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How To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home

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Mold growth is one of the most serious health concerns that faces homeowners, as the presence of mold can cause or aggravate a wide range of respiratory conditions. Mold only grows in the presence of heavy moisture, and so becomes a major risk after experiencing water damage. With that in mind there are a few things that you can do to help reduce the risk of mold spores taking root by targeting specific areas of your home.

Dehumidify the Air

One of the easiest things that you can do to reduce your home's overall humidity levels and therefore the risk of mold growth is to install portable dehumidifiers throughout your home. This is especially important for dark areas that you don't visually inspect regularly, such as the basement, which can be at particular risk of experiencing water damage or moisture buildup which can contribute to mold growth. Portable dehumidifiers can be purchased at most hardware stores, whereas you can also contact a professional to have a whole house dehumidifier installed, which is a much more expensive but effective method of preventing mold growth throughout your entire home.

Clean the Ducts

In a similar vein to the above point, you will also want to regularly have your home's air ducts inspected and cleaned to remove any debris and mold spores which may be inside. This goes hand in hand with general HVAC maintenance: changing the air filter regularly and ensuring that your air conditioner and ventilation system are in good working condition can help prevent moisture buildup in those units. If an unmaintained air conditioning unit malfunctions and produces a great deal of interior moisture, it can grow mold right inside the unit and then spray it throughout your home via the ducts, so regular yearly maintenance is of tantamount importance.

Inspect the Roof

Ensuring that your home's roof is in good condition is the best thing that you can do to prevent leaks into your home's attic and upper floors. On the exterior, this means replacing damaged or missing shingles and flashing, keeping the gutters and downspouts clear of debris and in good working order, and removing all leaves and other obstructions from the roof which may trap water. On the interior of your attic, this means ensuring that your attic is properly insulated and ventilated, which will prevent ice dams from forming due to a difference between your attic temperature and the exterior temperature during the winter months.

For more tips on cleaning up water damage and keeping mold at bay, contact companies like Servpro Of South Elkhart County.


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