Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips

10/20/2017 (Permalink)

Most everyone is aware that water problems can lead to mold growth…let’s look at some simple steps you can take to help prevent mold growth.  We know that water is needed for the growth of mold, so I want to share with you the EPA’s Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips from their website, www.epa.gov.

• Act quickly with water leaks or spills occur indoors. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases, you can prevent mold growth.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly to keep outside water from penetrating inside your home and creating a moisture problem inside the walls and ceiling of your home.
• Make sure the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation so water cannot collect or enter at the foundation
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
• Keep indoor humidity low (between 30 and 50 percent is ideal but anything below 60 percent relative humidity is good).  Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes, act quickly to dry the wet surface. Condensation can
  be a sign of high humidity.

Ways to reduce humidity and prevent condensation include:

• Vent appliances (such as clothes dryers and stoves) to the outside of the house when possible.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering.
• Use exhaust fans when cooking or running the dishwasher.
• Cover cold surfaces such as cold water pipes with insulation.

Increase ventilation or air movement by opening
doors and windows (whenever practical) or using fan