Moisture and Mold Problems: Preventing and Solving Them in Your Home

Household mold is unsightly, unhealthy and destructive. The dark, offensive patches can make your home unappealing. The tiny, irritating spores can trigger health problems, such as allergies and asthma. And the rapidly-spreading fungal growth can damage your walls, floors, ceiling, and roofs.

Because mold is found almost everywhere and can grow on nearly every substance provided there is moisture, you can prevent and solve mold problems in your home through moisture control. In fact, studies show that with humidity levels above 80-percent, there is a 50-percent chance of mold development.

To prevent and solve mold problems, keep the humidity level in your home at least 40-percent and not above 60 percent. Any humidity level below or above this range for an extended period of time can result in mold growth.

The most common sources of moisture and mold problems are:

• Daily activities, such as bathing, showering, washing clothes, or cooking, particularly when exhaust fans are malfunctioning or not used.
• Moisture condensation on cold surfaces.
• Inadequate ventilation.
• Plumbing leaks.
• Infiltration of water from outside due to cracks or leaks in the foundation, walls, roof or floors.
• Flooding due to weather conditions, like storm surges, heavy rainfall and snow melt.

The moisture will accumulate inside your home over time, especially if it can’t be vented out. Then, building materials get wet or damp and mold spores begin to germinate. Small growths spread quickly and colonize larger areas, resulting in a difficult-to-eliminate mold problem.

Generally, you can prevent and solve moisture and mold problems by:

• Reducing the amount of moisture produced in your home.
• Providing adequate ventilation, especially in moisture-prone areas.
• Increasing heating to raise the temperature of the air and cold surfaces.
• Insulating the building to warm up cold surfaces and keep heat inside.

More specifically, you can prevent and solve moisture and mold by focusing on the following areas.

1. Exterior of the home/around the house

• Slope the grade away from your building to ensure rain, irrigation water, and snow melt drain away from the house.
• Repair plumbing leaks.
• Use moisture-tolerant materials in areas likely to get wet, such as laundry areas, kitchen, and bathrooms.
• Use exhaust fans and ventilation and air conditioning system to vent moisture outdoors.
• Keep downspouts and eaves-troughs clean of debris and ensure that the outflow runs away from the house and not into neighboring foundations.
• Run a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements or if there is moisture condensing on cold surfaces like window panes.
• Buy a hydrometer to help you measure and control indoor humidity within the 40 to 60 percent range.
• Clean drip pans frequently and keep drainage lines free of any obstacles.
• Maintain standard room temperature, keeping the home warm especially during cold weather.

2. Kitchen

• Remove existing moisture using a kitchen range hood each time you cook. 
• Check the range hood to ensure adequate air movement and that it vents to the outside.
• Use exhaust fans to move moisture out of the kitchen, particularly after cleaning, washing, or even cooking. 
• Regularly inspect your kitchen for leakages under the sinks, fridge ice makers, and other water resources.
• Have proper ventilation in the kitchen, such as installing big fans and exhaust fans by the window on the crawl spaces.
• Routinely empty and wash the refrigerator drip pans.
•  Check to make sure that the kitchen gutters and other outdoor landscaping are functioning and delivering water out of your home, not inside.
• Have a mold removal professional inspect and test cellar flooring for leakage.
• Cover pots with a lid when cooking.

3. Laundry

• Avoid leaving damp clothing in the laundry basket, drier, or inside the washing machine.
• Make sure your clothes dryer vents to the outside; and to seal joints in the dryer duct with foil tape to prevent moisture seepage into the surrounding.
• Clean the lint tray each time you use the dryer.
• Ensure nothing stands in front of the vent and make sure that the vent is clear.
• Occasionally inspect outside the vent hood and remove any built-up lint.
• Leave the door of the washing machine open when not in use to allow water left inside to dry. This prevents mold and bacteria from growing inside.
• Ensure that water from the washing machine flows straight into the laundry sink or drain without splashing or dripping outside the laundry sink. You can use pipe extensions to prevent splashing.
• Clear the port of your laundry of any obstacles like tint and other openings that may cause air leakage.
• Dry the surroundings of the area as soon as possible by allowing air and natural light to go inside.
• Check hoses and connections for leaks.

4. Bathroom

• Set up area rugs to help absorb moisture, but make sure to remove and clean them regularly when they get too wet.
• Use an exhaust fan to remove moisture when you shower or take a bath.
• Regularly check the exhaust fan to ensure adequate air movement and that it is vented to the outside and not to the attic.
• Dry walls around the shower and bathtub after showering or bathing.
• Avoid leaving damp towels on the ground; allowing them to dry naturally.
• Check bathtubs and basins for any leaks; repairing plumbing leaks promptly.
• Place mini-plants in the bathroom to help absorb moisture.
• Remove any mold growths by scrubbing with unscented dishwashing detergent and water.
• Clean frequently to stop small patches of mold from becoming larger.
• Replace or repair open, damaged or cracked tile, grout, and caulking around tubs and showers.

5. Windows, window frames, and sills

• Repair any leaks promptly.
• Use a kitchen range hood and bathroom exhaust fans to reduce indoor moisture levels.
• Keep window coverings open to allow air to move over the windows.
• Keep heating vents or baseboards clear of furniture so that heat can flow.
• Leave interior doors open for good heat and air flow.
• Dry window frames and sills daily to stop water from dripping and triggering mold growth.
• Unplug and remove humidifiers.

6. Walls

• Scrub the wall hard enough to remove existing black, white or blue mold patches. Use bleach and heavy-duty sponge or scrub brush, allow the solution to soak for 5 minutes.
• Use a big fan to enable the wall dry thoroughly.

7. Wooden materials

• Vacuum all mold affected areas to eliminate loose spores.
• Use warm water and soap to wipe clean affected areas; and use a dash of vinegar to soften the mold.
• Sand the cleaned area to eliminate any residual mold.

Trustworthy, timely mold remediation

There will be mold spores around your house, but they can not grow without moisture. That is why at West Central Equipment and Remediation we encourage homeowners to keep humidity levels in their homes between 40-percent and 60-percent to prevent moisture and mold problems.

For those already struggling with persistent mold, we recommend in-depth and systematic mold remediation to remove the existing growths and fix the underlying dampness.  As a professional service offering 24/7 all-year mold remediation, we have the right equipment and expertise to detect and solve all possible causes of moisture and mold problems in your home.

 For more ideas and direct support on how to prevent, clean and restore your home after mold invasion, visit the site “West Central Equipment and Restoration.”