Mold Proofing Your House
Mold is a type of invasive fungus that is virtually found everywhere. They come in many forms and thrive both indoors and outdoors as long as the place has high levels of moisture. Molds have various species depending on the micro-filament from which they grow. They grow in patches on surfaces that can either be black, brown, green, or white or greyish. The most common types that thrive on houses are often greyish or black.
The growth of mold is caused by high humidity levels in the atmosphere, especially when it exceeds 50%. When the moisture condenses, it causes a damp environment which makes mold growth luxuriant.
Everyday activities that place at home for example cooking, bathing cleaning, and hanging wet clothes in the house cause dampness in the house and consequently trigger mold growth.
Places Where Mold Grows
Mold mostly grows in places that have a lot of moisture like around leaks in roofs, windows, pipes, and areas with flooded water.
Signs of the Presence of Mold
Many warning signs could lead you to think of investigating your home for possible infestation by molds. The physical signs include:
- A musty odor in the house.
- Discoloration on the wall and ceiling.
- Allergic reactions and respiratory complications caused by the damp environment.
What are the harmful effects of mold?
Effects of Mold to Your Health
Exposure to a mold-infested area causes several health complications. Most vulnerable individuals are children and people with asthma. The elderly people are also at higher risk of being affected by the mold.
For these people, molds can cause nasal stiffness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, skin irritation, and even eye allergies. It often results from exposure to spores which mold produces and releases to the air.
People with compromised immune, for example, the ones suffering from chronic diseases like lung diseases may get serious infections when they come into contact with molds. They should stay away from areas that could be having mold.
How Mold Affects Your Home
Usually, mold grows undetected. That is because it starts from crawlspaces, basements, and attics where it may not be easy to spot them. Most people tend to think that the mold is not a major problem until it becomes a full-blown pandemic in their homes.
When excess humidity settles on any porous material, for example, the drywall, then it becomes a problem, and the value of your property rapidly depreciates due to the growth of molds.
The mold disperses its roots and pores and spreads throughout the house, affecting the structural integrity of your house. Additionally, it also causes unpleasant sight in your home.
Preventing Mold Growth
There are some steps that one can take to control the growth of mold in the house and all of them boil to one thing, moisture control. As seen above, mold does not only destroy your property but can also be detrimental to your health. To control prevent mold growth, you can follow the following expert tips that have been tried and tested.
- Identifying any water leakages in your home and repair them. Doing an audit of your own house is possible. Get where the problem is and take the necessary corrective measures.
- Promptly drying wet areas. In addition to growing in moisture, mold also grows in areas with stagnant water. Accumulation of water from a leaky pipe spills on the carpet or seepage into the basement after heavy rainfall all could encourage the growth of mold. You should dry the water as soon as you notice it.
- Proper ventilation of your homes. Make sure your daily activities in your home do not encourage the growth of mold by providing adequate ventilation in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and other areas with high levels of moisture.
- Construction of houses using mold-resistant structural elements. When building a new house or doing renovations, using materials that can prevent rapid mold growth can go a long way in controlling mold growth. These products include mold-resistant drywalls or mold-resistant sheetrock together with mold inhibitors for paints. The products are designed to prevent moisture absorbent and hence prevent the growth of mold.
Use of Dehumidifiers
You can also choose to control moisture levels in your house using dehumidifiers. The use of dehumidifiers proves to be one of the most effective methods in moisture control. You may want to consider buying a dehumidifier if you live in an area prone to the growth of molds due to high levels of humidity in the air.
Choosing The Right Dehumidifier
When it comes to choosing a dehumidifier, there are several options for you, depending on the cost, levels of humidity in your house, and the available space.
How does a dehumidifier work?
The dehumidifier works by drawing in air from the room in one end, removes the moisture out it, and then blows the air back into the room. The moisture collects into a small tank that you have to empty from time to time.
Dehumidifiers are grouped on the basis of their applications, mounting and working mechanisms. Therefore, you should ensure that the one you acquire effectively meets your needs.
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