Getting rid of mold once it appears can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor, which is why it's much better to try to prevent its appearance. By taking actions to alter the environment of your home, you can minimize the likelihood that it will develop in the first place.
Look for Wet Areas
The first thing you should do is take a tour of your home and look for problem areas. This includes finding areas that are prone to moisture, such as leaks from rainfall or leaks from appliances. Any water you find should be cleaned up immediately and you should take action to protect against future leaks or spills.
Determine If You Have Enough Ventilation in Your Home
Many appliances, such as refrigerators, furnaces, and laundry dryers produce moisture in the form of condensation. Additionally, your bathroom collects moisture when the bath or shower is in use. Consider adding ventilation to the outdoors. While fans and air conditioning units can also help, they may produce moisture on their own, which can contribute to the problem.
Use Mold-Resistant Building Materials
If you're renovating or building your home, this is the perfect opportunity to make use of even more preventative technologies. Today, you can buy Sheetrock, drywall, and paints that are engineered to resist the development of mold. While this won't guarantee your home won't develop mold, using these materials can make the appearance of it less likely.
Regularly Check Your Gutters
If they're in poor shape, investing in new gutters can help you save on other costly home repairs, as well as reducing the chance that rainwater and leaves will produce mold. Also, you should regularly check the gutters to ensure they haven't become clogged. If they're need of cleaning, clear them out before mold has a chance to develop. If you observe any water stains, you should investigate further. This may indicate a leak, which may cause mold to thrive in the home.
Invest in a Moisture Meter for Your Home
It's especially important to monitor the levels of humidity in your home. This is the best way you can control environmental conditions to minimize the occurrence of mold inside the home. Many hardware stores sell moisture monitoring devices that you can use in your home to keep an eye on the humidity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, humidity levels should be between 30% and 60% inside the house, so a greater concentration of moisture may indicate a need for more ventilation. Additionally, you can look for moisture to gather around pipes, on windows, and on the walls of the home. Any area that exhibits condensation should be immediately dried and the cause of the moisture should be identified and corrected.
While it's wise to take action to prevent mold from developing, sometimes you're still going to develop a problem. This can be especially true for new homeowners who may be inheriting a pre-existing problem. If you do observe a problem, it's important to contact a professional restoration company to take care of the problem efficiently.
