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Mold in the home can serious cause consequences,
ranging from damage to illness. We’ll give you tips on preventing
mold and dealing with it if it does occur.
Mold can grow in any area of your home that moisture
can accumulate with no opportunity to dry out. Although not all
mold is toxic, many types of mold are, and can have serious consequences
to your home and your family. A recent Realty Times article discusses
the importance of preventing mold and solving a mold problem that
already exists.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains
that moisture control is essential to preventing mold. If you
experience water leaks or spills, or you see condensation on surfaces,
act quickly! Wet or damp areas that are dried within one or two
days after a leak or spill typically won’t grow mold.
To prevent moisture in your home, take these steps:
• Clean and repair your gutters regularly.
Gutters serve to funnel water away from your home; if they malfunction,
you may soon find yourself swimming.
• Make sure to keep air conditioning drip pans clean and
the drain lines flowing properly.
• Try to keep humidity in your home low. If possible, keep
it below 60 percent, but ideal levels are between 30 percent and
50 percent relative humidity.
• If you spot condensation or moisture on windows, walls
or pipes, quickly dry the wet surface and reduce or stop the source
of moisture.
If you’re not sure how to reduce humidity
in your home, try the following:
• Use air conditioners or de-humidifiers if
high humidity is normal for your climate.
• When showering, run the bathroom fan or open the window.
When cooking, running the dishwasher or washing dishes in the
sink, run the exhaust fan or open the window.
• Appliances that produce moisture, such as stoves or clothes
dryers, should be vented to the outside.
To prevent condensation from high humidity, use
these tips:
• Insulate cold surfaces, like cold water
pipes, to increase energy efficiency and reduce the possibility
of flooding.
• Increase the air temperature in your home.
• Increase ventilation and air flow by opening doors and
windows when appropriate, and use fans when needed.
If you notice swollen or crumbling boards, musty
or urine-like smells or brown, pink or orange speckles on your
grout or walls, you may have a mold problem. Also, if one or more
residents in the home have developed symptoms such as memory loss,
respiratory issues, vision problems, headaches, chronic fatigue
or difficulty swallowing, they may have an illness related to
toxic mold.
If you believe your home has a toxic mold problem,
you should contact a specialist as soon as possible. He or she
will usually present you with several options, one of which may
be a new solution to the market, a mold-resistant sealer made
by Foster. This sealant has a 10-year warranty and is sprayed
all around your home, killing some already existing mold and preventing
the growth of new mold. For a new 2,000-square-foot house, this
treatment can cost around $1,000, but is more expensive for existing
homes, which can be more difficult to treat.
Also, when purchasing a new home, especially
in a high-humidity climate, be sure your home inspection includes
an in-depth examination for mold.
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