How Can I Prevent Mold Growth In My Home?
Mold continues to be a recurrent problem in homes, apartments, and buildings across the world. Mold often grows on floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, sinks, and even clothing. When mold grows in a home, it releases spores into the air that can be inhaled by people, leading to a wide range of health problems. Additionally, mold can cause significant structural problems that will damage the aesthetics of your home and consequently, its value. For these reasons, it’s essential to prevent mold growth whenever possible. In this article, we’ll give you a few different tips on how you can prevent mold growth in your home! If you believe your home in Massachusetts contains mold, contact our team at DCM Environmental Testing Co. today for a free mold testing estimate!
Eliminate Sources of Moisture
Mold thrives in moisture-rich environments, which is why you are likely to find mold in damp areas like beneath sinks, cupboards, bathtubs, leaking ceilings, or damp corners of a room. Mold cannot survive without moisture, so the first step in preventing mold from spreading across your home is to eliminate these sources of moisture. You can begin by fixing leaky pipes, airing out and decluttering old cupboards, and unclogging drains & gutters around your home.
Improve Indoor Ventilation
Poorly-working HVAC and ventilation systems can create an ideal environment for mold. In order to discourage mold growth, you should be sure that your ventilation system is working properly and your HVAC systems are running without leaks. You can achieve better indoor ventilation by installing fans in naturally hot/moist parts of your home such as the kitchen and basement.
Clean & Disinfect Moldy Surfaces
Mold has a tendency to regrow on old surfaces if they are not properly cleaned. First, examine your home thoroughly for any mold hotspots. Next, use protective gear such as gloves and masks to reduce your exposure to the mold. Finally, clean and scrub off the moldy surfaces with detergent and water. These surfaces should be disinfected to prevent the mold from regrowing in those areas.
Utilize Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are great tools for controlling moisture levels in enclosed spaces. Dehumidifiers can greatly reduce mold growth in basements and attics, especially if such places have poor air circulation. If you have a room with heavy moisture retention, you should consider installing a dehumidifier to regulate the humidity and keep mold growth in check.
Contact DCM Environmental For Mold Testing Services!
If you have any questions about mold testing or suspect that there is any type of mold in your current Massachusetts home or a home you are considering purchasing, please contact our team at DCM Environmental today for a free quote on our unbiased mold testing services! Give us a call at (617) 481-5782 or fill out the contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
