Mold growth in your home can quickly lead to significant problems, including structural damage and illness among immunocompromised residents. There is a lot you can do to stop it from developing that will keep you, your home, and your family safe.
At Liberty Restoration, our team wants you to know what actions you can take to protect your home and prevent mold growth before it has the chance to start.
1. Keep Your Gutters Clean
Your home’s gutters are a great home for mold, whether you like it or not. There is plenty of organic material flowing through them, coupled with regular exposure to moisture. If you want to prevent mold growth in your home, you should ensure these stay clean throughout the year. They should be cleaned at least twice a year to prevent this from happening.
Unchecked, your gutters can quickly fill with debris and rotting leaves. As they fill the gutters, water has the opportunity to sit stagnant. Stagnant water may lead to mold growth in the gutter, or this water may get into your house. Either way, this water is a big problem for homeowners, and your dirty gutters should be addressed if you want to prevent mold growth.
2. Dry Spills Immediately
Following a spill or leak, mold begins to grow in 24 to 48 hours, and in as few as 12 days it begins to colonize. This can create a much larger scale problem in your home. If you spill in your home, it is essential that you dry them as soon as possible. In addition, you should open windows and increase ventilation in the space to the best of your ability.
Turn on fans as well to keep dry air moving over the affected area. Also, know when to let go of items that you cannot dry out properly. Some furniture, like couches and chairs, have thick padding that cannot dry out properly before mold and mildew begins to grow. If you want to avoid this mold growth, dry spills where you can and let go of furniture you can’t.
3. Invest In Dehumidifiers
An easy way to prevent mold growth in your home without having to do too much work is by investing in a dehumidifier. These devices make the conditions in your home less welcoming to mold by removing excess moisture from the air. If you have noticed an increase in the humidity levels in your home, this may be a great investment for the space.
To add protection, you may even consider investing in an air purifier. With the help of the dehumidifier, an air purifier’s HEPA filter can help remove mold. They trap the smallest particles in the air and use UV lights to prevent mold growth. The UV lights destroy mold spores, rendering them powerless to spread and grow. Make this easy investment, and you’ll keep your home safe from mold.
4. Check For Leaks
Leaks, especially in dark environments, can quickly lead to the development of mold and mildew. If these leaks are left untreated, the moisture can lead to damage to any surrounding furniture, structures, walls, or floors. To prevent mold growth and damage from leaks, it is important to monitor pipes in your home throughout the year. By double-checking your pipes, you can catch leaks when they are still minimal.
Not every pipe is going to leak constantly, so you need to check for the presence of moisture in other ways. There may be small puddles of water under the pipe or small bits of condensation on the surface of the pipe. Another sign of undetected leaks is an increase in your water bill. Keep a close eye on these signs to prevent mold growth from spreading through your home.
5. Close Windows When It’s Humid
When it is especially humid outside, generally anything over 50 percent humidity, you should keep your windows closed. If they are open during this kind of humidity, you may find more moisture in the air circulating through your home. As moisture levels rise in the air in your home, you may notice mold growth beginning.
This moisture increase may also occur if your windows are open when it is raining outside. Keep your windows closed any time humidity increases, or rain is rolling in, and you can protect your home from moisture settling on surfaces across your home, leading to mold growth. We know it’s nice to feel a breeze through your home, but it is essential to close windows during high humidity to prevent mold growth.
Prevent Mold Growth With Liberty Restoration
Sometimes you don’t catch mold until it’s already growing in your home. These problems may start small, but as we’ve already stated, mold grows incredibly quickly. If the mold growth in your home is too substantial for you to tackle on your own, you should reach out to a team of professionals for help.
At Liberty Restoration, our team is experienced and ready to remove mold safely and quickly. If you have mold growth in your home and would like to schedule mold remediation to feel safe in your home once more, reach out to us today.