Mold is a toxic material that is unwanted in nearly all living spaces because it can cause serious health issues, including respiratory illnesses. Once mold starts to form due to the right temperatures and conditions, mold spores can easily spread and grow on nearly every surface—including water! How can you prevent mold growth in your home or business? Unlock the seven crucial tips for mold prevention and learn how to recognize symptoms of mold exposure.
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Mold Prevention Tips
When it comes to mold, the best form of remediation is prevention. If you’re concerned about mold growing within your home, review the mold prevention suggestions below.
1. Discover Problem Areas
Keeping an eye on problem areas is essential. These areas include dark, warm, high-moisture areas. The best way to examine these areas is to make a list and assess each area one by one.
We recommend checking the following areas first:
- Attics
- Roofs
- Basements
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Around faucets/ hoses
If you’re unable to locate any mold but believe your home may have mold growth, contact a mold remediation specialist to professionally evaluate your property. When it comes to mold, it’s always smarter to err on the side of caution.
2. Dry Wet Locations Quickly
Are you not sure how to prevent mold in your shower and other areas of your house? Keep your area dry. Despite the unrelenting resilience of mold, it does need moisture to grow. Without it, mold spores will simply remain dormant and undeveloped. Once mold starts to grow in your house, it can cause strange odors and other issues.
To prevent musty smells in your crawl space and other areas of your house, you will need to dry wet locations quickly to prevent mold from growing. Dry wet items as soon as possible, and be sure to remove water-damaged furniture as soon as your insurance adjuster gives the okay.
Additional recommendations to consider:
- Move carpet, bedding, and furniture outside
- Don’t leave wet items lying around the house
- Dry the floor and walls after a shower
- Don’t leave wet clothes in the washing machine
- Hang large items in areas with good air circulation
3. Maintain Proper Ventilation
Moisture is everywhere. This is why ventilation is important. Keeping the ventilation fan on when cooking or taking a shower helps keep the walls dry and prevent mold growth. If your area doesn’t have a vent fan, open a window or use a mechanical fan. Clothes dryers, stoves, and other vent appliances will often produce excess moisture. Make sure they are venting to the proper outdoor areas.
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4. Invest in Mold-Resistant Products
One method to navigate mold is to use mold-resistant sheetrock, drywall, and mold inhibitors for paint. If you are looking for ways to prevent mold during a remodel, investing in specialized drywall or mold inhibitors for paint can help you prevent issues in your living space. Mold-resistant drywall has a fiberglass coating and is water-resistant. This is a popular choice for bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.
5. Monitor the Humidity Levels in Your Living Space
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor humidity levels should be kept between 30 and 60 percent for optimum comfort and mold prevention. Homeowners can monitor the humidity levels with a moisture meter.
Signs of high indoor humidity include:
- Condensation on walls and plumbing
- Clammy skin
- Foggy windows
- A heavy, warm atmosphere
6. Direct Excess Water Away From Your Home
If you are looking for ways to prevent mold in your living space, we recommend directing water away from your property. Once excess water collects and sits for too long, it may seep into your crawlspace and cause water damage. If the foundation doesn’t slope away from your home, purchase sandbags and place them around your house.
7. Clean & Fix Roof Gutters
You might be surprised to know full or damaged gutter causes significant water damage. Be sure to clean your gutters at least once each month and when you do, inspect the components for damage, cracks, and mold.
Tips & Insights: How to Start a Water Damage Insurance Claim
Symptoms of Mold Exposure in Homes
It may be difficult to tell if you’ve been exposed to mold. However, one obvious sign is sudden changes in health. If you were in good health outside your home but are suddenly ill when you’re spending time inside—or in certain areas of your home—you likely have mold growth.
If you have been exposed to mold, you may experience one or more of the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
- Dry, flaky skin
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Sore throat
In more serious cases, you may experience an asthma attack, immune system failure, or even contract an infection. There’s a reason why they call it the silent killer. No matter your health before being exposed to mold, this contaminant presents a serious issue for everyone. If you have allergies or asthma, mold exposure may impact you more severely. If you don’t feel well but aren’t sure if mold is making you sick.
Mold Remediation & Removal Services
Our team of technicians is committed to helping you prevent mold in your home. We offer innovative mold removal and remediation services for homes in Texas. Our staff provides water damage restoration services in Houston, TX and other areas. If you’ve recently had a water emergency and require mold remediation or removal, contact our team by phone at (877) 589-7504 to schedule an appointment. In addition, our staff offers other types of water damage restoration services such as burst pipe maintenance, flood damage restoration, roof leak cleanup, and storm damage repair. Despite the unfortunate reality of your situation, you can rest assured that our technicians will take care of everything. We will assess the damages and begin remediation as soon as possible. We’re a company you can trust for mold remediation and various water emergencies.