Mold can easily and rapidly become a significant problem in your home. You absolutely must take a proactive approach to preventing the growth of mold in your residence. The key to preventing mold growth in your home is to control moisture in your residence.
Repair Leaks and Stop Seepage
A major step that you must take to control moisture in your home and prevent mold growth is to repair leaks and stop the seepage into your residence. Water oftentimes enters a residence from the outside. This occurs through seepage through the foundation, attic, walls, and other elements of a residence that separate the exterior from the interior. Seepage into a home can occur because of gutter issues, foundation defects, and damaged roofing.
Leakage can occur because of issues with pipes, plumbing, and fixtures like bathtubs, showers, toilets, and so forth. While leakage may appear to be truly minimal, bear in mind that mold needs only a very small amount of moisture to germinate and thrive. You can have a serious mold problem at your residence with next to no water dripping from a pipe or fixture.
Buttress Crawlspaces
Crawlspaces are notorious sites for moisture in homes. As a result, mold can readily germinate in crawlspaces and grow at a tremendous rate. The typical crawlspace has a dirt “floor” which allows moisture to rise from the ground.
Another strategy you need to employ to control moisture in your home is to place a plastic cover over the dirt in your crawlspace. Taking this approach will prevent moisture from seeping inside a residence via exposed dirt.
Use Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans are installed in bathrooms and kitchens for a reason. They provide a way to vent moisture out of bathrooms and kitchens.
You want to make certain that exhaust fans vent outside and not into the attic. Exhaust fans that vent into the attic can cause a serious buildup of moisture in the attic and can result in significant mold growth in that space.
Use Dehumidifiers and Air Conditioners
Dehumidifiers and air conditioners are very useful in controlling moisture in your home. This particularly is the case if your residence is in a region that is known for having high humidity.
Turn Off Certain Appliances
There are certain appliances that are known for increasing moisture in a residence. A humidifier is an obvious example. A kerosene heater is another.
If you detect moisture accumulating on windows and surfaces when these types of appliances are operating, you will want to give serious thought to discontinuing their use. Be aware that these types of appliances can also cause an accumulation of moisture in areas in your home that are not readily visible.
Raise Temperatures of Certain Surfaces
In some situations, moisture can condense on colder surfaces. As a general rule, mold thrives in warmer environments. However, if cooler surfaces are seen to accumulate moisture, that situation does need to be addressed as part of a strategy to prevent mold growth. An example of where this occurs is a storm door.
You can lessen moisture accumulating on cooler surfaces by raising the temperature of those surfaces. For example, when it comes to storm doors, you can open the inside door for a period of time to raise the temperature on the storm door and eliminate moisture.
Monitor Carpets and Concrete Flooring
When it comes to preventing moisture in your home, you need to pay attention to floors covered in carpeting. In addition, you need to pay attention to concrete floors as well.
Carpeting has the ability to capture and trap moisture. You can lessen the risks of carpeting trapping excessive moisture by regularly vacuuming and cleaning carpet. You also need to thoroughly clean any spills on carpeting. If something spills on carpeting, you need to dry it rapidly once the cleaning process is complete.
You need to make sure that any exposed concrete flooring is kept dry. If moisture accumulates on concrete flooring, you are advised to look for the source. Oftentimes, when moisture is present on a concrete floor, it is because of seepage or a leak.
Pay Attention To Specifics Associated With Your Climate
Finally, when it comes to controlling moisture in your home, you need to understand that appropriate strategies differ depending on what region of the country you reside in. The Northeast generally is cold and wet while the Southwest typically is hot and dry. The South usually is hot and wet, the Western Mountain states tend to be cooler and dry.
All of these regions have different issues when it comes to moisture. You must educate yourself on the unique climate qualities in your area. You also need to be aware of seasonal variations in moisture-related conditions in the particular locale you call home.