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.

10 Things to Know About Mold

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. Although it is very common outdoors and a vital part of the ecosystem, mold can be a serious health hazard when found inside your home. Here are ten things you need to know about mold:

1. The most effective way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
2. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
3. If mold is present in your home or office, contact a professional removal service immediately!
4. Prevent mold growth by fixing any and all water leaks as soon as possible.
5. Reduce indoor humidity to 30-60% to effectively decrease mold growth. Some ways to do this include:

• venting all bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
• using air conditioners and dehumidifiers during the summer.
• increasing ventilation in your home by opening windows, using fans, and installing an attic vent.

6. Clean and dry all damp building materials and furnishings within 24 hours to prevent mold from growing.
7. Clean mold off of hard surfaces using water and detergent. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles) may need to be replaced.
8. Reduce the potential for condensation in your home by adding insulation. This can help prevent mold from growing on your windows, pipes, ductwork, roof, etc.
9. Don't install carpeting in areas where there is a consistent moisture problem, such as bathrooms.
10. Molds can be found almost anywhere, indoors and out. They can grow on virtually any surface where moisture is present, including carpet, wood, walls, paper, and food.

Do you suspect that mold is growing in your Long Island home? Don't wait to take action; long-term exposure can cause all kinds of respiratory problems! Call the mold removal experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration – we will thoroughly survey your entire home for mold and take the appropriate action to remove any that we may find. Call us today for a free estimate at 631-940-8100.