Mold

Dealing with Mold

• Mold has become an increasing area of concern for many homeowners in the past few years. The following brief description and prevention tips target this area of concern in regards to general mold awareness and ways to avoid its presence.

Introduction to Mold

• Molds, a subset of the fungi, are ubiquitous on our planet. Fungi are found in every ecological niche, and are necessary for the recycling of organic building blocks that allow plants and animals to live.

What are Mold Spores?

Mold spores are tiny bacteria less than 4 microns in size – so small that as many as 250,000 spores can fit on a pin head and a person can inhale as many as 750,000 of these per minute!

Prevention

• The key to mold control is moisture control. Solve moisture problems before they become mold problems!

Mold Prevention Tips

• Fix leaky plumbing
• Watch for condensation and wet spots. Fix source(s) of moisture problem(s) as soon as possible.
• Prevent moisture due to condensation by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture level in air (humidity). To increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if outside air is cold and dry) or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).
• Keep heating and air conditioning drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed.
• Vent moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside where possible.
• Maintain low indoor humidity, below 60% relative humidity (RH), ideally 30-50%, if possible.
• Perform regular HVAC inspections and maintenance as scheduled.
• Clean and dry wet or damp spots within 48 hours.