Preventing Mold in Your Home

As a home owner, you should understand the essential cosmetic and health reasons for avoiding the development of mold in your house. Mold can produce an embarrassing visual sight in your home, normally around windows and doorframes in addition to the less noticeable places for instance in your basement. Mold will destroy your homes finishing’s, and may damage furniture in addition to producing an unpleasant, musky odor.  Individuals need to understand that mold can also potentially be the cause of serious health problems. Undetected mold in your home doubles the chance of asthma in kids, based on recent studies, and certain varieties of molds can also be highly toxic.

With all of the harmful effects of mold, it is very important that you take all the steps necessary to maintain a mold free environment inside your home. Adhering to some fundamental tips could make this a rather simple procedure, since mold can not survive without a certain degree of moisture.

The first factor to consider in relation to preventing mold deals with where your property is physically located. Temperate coastal areas for example along both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans can be problem areas. These locations are known for high amounts of rainfall and are a prime spot for homes to develop mold.  Additionally, some homes which are close to sizeable freshwater bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, can also be vulnerable to the development of mold. Property owners in these locations need to be twice as vigilant in avoiding the development of mold inside their homes.

Homes in these locations should consider investing in double-paned windows that are sealed tightly against moisture and are covered in vinyl. Older, single pane windows are usually made of wood and provide a poor barrier against moisture, which when combined (a poor seal and wood) provides and ideal environment for mold to enter a home.  Exactly the same precaution must be taken with exterior doorways, tight sealing vinyl cover doors and frames can help to eliminate a breeding ground for mold. You also need to maintain the outside walls of your property to keep them clear of vegetation which might trigger mold to develop against the walls, where it'll be less noticeable.

The most crucial factor in any situation for preventing mold is the elimination of moisture. Identify the locations in your home where dampness is most likely to collect and clean the area regularly. This includes your bath tub and the sink, and also underneath your sink where the pipes may drip unnoticed. Keep in mind that steam is simply heated water that will inevitably condense to create moisture. You need to have an outlet for the steam (an exhaust fan is an excellent option), check any locations of your home where steam will collect, like the areas where your ceiling meets your walls especially in your kitchen, bath and laundry area. These locations should all get cleaned regularly, and any water leaks or cracks in your piping have to be resolved instantly so as to prevent mold development.

Proper air circulation is essential in avoiding the development of mold. Reducing the moisture in the air in your house will deny mold the opportunity to receive elements it requires to flourish. Dehumidifiers and air conditioners are excellent solutions to use against mold development.

Mold is dangerous to both your home and your family’s health. Not only do you need to take the necessary steps to prevent mold from developing, you need to insure you don’t already have a mold problem. Fortunately, a simple test kit for mold can be purchased from most major home improvement centers. Keep your family and home safe, test your home for mold periodically and do your part to keep it from developing.