
Preventing Mold
Mold and mold spores in the air are capable of causing significant respiratory health impacts in healthy people, including asthma aggravation, coughing, wheezing, and upper respiratory symptoms. Mold exposure’s health consequences greatly depend on the type and amount of mold present in residence. So, it is critical to understand and practice mold prevention.
Use a Dehumidifier
Proper ventilation is recommended to prevent moisture. Your daily domestic chores may be fostering mold development in your house. You must ensure considerable ventilation in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and other high-moisture locations. You can ensure that even basic activities like preparing supper, having a shower, or doing a load of laundry do not promote mold.
Appliances that create moisture, such as laundry dryers and stoves, should be vented outside (not in the attic). So, use air conditioners and dehumidifiers (particularly in humid locations), but ensure they don’t generate moisture by inspecting them regularly and cleaning them as instructed by the manufacturer. Because your energy-efficient house may retain moisture, open a window when cooking, washing dishes, or bathing, or use an exhaust fan.
Have Your Roof Inspected
Let us examine your roof. Are you thinking, “Where to find a home inspector near me?” then we’ve got you covered. It must be examined for leaks or mold growth checks. Cleaning or fixing Roof Gutters is critical for mold prevention. A mold problem might be as simple as a leaking roof caused by full or faulty gutters. Clean and examine your roof gutters regularly. Repair them as needed, and look for water stains after storms that might signal a leak.
Watch for Leaks and excess moisture
Mold thrives in regions with leaks in the ceilings, walls, and plumbing systems. Mold may also grow in your HVAC system, making it one of the most dangerous locations for it to occur. Mold and mildew grow in humid environments. Thus it is critical to maintaining low humidity levels. Remember to ventilate places that are prone to excess moisture. Turn on the vent fans when using the kitchen, bathroom, or basement. If these rooms do not have vent fans, have them fixed or installed by an electrician. Consider adding whole-house humidifiers or plug-in dehumidifiers as well.
Attics fans may also aid with moisture management and ventilation in the home. Inquire with your HVAC specialist if attic fans are suitable for your house. You can also use your HVAC system, which may or may not include a humidification system, to moderate and change the humidity levels in your home. Running the air conditioner, on the other hand, will assist in drying and circulating the air. In the summertime, a closed-up home with no air conditioning and limited airflow will provide the damp, warm, and gloomy conditions required for mold growth.
Bonus Tips:
Fresh Air
Indoor Plants
Instead of getting rid of your plants, consider mixing some Taheebo tea into the water you give them. This tree’s oil, which can survive fungus even in rain forests, aids in the prevention of mold growth in plant soil and may be obtained in natural food shops.
Contact Us
Get in touch with us today at 4042007743 for your very own Atlanta Home Inspection. We can check your home for mold signs and assist in preventing them.