The presence of mold is all around us -- outdoors, indoors and in the air we breathe. They can be found almost anywhere in rotting logs, damp leaves, tropical fish tanks, on lawns, in wood chips, garden beds, and sometimes even on the sides of buildings. They’re a natural part of the environment and play a very important role in nutrient cycling.
When in their natural habitat, the presence of mold is not a problem. It is when they start to grow indoors, however, that things can get ugly. Too much indoor mold, as well as long-term exposure to it, can lead to a variety of health effects. Some people, particularly those who are sensitive to molds, can suffer from allergic reactions such as nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation or skin irritation. If left to grow, mold can also attach itself to surfaces of building materials in the home and start causing decay that could eventually damage the structure and foundation of the home.
You can take steps to prevent mold from growing inside your home. The best way is to control moisture in the indoor environment. Without moisture, mold will lack one essential nutrient to be able to get its development underway.
Mold prevention tips
Fix leaks in and around your home as soon as possible, such as leaks in the plumbing or windows. Be extra alert for leaks that are hidden out of view, like inside a wall because if they go undetected for very long mold can keep on growing and spreading. Find and repair leak in metal roof, especially roof leaks that lead into the attic as these are also hidden from view and can go undetected. Check the ceiling below the attic for any signs of water damage as this is an indication that you probably have a leaking roof.
Fix gutter problems and maintain gutter/leader system to keep rainwater from getting in through foundation walls and to carry groundwater far away from your foundation.
Check for wet spots that can create condensation in your home. Dew droplets can pool on cold surfaces, such as on cold metal pipes and on cold concrete floors and become prime areas for mold to grow.
Prevent condensation by raising surface temperature or lowering the moisture level in the air (humidity). Improve insulation and draft proofing in the house to help you reduce condensation in your property.
Increase ventilation if outside air is cold and dry or use a dehumidifier if outdoor air is warm and humid to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Keep indoor humidity below 70%, at levels between 25% - 60%, if possible. Clean HVAC drip pans regularly and maintain regular filter changes to keep ventilation system free from debris that could prevent proper air flow.
Do not dry wet items inside the home, move them to a dry and well ventilated area or to the outside to facilitate quick drying. Clean up wet rugs and wet carpet as soon as possible, do not allow them to stay wet in the area for more than 48 hours after you find them.
Ensure that appliances, such as clothes dryers are vented to the outside where possible to provide an outlet for moisture to evaporate, Moisture control is always a crucial step towards mold prevention. Keep your home dry at all times to control moisture and to prevent the growth of mold. Inspect your home regularly for any indications of water damage or sources of indoor moisture problems and then take steps to act quickly and eliminate the sources of
water problems without delay.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
How Does Mold Spread?
Mold needs four things to grow - water, an organic food source, oxygen and warm temperature between 40 degrees and 100 degrees F. It can grow anywhere, on wood, paper, synthetic materials, paint, adhesives, concrete, plastic, glass, metal, on dirt and dusty surfaces, but they thrive best on damp and wet materials.
Molds have spores that look like very small seeds and hair-like bodies that are too small to see without a microscope. They grow in colonies and one way for them to spread out is by extending their tiny root hairs to other surface areas. As long as conditions are right, which means they have food, water, oxygen and warm temperature, they will continue to grow and spread over an increasing area until a small colony of mold becomes larger and covers many square feet of material.
Another way for molds to spread is by releasing spores, which are carried by air or water to new locations. Mold spores are very small, so tiny that they defy gravity and don’t fall into the ground but float in the air and move wherever the wind blows. When the spores land in damp surfaces they’ll stick on it and when there is food and oxygen available, and if the temperature suits them, they will start to grow.
Mold spores are found everywhere. Wherever there is decaying organic material, such as fallen leaves, dead plants, mulch, and wood, there will be mold and mold spores always present in the air. They will survive in both the outdoor air and indoor air whatever the conditions are, no matter if it’s too sunny, hot, cold, dry or wet. We cannot get rid of airborne mold spores completely, except if special preventive measures are taken to deliberately remove or kill them such as in a clean room used for making pharmaceutical products or for scientific research and in hospital operating theaters.
