7 Tips to Prevent Mold In Your Home
If you have mold in your home, the problem can spread very quickly. A seemingly small growth of mold can go on to permeate a large area of your home’s walls, flooring, or ductwork. Also, a moderate mold formation can affect air quality significantly. Mold produces a foul odor and it can also be very dangerous to your health. Here are some effective ways to keep mold out of your home.
Take Care of a Flooded Basement Right Away
Flooding in a basement is one of the most common causes of mold formation inside of homes. After a flood, mold can form in as little as 24 hours. If there is any noticeable flooding in your basement or even just a small leak, it is crucial that you take swift action to dry the area. If there is just a moderate amount of water, it may be possible to address the problem yourself if you have access to a sump pump or a wet vacuum.
If the problem is too severe to dry yourself or you simply want to make sure that the problem is resolved, you should reach out to a service company for assistance. Many companies offer emergency services and are available to help any time of the day or night, so you won’t have to wait an entire weekend to clean up a flood while mold forms. Addressing the problem early on can substantially mitigate the scope of water damage in the aftermath of a flood.
Waterproof Your Basement
One of the very best ways to safeguard your basement against water damage and mold is to waterproof it. In order to achieve this, you need to make sure that there are no cracks in your home’s foundation that make it vulnerable to water intrusion. In addition, you may need to reseal any windows located near the ceiling of your basement with a waterproof caulking material. If the frame of a window is already damaged from water, you may need to replace the entire window. Lastly, a waterproof membrane that covers the floor of your basement can prevent water from setting in.
Correct Precarious Sloping Outside of Your Home
One reason why water may pour against the sides of your home or flow into the basement during a heavy rainstorm is because of the slope of the ground immediately surrounding your house. If your yard or driveway pitches towards your home, an excessive amount of water will come running right into the house almost every time there is a downpour. Walk the perimeter around your home and make note of any angles that appear problematic. You can correct the sloping next to your home by removing or adding earth.
Don’t Ignore Small Drips
What appears to be a tiny drip may actually be a big problem. If you observe a small trickle of water anywhere in your home, you need to identify where it is coming from right away. If a pipe is starting to come loose, the first sign may just be an intermittent drip. Nevertheless, once the seal of a pipe is compromised, it could totally give way at any time and cause a deluge. The same is true of small vulnerabilities in a roof. Once the structural integrity of any area of a roof starts to fail, it’s just a matter of time before you have a larger collapse. Furthermore, the mold that little leak creates could be far more serious than the problem that’s causing it and ultimately require professional mold remediation. Procrastinating about fixing a leak just because it seems small could have serious ramifications.
Use a Dehumidifier
The rooms in your home that have poor ventilation are particularly susceptible to mold. If you’ve noticed that certain parts of your home such as the basement or bathroom continually have a musty odor, there may be a mold or mildew problem. These dank and damp areas are particularly common in regions where there is usually high humidity year round. In some regions, however, the problem occurs seasonally as moisture in the air increases during the rainy season.
Using a good dehumidifier is a fantastic way to improve air quality in rooms with poor ventilation. It will pull water out of the air and help to prevent damage to your home and belongings. Look for a model that is designed for use in a space equal in size to the space where you plan to use it. Also, it is generally preferable to get a dehumidifier that can hold a large quantity of water before you need to empty it.
Replace Your Windows
If you notice a dramatic difference in the temperature inside of your home when you’re standing near a window, it may not be adequately protecting your home against the elements. Window frames that appear bent out of shape or feel almost soft to the touch have definitely sustained significant water damage. When a window doesn’t have a good seal, water can damage the frames and the drywall in the surrounding area. Over time, mold will form due to poor window seals. Replacing your old windows will protect your home from this type of mold formation. Window replacement may offer additional benefits. It can raise the value of your home, and it can make your home more energy efficient by facilitating better heating and cooling.
Get Preventative Maintenance For Your HVAC System
Air handlers need regular cleaning and calibration in order to work effectively and meet their projected lifespan. If you don’t clean your air handler, dust and debris will completely obstruct its evaporator coil. When this occurs, air handlers can pour a ton of water onto your floor and even cause the air ducts in your ceiling to leak water. In effect, a neglected air handler could be circulating mold throughout every room in your home. Schedule cleaning annually to prevent obstructions, leaks, and mold.
Effectively removing mold from your home can be a fairly intensive undertaking depending on the extent of the damage. Ultimately, the best approach to combating mold in your home is a preventative one.
