Expert Tips on Preventing Mold From Forming in Your Home 

Mold build-up in and around a residential property can be a great cause for alarm as a homeowner. Mold is far from a harmless fuzzy growth; it can be extremely dangerous to your health, especially since many of the most common types of mold can easily become airborne. Not only will mold jeopardize your health, it can cause damage to the structure of your home. 

Mold is most often found growing in areas of the home that are susceptible to high moisture areas. Places where there is standing water - especially where there is a leak present - or parts of your home that face high humidity are the most problematic areas when it comes to mold. What’s worse, mold can and frequently does grow in places that are not easily seen (or cleaned), including inside of walls, in tile grout, in drains and pipes, and inside of your home’s air duct system. Basements, attics, and bathrooms are the most likely places for mold growth to start, but any part of your home’s structure could be at risk, especially if you have recently dealt with water damage and/or flooding. 

How Can I Prevent Mold From Growing? 

Someone in your life has probably told you that it’s better to prevent a bad thing from happening than to treat the consequences. This is often true with things like the flu or running out of gas on the drive home. The same applies to having a mold infestation in your home. 

Mold prevention is easy to do and can often be done effectively without the aid of a mold specialist. There are tons of products that you can buy at any hardware store or garden center that can help treat the early signs of mold and, more importantly, prevent mold growth from entering into your home in the first place. Regular cleaning and spraying of mold repellent products can help you avoid a costly bill from a removal and restoration service in the future. 

There are a lot of things in life that you can’t always plan for, including mold. But regular mold inspections are an important factor for homeowners who want to continue enjoying a mold free property. 

Moisture Control

Moisture can often be considered the underlying cause of mold, regardless of the actual issue that may have led to growth. And humidity is a primary cause of moisture build up, especially in basements. A dehumidifier is an easy way to maintain an appropriate moisture level (recommended moisture level is 60% in most properties) without having to manage and check moisture on a daily basis. 

If you have an issue with moisture and condensation on walls - a big issue for bathroom mold prevention - taking pains to wipe down your walls after a hot shower could save you a lot of hassle in the long run. 

Clean Spills Quickly

Under the right conditions, mold growth will occur in as little as two days. From there, mold will continue to grow and spread, often becoming airborne and adding health issues to your plate as well as concerns for the structure of your home and your belongings. For these reasons, cleaning up spills is perhaps the easiest and cheapest way that you can work to prevent mold from growing in your bathroom, basement, kitchen, or anywhere else in your home. 

Repair Leaks

Leaks are another primary cause of mold. Sometimes, leaks happen unseen inside your walls. When you can see a leak, it’s easy to know that calling a plumber is a priority. But when you can’t see a leak, you could go months before realizing there is an issue. At that point, you will often have more than just a leak repair to worry about - there could be structural damage and mold from an unchecked leak. Regular plumbing inspections are incredibly affordable, and a professional look once a year can set your mind at ease. 

Improve Air Flow

Problems with air flow in your home can compound on existing issues with humidity and even leaks. A poorly ventilated area will retain humidity more than a well ventilated area. By contrast, a well ventilated area can prevent moisture from building up, which in turn could alleviate potential mold growth. While you should still make an effort to clean up all spills when they happen, proper ventilation can also help with preventing standing water and damp possessions, to a degree. 

Water Damage Restoration 

If your home has suffered flooding or a major leak, you may need to call a water damage restoration contractor. Water damage is no joke! Even when the water has been removed from your home, mold growth can still occur; especially if the items in your home - including furniture, surfaces, carpeting, and possessions - have not been properly and fully dried. 

When your home faces significant water removal, getting the opinion of a restoration company on whether or not your home could have unseen water damage is just about the smartest thing you can do as a homeowner! 

Mold Prevention and Remediation Experts

If your home has been infested by water damage and mold, there’s no time to waste; call and speak to a skilled professional from Water Mold Fire Restoration. We’ll help you create a safe, strategic, and effective plan of removal and mold remediation for your home. We proudly serve homes and businesses throughout the country! Call one of our local restoration experts today for more mold prevention tips, or to schedule your own mold testing.