The most important step you can take to reduce exposure to toxic mold is to maintain home humidity at recommended levels. Mold needs four ingredients to gain a foothold in your home and, frankly, there's not much you can do about the other three. Mold spores are abundant in the environment and circulate invisibly in the air, microscopic organic particulates that provide mold food occur naturally and the household temperatures that mold thrives at are the same temperatures most people prefer. That leaves moisture reduction as your single most effective measure to combat mold. Most moisture that promotes mold is the result of the accumulation of interior humidity in enclosed spaces.
Here are some things you can do to maintain home humidity at healthy levels.
- Be aware of indoor humidity levels. While the Environmental Protection Agency suggests maintaining indoor humidity between 35 and 60 percent, some molds will begin to grow in just 24 hours at a relative humidity of 55 percent. Maintaining 50 percent as an approximate target is a better strategy.
- Exhaust high humidity at its source. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms naturally accumulate humidity. Utilize dedicated exhaust fans that vent humid air directly out of the house through the roof.
- Maintain your air conditioner. Humidity reduction is an important function of the air conditioning process. Neglected maintenance and service issues reduce the efficiency of humidity extraction and make it difficult to maintain home humidity in the proper range during summer.
- Keep air moving. Circulating air stays drier and reduces condensation on surfaces that spawns mold. Make use of ceiling fans and other energy efficient ventilating equipment to reduce indoor humidity.
The professionals at Rytech have more suggestions to maintain home humidity and reduce mold growth. Contact us today.
Image via Shutterstock.com
