Easy Ways to Help Stop the Spread of Mold in Your Highland Home | SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

Follow these easy steps to help deter mold growth in your home.

While mold is crucial to outdoor ecosystems and composting efforts, having mold growing in your Highland home is not beneficial at all. Because of the health effects associated with mold exposure and the long-term damage it can cause to structures, leaving mold untreated can cause extreme and pricey problems in the near future. 

So how do you handle mold? Understanding the nature of microbial growth, deterring its spread with proven methods and knowing when it is time to call the experts will help keep your home mold-free.

How Does Mold Spread Through the Home?

Mold spores are found in almost every natural environment, both indoors and out, all throughout the year. As airborne spores, they float around and search for the perfect place to land and multiply. Could be on clothing, shoes, pets or anything brought in from outside.

Mold spores commonly travel through air ducts to areas of the home that have high moisture or humidity. By preventing mold from locating an ideal environment, one can generally stop the problem before it has a chance to begin.

Ways to Prevent Mold from Growing

Mold spores are always present, therefore there is no way to completely remove it from the environment. However, using methods to be proactive about preventing mold spores from spreading can help you stop it before growth begins:

1. Low Humidity Levels: Mold is moisture’s biggest fan, so keeping the overall moisture levels in the home down is the best start. Dehumidifiers keep indoor humidity low, especially in areas such as bathrooms and basements.

2. Get That Leak Fixed ASAP: If water is entering your home, either through the roof or seepage into the foundation, make necessary repairs to stop leaks and making landscaping updates to get water routed away from your home.

*If you discover a plumbing or appliance leak, call a plumber right away. Getting the source of the water fixed is crucial to inhibiting mold.*

3. Use exhaust fans. In the bathroom and        kitchen, exhaust fans are a great tool to              move steam out of the room and consider          opening windows when washing dishes or            showering to increase circulation of dry air          to replace saturated air.

4. Always call the pros. When you find            mold or smell something “off”, it is essential        to get it promptly and professionally                    addressed to stop it from growing or                  spreading to other areas of the house                  through the air or HVAC system. 

If left untreated, mold can lead to health issues. By reducing moisture and getting professional help when necessary, you can discourage mold from growing in the first place and keep the problem from getting out of hand if it does.

If you have mold growth in your home, it is important to get it addressed right away! SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz’s experts are fully certified in mold remediation, we can stop the problem from spreading. Call us for a free evaluation and estimate at (845)255-4334.