Maintaining the proper humidity levels in your home can be a tricky thing. Too little, and your home will be very dry, making it an uncomfortable living environment. Too much humidity may feel better for you but can cause problems in the home and for your health. Of particular importance to be aware of in a high humidity environment is mold exposure. Mold loves humidity and it can be a trigger for allergies and asthma sufferers. There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of mold growth in your home, and one of them is to control the level of moisture in the air. These are some of the main causes of excess humidity that can lead to mold growth and what to do about them:
A simple shower can add a huge amount of moisture into the air. The hotter the shower, the more moisture is released. It then settles on any cold surface to form droplets, a breeding ground for mold. To combat this, reduce the temperature and duration of your showers while also using the bathroom ventilation fan to push the steam out of the house.
Just like showering, you can add moisture to the air by boiling water in a pot or kettle. This can cause your kitchen cabinets to warp and even make the paint blister. An open window and the use of the hood fan over your range can drastically reduce the problem.
Hanging your laundry certainly saves on the electric bill but the dryer does have its advantages. The water that has accumulated on your clothes in the washing machine is vented outside when you use the dryer. Hanging your clothes in your home can add upwards of 4 liters of water into the air over the course of 24 hours. There are a couple of ways to resolve this issue: Hang your clothes in the basement – This will keep much of the moisture being added to the air away from your usual living space. Use a dehumidifier near your clothesline – A dehumidifier will draw the moisture right back out of the air and send it into the unit’s internal bucket or down the drain.
A properly ventilated home will remove stale and moist air for fewer pollutants and less chance for mold to grow. Ventilation allows fresh air to move through the home, pushing the unwanted air out.
While we can’t do much about the weather, it is a factor in keeping our indoor humidity levels manageable. During the summer, air conditioning serves to remove humidity from the air. During wet seasons, we can keep the windows closed as much as possible while making sure to control the other factors we’ve mentioned above. If you are already experiencing mold growth in your home have it inspected by a qualified and trained professional like Elemental Asbestos and Mold Removal. They can determine if serious cleanup methods are required and they can instruct you on how to clean up any smaller patches of mold growth where necessary. Remember, prevention is always better than a cure, so keep these solutions in mind for your health and the health of your home.