Owning a home is one of the best financial decisions one can make. While it is a part of the american dream, it comes with tremendous responsibilities, including regular maintenance and house keeping. Certain things, such as flooding or a fires, can be unpredictable and can cause quite a hardship for the homeowner. However, most people don’t think of mold being just as dangerous. While it might seem less harmful than fire or water, it can cause lingering long-term effects that can affect the health of the residents in the home, and can be expensive to repair.
To prevent or repair mold infested areas, one must understand what mold is. In essence mold is a type of fungus that breaks down and envelops dead matter. Fungi are most often found in nature, such as mushrooms. These fungi break down dead matter around them, usually on trees or on the ground. However, having this in your home can be less than ideal. Mold can eat its way through wood, furniture, carpets, and more. Provided there is moisture in the area, mold can grow on pretty much any surface in your home. You can usually smell if an area has mold due to tiny spores being released into the air. And as most things in life, if you ingest too many of these mold spores it can affect your health. Mold spores are a known allergen, and are known to cause respiratory conditions, such as asthma.
How to Prevent Mold
Homeowners who live in areas that are humid, or that experience a lot of rainfall, may be more susceptible to mold growth in their home. Mold typically grows best when any sort of precipitation occurs, and when temperatures inside the home are significantly different than temperatures outside the home. When it comes to getting rid of mold, most people think that effective cleaning will completely remove the mold. However, what this will really do is prolong the problem. In order to effectively remove or prevent mold, it is important to find the source of the moisture source, and have the ability to control the amount of moisture in the air.
While controlling the moisture in the air may sound like a difficult feat, it can actually be quite simple most of the time. Generally, you’ll want to make sure there are no leaks, spills, or any other ways water can get around the area. You will also want to ensure that the area receives proper ventilation. Most homes nowadays are equipped with fans that help circulate air around the home. These fans are typically found in areas that are more prone to moisture, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Fans like these in the home will help remove humid air and push it outside the home.
Fans
Fans in your home are a great tool for helping to prevent mold, but they need to be utilized and maintained properly. If you are cooking or if you are in the shower, make sure to have the vent fans turned on to help circulate air throughout the room. Cleaning the fans regularly is a good practice to prevent the build up of dust and grease. If you find rooms in your home that aren’t properly ventilated, it might be good to consider installing a vent fan to help with mold prevention.
When it comes to preventing mold growth, the main factor is ventilation. If the weather is nice, open doors and windows to help better circulate the air in the home. If you notice any moisture in the home, such as moisture on pipes, walls, or windows, dry it immediately and attempt to limit the source of moisture. Make sure your roof and gutters are repaired and cleaned regularly. And for areas that typically get colder than most, such as water pipes, cover them with a layer of insulation. Here at Clean Earth Restorations, we pride ourselves in being the experts on mold cleaning and restoration. For more information on mold clean up and repair, or to schedule an inspection or cleaning, give us a call at 619-284-4239 or contact us at cleanearthrestorations.com.
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