Mold: The four-letter word that homeowners hate to hear, especially when they learn that it is growing in or underneath their home! According to the CDC, the most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. These types of mold are known to grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding, affecting the overall air quality in your home. The Delaware plumbing experts at Joseph Frederick & Sons have seen it all when it comes to mold both in and underneath homes. That’s why we’re here to share a few tips and tricks that you should know to control moisture and humidity levels in your house, ultimately preventing mold from growing.
Since mold grows where there’s moisture, keeping your house dry is the most important way to eliminate moisture and prevent mold. Hygrometers can be used to measure the amount of water vapor in the air, so investing in one to install in your home is a great place to start. Some thermostats come with a built-in moisture sensor as well.
To prevent too much moisture from building up in the bathroom when you shower or bath, open a window in the bathroom to vent out moisture. If you don’t have a window in the bathroom, leave the door open and open the closest window you can. The Delaware plumbing experts at Joseph Frederick & Sons suggest wiping down the walls after you bathe with a sponge, towel, or squeegee as a simple way to eliminate that excess moisture.
If you don’t have a dryer or prefer to line dry clothes to save energy, always hang the clothes outside. Any water that evaporates from the clothes will otherwise hang in the air in your home, and this can lead to mold growth on walls, floors, and other surfaces. You may not realize it, but it is also important not to leave wet clothes in the washing machine. Once the cycle is complete, it is important to remove the damp clothes and transfer them to the dryer or the outside line.
According to the EPA, it only takes between 24 and 48 hours for mold to begin growing on wet surfaces. When spills happen on any surface in your home, no matter the size, it is important to clean them as soon as possible. The same goes for flooding! If you have leaking pipes or toilets, contact the Delaware plumbing experts at Joseph Frederick & Sons for timely and affordable service.
Exhaust fans should be located in your kitchen and bathroom and used anytime you cook or bathe, as well as ceiling fans where applicable. Your dryer should be correctly vented to the outside in your laundry room as well. If you’re unable to install these items, portable dehumidifiers can be used to remove any moisture that you aren’t able to prevent. Just be sure to empty the drip tray regularly – this goes for all appliances with drip trays in your home!
Areas that are prone to being wet shouldn’t be fully carpeted. This includes basements that are damp or prone to flooding and bathrooms. Instead, remove the carpet and install area rugs if necessary since they can be removed, cleaned, and dried if they get wet.
Now that you have a few tips and tricks to prevent moisture and mold inside your home, your indoor air quality should be more safe and comfortable. If you have any plumbing issues in the meantime, contact the Delaware plumbing experts at Joseph Frederick & Sons. We are your one-stop-shop for all of your plumbing needs, and we answer with highly trained, licensed professionals who get the job done right.