It’s impossible to keep our home, or any place for that matter, free of mold.
What needs to be done is to control the amount of mold in the indoor environment because too much mold can cause indoor air quality problems that can affect our health and those of other family members. In addition to health effects, mold can cause significant structural damage to the home and destroy building materials such drywall, wood frames or gypsum boards.
Preventing Mold in the Home
The best way to control and prevent the growth of mold inside the home is to keep the surroundings clean and dry. The home already contains plenty of food sources for mold to feed on, such as drywall, wood sidings, walls, and floors, wooden columns, supports, window frames, cabinets, interior walls, carpets, furniture, sheets, lamp shades, and other building materials. Mold can also feed on dead tissues of cockroaches, dust mite feces, skin flakes and food particles. It can even thrive on dust, so any dust buildup is a hotbed for mold. Since the home is already a natural food source for mold, what you want to watch out for that is within your control is the presence of too much moisture within the indoor environment. Water is one basic component needed for mold to grow, and as long as it has water mold will continue to grow and spread out quickly.
Always make sure to dry surface areas that can quickly absorb water, such as carpets, wood floors and furniture. Look for areas of dampness or wet spots where water pools, such as in ceilings, basements and under sinks. Water leaks from damage roof and plumbing can cause continuous moisture problems that can start mold growth. If you suspect you have mold growing inside your home, call a mold removal company right away to schedule an inspection so you will know for sure if you have a mold problem to deal with.
Molds have spores that look like very small seeds and hair-like bodies that are too small to see without a microscope. They grow in colonies and one way for them to spread out is by extending their tiny root hairs to other surface areas. As long as conditions are right, which means they have food, water, oxygen and warm temperature, they will continue to grow and spread over an increasing area until a small colony of mold becomes larger and covers many square feet of material.
Another way for molds to spread is by releasing spores, which are carried by air or water to new locations. Mold spores are very small, so tiny that they defy gravity and don’t fall into the ground but float in the air and move wherever the wind blows. When the spores land in damp surfaces they’ll stick on it and when there is food and oxygen available, and if the temperature suits them, they will start to grow.
Mold spores are found everywhere. Wherever there is decaying organic material, such as fallen leaves, dead plants, mulch, and wood, there will be mold and mold spores always present in the air. They will survive in both the outdoor air and indoor air whatever the conditions are, no matter if it’s too sunny, hot, cold, dry or wet. We cannot get rid of airborne mold spores completely, except if special preventive measures are taken to deliberately remove or kill them such as in a clean room used for making pharmaceutical products or for scientific research and in hospital operating theaters.
It’s impossible to keep our home, or any place for that matter, free of mold.
What needs to be done is to control the amount of mold in the indoor environment because too much mold can cause indoor air quality problems that can affect our health and those of other family members. In addition to health effects, mold can cause significant structural damage to the home and destroy building materials such drywall, wood frames or gypsum boards.
Preventing Mold in the Home
The best way to control and prevent the growth of mold inside the home is to keep the surroundings clean and dry. The home already contains plenty of food sources for mold to feed on, such as drywall, wood sidings, walls, and floors, wooden columns, supports, window frames, cabinets, interior walls, carpets, furniture, sheets, lamp shades, and other building materials. Mold can also feed on dead tissues of cockroaches, dust mite feces, skin flakes and food particles. It can even thrive on dust, so any dust buildup is a hotbed for mold. Since the home is already a natural food source for mold, what you want to watch out for that is within your control is the presence of too much moisture within the indoor environment. Water is one basic component needed for mold to grow, and as long as it has water mold will continue to grow and spread out quickly.
Always make sure to dry surface areas that can quickly absorb water, such as carpets, wood floors and furniture. Look for areas of dampness or wet spots where water pools, such as in ceilings, basements and under sinks. Water leaks from damage roof and plumbing can cause continuous moisture problems that can start mold growth. If you suspect you have mold growing inside your home, call a mold removal company right away to schedule an inspection so you will know for sure if you have a mold problem to deal with.
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