Five Tips from Your Mold Prevention Expert in Portland, OR
June 22, 2017 9:42 pm Leave your thoughtsThe hot, dry days of summer are not enough to keep mold out of your home. As a mold prevention expert in Portland, OR, Active Mold Control LLC encounters cases during this time of year just as often as we do in fall and winter. You still need to do the work to keep mold from invading your home and making your family ill. Here are five tips to help with mold prevention this summer:
- Monitor indoor humidity: Indoor thermometers measure humidity as well as temperature. The optimal humidity level for your home ranges from 30 to 60 percent. Once you exceed 60 percent, you are vulnerable to mold growth. If you have consistently high humidity, you need to check trouble spots like appliances and basements to see if either attracts excess moisture. Installing a dehumidifier also helps with this problem.
- Run fans: Air circulation is a big factor in controlling humidity. Often in fall and winter, humidity rises because cold air does not circulate as well. However, that does not take you off the hook for summer. Condensation from appliances and steam from your shower, bath or hot tub can also lead to a buildup of humidity. Install ceiling fans to help air circulation, and run your bathroom fans when you take a shower. If you have an indoor hot tub, install fans in that area, too, even if you are limited to portable box fans. Supporting air circulation reduces humidity that could lead to mold growth.
- Stay on top of your laundry: A common source of mold is wet laundry. Customers leave wet clothes in the washer or dryer, and that contributes to mold growth. Remove clothes from dryers immediately or start the dryer again if they are not dry yet. If you prefer line drying, hang your clothes as soon as the wash cycle completes. Never leave wet clothes bunched up in a laundry hamper or on the floor. That creates conditions perfect for mold.
- Clean spills: It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to start growing. If your dishwasher leaks or the clothes washer floods your basement, address those conditions immediately. Wipe up excess water and call disaster restoration services if a plumbing malfunction causes a serious flood. These events will not resolve on their own, and they can be the beginning of a black mold problem. This also includes wet carpets—if your carpet gets soaked for any reason, address it immediately, because carpet padding is perfect for mold growth.
- Direct water away from your home: Many mold problems start when water pools around the foundation and creates the perfect environment for mold infestation. Check your downspouts and gutters to assure this does not occur. Now that the dry season has started, it is the perfect time to make repairs before fall and winter rainstorms begin.
Active Mold Control LLC is your mold prevention expert in Portland, OR. Call us today if you suspect mold growth or require assistance in making your home mold resistant.
Categorised in: Mold Prevention
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