How to Prevent Mold from Growing Indoors in the Winter!
Yes, Mold Is A Concern During The Winter!
Valor Mold proudly serves the areas of Fairfax VA, Washington DC, Alexandria VA, and Central VA (Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Waynesboro, Staunton, Lexington, Appomattox, Farmville, Culpeper, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg, and Bedford). We are mold removal experts dedicated to providing our customers in with timely information on mold and indoor air quality issues.
During the winter months, we all tend to stay indoors more. To ensure that you stay healthy, please pay attention to the quality of the air you breathe.
Mold is not just a concern in the summer when heat and humidity are at their peak.
As documented in a previous article, the ingredients mold needs to grow are moisture, a food source which homes provide ample quantities of, and of course the right temperature which is created when homes are heated. The key to preventing mold growth is to address moisture issues immediately and also maintain low humidity levels.
This article has two goals. First we explain 7 facts about mold. Second we provide you with 25 suggestions and tips to prevent mold from growing during the cooler months.
Suspect that you have mold in your home? Call our mold hotline, 703-897-7121. Peace of Mind, just a phone call away! 🙂
7 Facts About Mold!
- Indoor humidity that is elevated past the normal range can support mold growth because the moist, damp, heat is the perfect feeding ground for the mold. As a rule of thumb, indoor humidity should always be kept below forty-five percent.
- Mold can be found in most places both indoors and outdoors.
- Because mold is microscopic, it can travel through the air, enter the home through the windows, doors, on clothing, pets, or even through the air conditioning and heating systems. It travels quickly; therefore, ensuring that the home or structure does not have any unnecessary moisture in it is important.
- Mold gives off a very distinct, unmistakable, musty and strong odor that can be followed to the problem areas. It is actually very helpful in identifying when there is mold in the home or structure.
- When moisture builds up in the interior or exterior of a home or commercial structure, mold growth can start in as little as forty-eight hours.
- The spores of the mold live off of moisture. The worst thing that can be done to try to get rid of mold is to spray it down with water or bleach and wipe it away. This only accelerates the mold growth, making the spores grow into colonies quickly. The result is a cluster of colonies living in the walls and floors that are producing harmful allergens and irritants.
- Often, mold can begin with a broken pipe that is leaking water within the walls. In this instance, it is important that the sources of water or moisture be addressed. If they are not, the original problem will simply invite the mold to return.
Considering these reasons and facts, it is important to try to prevent mold from growing in your home or business especially during the cooler months because you spend most of your time indoors. With this in mind, here are 25 tips to prevent mold during the winter.
Top 25 Winter Mold Prevention Tips!
- Make sure your attic is well insulated and ventilated.
- If you have a crawl space under your house, cover the soil in the crawl space with waterproof polyethylene plastic. If your crawl space has vents, close the vents in the summer and keep them open in the winter.
- Make sure your clothes dryer is vented to the outdoors.
- Replace cracked or defective mortar in basements. If you find your basement is wet or has water leaking into it, inspect the outside drainage systems.
- Make sure the caulking on your windows is maintained to ensure proper insulation.
- Remove possible sources of mold growth by regularly vacuuming and cleaning. Pay close attention to bathrooms and other areas of your home that are likely to generate a lot of moisture.
- Make sure your exterior walls are well-insulated. This will also help with your utility bills.
- Make sure drain lines, ductwork, and filters are all clean.
- Have a professional check to make sure your heating and cooling system is sized and operating properly to remove humidity. Check for air leaks and proper airflow.
- Paper, books and clothing are sources of food for mold, so don’t store them in humid parts of your home, such as your basement, especially close to the floor or walls.
- Set ceiling fans in reverse. Running them at night will help increase air circulation near windows. This helps to prevent moist air from becoming stagnant and condensing on your windows.
- Consider getting a dehumidifier for your basement. The cool basement floor and walls can be a source of moisture build-up, and a dehumidifier will control the humidity level and make it harder for mold to start growing.
- Wipe down any water or condensation on your windows. If you have a lot of condensation, you should consider replacing your windows with more efficient ones.
- Keep the humidity of your home below 60%. It should be between 35-45% if possible. Use a dehumidifier if necessary.
- In the bathroom and kitchen, use exhaust fans or open windows when producing moisture, such as taking a hot shower. Exhaust fans should be vented to the outdoors and not to an attic or crawl space.
- Use unvented gas or kerosene space heaters sparingly and not as a primary heat source.
- If you have water problems in your basement or crawl space, clean up affected areas as quickly as possible and call an expert.
- On top of your regular furnace filter, which should be changed every month during the winter, think about getting a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This is a separate unit installed next to your furnace that can filter more particles than the average furnace air filter. In most cases it’s also washable, so you wash it every month and put then it back in.
- Paint concrete floors, or use area rugs instead of carpet, so the mold won’t have a place to hide. If you must install carpet in your basement, put down plastic sheeting as a moisture barrier. Then add insulation and plywood before you add your carpet. This will help keep the moisture out of your carpet.
- Avoid finishing your basement walls with insulation unless your basement is very dry.
- Rainwater or melted snow can seep in through leaks in your walls, windows, and roof. Check to make sure your house is sealed from the elements, and fix any gaps as soon as you can.
- Choose aluminum or vinyl window frames to limit food sources for mold, or paint wooden window sills with a high gloss paint to help protect the wood and make it easier for cleaning.
- Use your humidifier as little as possible.
- Keep air conditioning and refrigerator drip pans clean.
- Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clean and that the area under your downspouts is graded so that water from the roof flows away from your foundation. If necessary, extend your downspouts.
Got Mold or Indoor Air Quality Questions?
Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, it is important to understand that mold can still be an issue and can cause many health concerns.
When it comes to the air you breathe, do not take chances.
One of the most proactive steps you can take to having a healthy home is to invest in a healthy home inspection.
This is an inspection that looks at specific areas and systems in your home that impact your health. It may include thermographic scans to detect potential leaks and mold hiding behind walls plus electrical fire hazards.
A healthy home inspection should also include indoor air quality tests.
If you think you may have mold or indoor air quality concerns, call the professionals at Valor Mold. Our team has been serving the Washington DC area since 2006. We are experts at mold detection and removal. To gain peace of mind phone 703-897-7121 or send us an e-mail. We look forward to serving you! 🙂
How to Prevent #Mold from Growing Indoors in the Winter! https://t.co/YayVi02zpQ Valor Mold serves the areas of Fairfax VA, #WashingtonDC , Alexandria VA, and Central VA. This article provides you with 25 tips to prevent mold from growing during the winter! PLEASE RETWEET pic.twitter.com/li6FXyMZtP
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