Mold has become a huge threat to the health of the indoor home environment. It is a fungus whose role is to decompose dead organic matter, such as fallen trees and dead leaves. It starts reproducing using tiny white spores and grows into blue, black, or grey spots in the presence of damp and dark conditions.
Usually, mold is present everywhere in the outside environment, but the humidity problem invites it inside the home. Once the mold colonizes, it starts causing structural damage by decomposing wood, drywall, carpeting, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and even above ceiling tiles.
And not only this, the presence of airborne mold spores can pose severe health risks. It exhibits allergic symptoms such as sneezing, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and respiratory diseases like asthma, compromising your health overall.
So, what can you do if you see mold growth in your home? Well, the key lies in its prevention – moisture or humidity control.
Here are several other ways to help you mold-proof your home:
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Identify the Problematic Areas
You cannot treat mold unless you know how immensely it has grown and affected your home. To make your task easy, it is suggested to carry out an audit of your home, especially after heavy rain or snowfall.
It will help you notice any condensation on windows, leakage of pipes, or water accumulated in your basement immediately and fix them before they cause any serious issue.
Tackle the Wet Areas
As mentioned already, mold requires humid conditions to survive. Hence, you have to dry out the wet areas as soon as possible to avoid further problems.
Removing water-damaged carpets and other furniture if you experienced a flood, drying the floor and the walls immediately after you shower, not leaving wet items lying around the house are some of the things you need to start practicing after right away.
Boost Air Circulation
People hardly realize that sometimes it is their routine activities that may encourage the growth of the mold in their houses. The bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room are high-moisture areas that invite mold. Thus you ought to have a proper ventilation system there.
Using AC units, dehumidifiers, and exhaust fans are a must if you want to keep the humidity levels under control.
Use Mold-Resistant Products
Whether you are building a home from scratch or renovating your old building, using mold-resistant products and inhibitors is a smart way to prevent mold in the first place. Moisture-resistant drywall is paperless and designed to be highly water-resistant and prevent absorption; hence a perfect choice for wetness prone areas.
Though these products can be a little expensive than regular ones, the protection they provide is worth every penny.
For more information, contact mold remediation experts like AMC Environmental Corp. that can save you from the entire nuisance this unwanted intruder (mold) creates when it enters your home.