7 Mold Prevention Tips

Mold grows by dropping microscopic spores into the air. When the spores land on a damp or wet area, they feed on that moisture to survive and begin to grow and spread. When mold is not detected or dealt with in a timely manner, it can destroy whatever it is growing on, costing you more than just time and money.

Being exposed to mold can cause health problems like nasal stuffiness, throat soreness, eye irritation, or skin irritation. People with mold allergies can suffer more severe reactions. To prevent issues for yourself and your family, it’s best to be proactive against mold growth by removing or controlling sources of indoor moisture.

Unfortunately, you can’t prevent the existence of mold in your house, but you can keep it from growing or spreading.

Follow these tips to keep mold growth at bay.

7 Mold Prevention Tips

1. Conduct a mold evaluation

   Do a thorough check of all of the possible mold-prone areas in your home. Mold can grow in any organic compound when moisture or humidity it present. Check carpet, wallpaper, wood, food, and insulation for any mold or mildew. If you wish to conduct an actual mold test, please contact a professional.

2. Keep your home dry.

   Staying on top of maintenance will help you prevent the spread of mold. It is especially important to do a check of your home and property within 24-48 hours after a large rain or snow storm to see if any water damage occurred. Check for roof leaks or ice dams, unclog and fix gutters, and landscape your property so that water drains away from the house.

3. Properly ventilate your house.

   Have all of your combustion appliances like ovens, stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and clothes dryers properly vented to the outside. Improperly vented or non-vented appliances release heat into the air of your home. Warm air contains moisture, which is ideal for producing mold. Have these appliances vent to the outside to preventing the moist air from building up inside and mold from growing. Open the windows from time to time to help release hot air and to prevent stale, stagnant air. This helps ventilate the house and keep air flow moving!

4. Use a dehumidifier.

   If your house has a basement, poor ventilation, water stains on the ceiling, or wet, heavy air, you might need a dehumidifier. Having a dehumidifier will filter and dry the air in your house, providing cleaner air, less dust, and drier surroundings, which are less hospitable for mold growth.

5. Use mold prevention products.

   There are many products out there that prevent mold growth in mold-prone rooms. Renovate a humid bathroom using blue board drywall is a great way to ward off mold and mildew. Try using a mold-resistant paint with an EPA-registered fungicide. This is a helpful way to add a splash of color to any room without sacrificing safety. Safeguard wood floors, ceilings, and walls against mold using a mold prevention spray. You can also use a mold-resistant, environmentally friendly insulation like Nu-Wool. It not only discourages mold growth, but will also save you on heating and electricity bills.

6. Use an indoor humidity monitor.

   Sometimes it’s hard to tell how much moisture is in the air. Using an indoor humidity monitor will allow you to accurately keep track of how much moisture’s in the air at any given moment. This way you can evaluate and act in a timely manner to inhibit allergen growth.

7. Know when it’s time to call a professional.

   If water damage has affected your home, calling a water damage mitigation and restoration professional can be the quickest and easiest way to get your home dry, repaired, and rebuilt. Doing it yourself may seem like the cheaper path up front, but if you don’t properly and thoroughly dry out your entire home, the cost and damage of mold and mildew in the long run will be much greater.

Need Help Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew?

Call Riverside Restoration Inc. at the onset and avoid insurance delays so the mold and mildew damage to your property will be remediated and restored as quickly, safely, and professionally as possible.

At the same time that you call your insurance adjuster, call us, too. We will help you navigate the thicket. By being proactive, you also will help to prevent an insurance company from recommending an undesirable contractor out of their own self-interest. As a policy holder, you have the right to choose your own contractor.

When you work with Riverside Restoration Inc., you are assured of professionalism, integrity, and fine craftsmanship.