Did you know mold can force people to leave their homes? If you want to learn how to prevent mold damage and growth in your house, mold removal services from Toronto can help.
In this guide, we’ll go over tips on preventing mold growth. You will learn what things to do after a shower and the importance of taking care of leaks.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
- Try Mold-Resistant Cleaning Products
Are you renovating your house? If so, look at using mold-resistant materials and products. You can buy mold-resistant sheetrock or drywall. You can also get paints with mold inhibitors.
Typical drywall will have a gypsum plaster core that’s pushed between paper plies. Yet, mold-resistant drywall doesn’t have paper in it.
The gypsum core’s covered in fiberglass and is way more moisture-resistant.
Use this kind of drywall in your laundry room, basement, kitchen, or bathroom.
- Try to Measure the Humidity
The only way mold begins to grow is moisture. You should take care of leaks and spills right away. However, humidity in the air will also contribute to mold growth.
If you find mold, you should buy a hydrometer. The device will give you the level of humidity in your home in real-time. Place the device in an area you won’t forget, and use it.
You can prevent mold by monitoring the daily levels of humidity. You should try to hit between 30-50 percent to stop mold growth.
If your home’s humidity goes beyond 60 percent, mold can grow.
- You Should Open the Windows
Ventilation is the second factor to stop mold growth. Air can hold a limited amount of vapor.
Water could end up condensing because of temperature changes. If this does happen, you might find water beading up on your walls and windows.
Keep your windows open. Outdoor air will regulate indoor humidity. You might not open windows during your cool months.
In the colder months, try in-home ventilation. Keep air moving throughout your house with ceiling fans, standing fans, and HVAC.
- Pick up Household Exhaust Fans
Homes should have exhaust fans. You’ll need one for your kitchen and one for your primary bathroom. Use the exhaust fans to vent moisture and smoke away.
Use your exhaust fan even if you boil water.
Adopt the same kind of routine when you use your shower or tub. The moisture will stick to the walls in the kitchen. This will promote mold growth and also increase indoor humidity.
An exhaust fan can help keep things from condensing on your walls and ceiling. Wipe down the wet shower walls.
- Check the Drainage Outdoors
You should consider your landscape and think about how you can prevent mold. Look at the path water moves on your property.
In a good situation, your house will get situated on a small hill. This means water will drain away.
Basements are one of the most challenging areas for mold. If the water pools around your house, you’ll end up with mold problems.
The moisture will trickle into the foundation of your house and leak inside.
Landscaping isn’t a cheap fix. You can get a contractor to finish an audit of your property if the drainage isn’t working.
- Keep the Gutters Clean
Make sure your gutters remain clear. Otherwise, they won’t do the job right. Foliage will gather in rain gutters over time. This will cause a spillover during rainfall.
Instead of going through the downspout, water will run down your house’s siding.
Water could infiltrate the house. The water buildup and mold growth can occur behind the walls or in the attic.
- Make Sure You Handle Wet Spills
You should keep your home dry if a leak occurs. When you spill water, you should clean it up right away.
This can include things in the kitchen or bathroom. The same will happen for wet items. Did you end up caught in a storm?
Don’t leave umbrellas or wet clothing on the floor. You should avoid this if the home’s carpeted. Since carpets tend to absorb moisture, they will remain challenging to dry.
Did your basement flood? Look into mold remediation services right away.
- Handle Leaks
You should keep inspecting the plumbing. Leaks are the main reason for mold in homes. Small leaks will lead to a significant mold problem.
Once a month, look at checking the open pipes in your house. Look at the pipes under the sink that run behind the toilet.
Mold will thrive in a dark environment. You should prevent them from getting super damp. Keep moisture from building up inside your house.
It will help if you fix leaky faucets and pipes. The doors and windows should get sealed against rain.
- Try to Ventilate Your House
Improper ventilation is another way that moisture will end up sneaking into your house. High-moisture areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens will need to be ventilated.
It will help if you run an exhaust fan or window. Simple tasks like showering and cooking could cause mold.
Preventing Mold and Keeping Your Home Safe
We hope this guide on preventing mold was helpful. Consider how you can avoid issues of mold.
Learn how to control moisture and humidity levels. You should also keep your home ventilated and look at opening windows after a shower or meal.
Are you looking for more home maintenance tips? We have a wide variety of resources on the blog for you to keep learning about house maintenance.
