10 Ways to Prevent Mold From Growing in Your Home

Mold is a type of fungus usually found outdoors, but it can grow inside your home too. No one knows exactly how many types of mold exist, but estimates range from the tens of thousands to upwards of three hundred thousand. Mold reproduces and spreads by making tiny microscopic spores, which can unknowingly be inhaled.

When this happens, the exposed person can suffer a wide range of reactions. Symptoms can be minor: such as sneezing, wheezing, and irritated eyes and throat, or they can be more severe: such as fever, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and even lung infections in extreme cases.

Mold can grow wherever moisture is present, so in order to prevent it from showing up in your home, you need to limit your moisture levels. Some ways of doing this include:

1. Run your bathroom exhaust fan for 15 minutes after every shower. This will help remove excess moisture from the air.
   
   
2. Use a dehumidifier in problem areas, such as the basement, especially during summer months. Ideally, you want your relative humidity to be in between 30-50%. At 60%, mold can start growing.
   
   
3. Keep windows and doors shut when the air conditioner is running. Besides letting cold air escape and wasting money, this invites humid air into the home and causes condensation.
   
   
4. Clean up all spills and leaks immediately. Any standing water in the home invites mold. This also includes puddles that form near the washer, water heater, HVAC unit, shower, etc.
   
   
5. Install a plastic vapor barrier on the floor of your crawl space. 
   
   
6. Vent all moisture-generating appliances (stoves, clothes dryers, etc.) to the outside, not the attic.
   
   
7. Regularly clean your gutters and inspect your ceiling for leaks. Mold growth is very common on ceilings because rainwater can enter through leaky roofs.
   
   
8. If you see any mold in your home, call a professional service to remove it immediately. This will prevent it from making spores and spreading throughout your home. 
   
   
9. Direct outside water away from your home. If water seeps into your crawl space or foundation, you can bet mold will start to grow.
   
   
10. Clean your air ducts every 3-5 years. Condensation often forms on the inside of these vents, making it a perfect hiding spot for mold to grow.

If you live on Long Island, trust the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home clean and mold-free. We offer professional mold removal, as well as preventative services such as air duct cleaning and crawl space cleaning. Visit our website to learn more about our company or call us for a free quote at 631-940-8100.