Editor’s Note: This is an update of an article originally published in 2014 after another particularly wet winter.
Mold needs four things to grow – water, oxygen, food and the temperature sweet spot of 41° to 104°F. Temperature, oxygen and food are difficult to control and still maintain a comfortable living environment. (Who wants to live in a 40° home?) This leaves water.
While it is not always possible to stop water from entering your home, especially during periods of sustained moisture, it can be removed from the equation through proper drying. To make sure water hasn’t compromised the building envelope it is a good idea to occasionally take a walk around the inside and outside of your home looking for signs of mold.
Worried about mold in your house? Here is what you should do:
- Inspect your basement for damp walls or cracks where moisture can come in and seal them.
- Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
- Scrub mold off hard non-porous surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
- On porous surfaces, in addition to surface cleaning you need to completely dry the material in order to prevent its reappearance. If that can’t be done, you may need to remove the material.
- Inspect the exterior of your home at ground level. If water is collecting there, divert it away from the foundation.
When it comes to mold remediation, safety first
If you find mold, you’ll first need to clean the area. Make sure to cover your face and hands to minimize exposure. It is also important to put a fan in a window and blow air from the room out of the house. If a significant area is affected or if you begin to feel “allergy type” symptoms when working around mold, call an expert to clean it out.
We’ve made a lot of changes to how we build in recent years in order to conserve energy and make our homes more efficient. Many of the things we’ve done to improve our habitat have unfortunately, also created an ideal environment for mold to thrive. The only chance we have to keep mold from becoming a full-time member of our households is to eliminate the presence of water in our dwellings.
Plus, how to tell if you have mold behind the walls and minimize mold in new construction.
Ready to get started on mold remediation? We can help you Find a Pro.
1 Comment
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people in this particular subject, however,
you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks