With spring around the corner, you’re likely switching out winter clothes for summer clothes. During this time, you may notice your clothes smell like mold or mildew. Excess moisture in your home is a breeding ground for mold so keeping your humidity levels in your home balanced is important. Read on to understand how to protect your home against mold and mildew damage.
Mold and Mildew Causes
The best way to control and eliminate mildew in your home is by maintaining a healthy humidity level indoors. Mildew is a product from mold, appearing on different surfaces as a thin black or white substance. These microscopic organisms produce enzymes allowing them to decompose and digest organic matter. They spread easily and reproduce from spores produced from mold and mildew.
Mildew and mold travel through your air and settle on surfaces and materials in your home. Any place where moisture or water builds up will attract mold and mildew. The most common causes of mold or mildew in your home are due to lack of household ventilation, issues with your HVAC system and high humidity levels.
Control Mold and Mildew Growth
It’s unrealistic to control all the ways mold and mildew can develop in your home, but there are several ways to prevent its growth with moisture control. A dry and clean home will reduce your chances of developing these microscopic organisms or their spores. Consider these preventive steps to control excess moisture in your home:
- Increase household ventilation by bringing fresh air in from outside and allowing stale air to filter out of your home. While opening windows and using fans will help consider installing a ventilation system to work with your current HVAC system. Utilize exhaust fans in your bathrooms and laundry room to dry out moisture, especially if they’re connected to our adjacent to your clothes closet. If you want a household ventilation system, contact Estes Services to discuss and install the best system for your home.
- Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and walls with weatherstripping, caulking or other sealants to stop moisture from entering your home during hotter months.
- Run your air conditioner regularly to keep your home cool and dry during the summer months when mold and mildew are more likely to grow.
- Install a whole-home dehumidifier to control and eliminate excess moisture in your air. Humidity levels between 30% and 50% are the ideal recommendation for a home, which reduces the chance of mold and mildew spores from spreading.
- Schedule preventative maintenance on your HVAC system with our NATE-certified technicians. We will inspect your system for excess moisture and clean your unit to prevent mold growth in the future. Estes Services offers different preventative maintenance plans at affordable prices. Call us today to discuss the options for your system and stop mold and mildew from spreading in your home.
Increase household ventilation this spring and schedule preventative maintenance on your HVAC system to control mildew and mold growth in your home. Contact Estes Services for preventative maintenance on your unit and installation of a ventilation system to work with your current HVAC system.
