Things You Should Be Doing to Prevent Mold

Mold has the potential to spread and do serious damage to your home if it goes unnoticed. That’s why you need to take preventative measures in order to keep mold at bay. If you’ve ever had to deal with a moldy house, you know that the work involved in remediating it is both exhausting and expensive. That’s why prevention is critical for every homeowner who wants to keep their home free of this unsightly and contaminating material. In case of a serious mold infestation, you can get in touch with First Serve Cleaning and Restoration for removal. 

Repair Leaks Immediately

First and foremost, it’s important that you pay attention to any problems with your home’s roof or basement and get them fixed as soon as possible. Mold growth is a serious problem that requires immediate repair to prevent future issues. If you have foundation problems or a leaky roof, make sure that you hire a certified contractor to repair any damage as soon as possible.

Another major cause of mold growth in homes is leaking basement walls or foundation cracks. Because leaks can let water into your home, you should get them fixed as soon as possible to prevent mold growth inside your home.

Install Proper Venting and Ducts

If you have any ventilation issues in your home, these can cause mold growth to start and spread. There should be proper ventilation in all areas of the house; this includes heating and air conditioning vents, as well as the attic.  

Proper ventilation is a major factor in preventing mold growth in your home. This problem is especially prevalent in homes that have basements or older attics, which tend to retain a lot of moisture. You should regularly check that the ducts and vents are properly sealed off and not leaking, making sure that the air inside your home stays dry. 

Waterproof Your Home

You also want to waterproof your home, specifically if you live in a temperate climate. If you have a crawlspace or basement, ensure it’s waterproofed by installing a heavy-duty vapor barrier that’s impervious to moisture and puncture and overlaid with an additional sheeting of plastic to keep water from seeping through. This helps prevent standing water below the floorboards where moisture can cause mold to grow.

 Don’t use bathroom and kitchen fans when it’s humid outside. This may seem counter-intuitive, but the bathroom and kitchen fans work by forcing warm air out of the building, which in turn draws in cooler air from the outside. In the summertime when humidity is high, this can cause stagnant air to remain indoors—which is prime real estate for mold growth. Mold thrives on “wet-bulb” temperatures that are between 32° F and 50° F. Anything less than that temperature and mold growth slows down. 

How Do You Know You Have Mold?

If you’re not sure whether or not you have mold, you’re probably not the only one. Mold is notoriously difficult to detect; and in fact, most cases of what people assume to be mold are actually something else entirely. The answer is actually quite simple: If you smell mold, there’s mold. 

Mold can also make you sick and affect your home’s air quality, so it really is important to take note of any weird smells coming from your house, or if you start feeling unwell (or both). The most important thing to note is that mold generally does not appear out of the blue and wreak havoc on your household. It will usually take a long time to grow, so its presence can sometimes be rather subtle. You may not even notice it until the damage and ill effects have already occurred. 

How is Mold Testing Done?

Testing your home for mold can be done in a variety of ways. The two most practical and inexpensive ways to test for mold are through air sampling and surface testing. Air sampling is an excellent way to determine the extent of the problem and where the mold is located in your home. 

It can also reveal the type of mold that may be present. Air sampling is often done at professional facilities through special testing methods that may require you to vacate your home if certain contaminants are present. 

For mold remediation, it’s imperative you hire experts. Mold removal professionals have the tools, resources, and knowledge to do a thorough job. If you are experiencing ill effects related to mold on the property or inside of your home, it is important that you contact them as soon as you can.