6 Ways to Prevent Mold in Your Encinitas Home

Though it may not be pleasant to think about, mold growth is a common and often unavoidable occurrence in homes. Exposure to mold can be a serious health hazard, so every precaution should be taken to inhibit and remove any mold growth before it gets out of hand. Realtytimes.com published a list of 6 helpful tips to prevent mold growth in homes, and I believe the advice is worth sharing with my readers:

1. Reposition Your Downspouts

If you downspouts aren’t positioned away from the house, it can cause debris to build up and hold water against your home’s foundation. This water can easily seep inside the home, and cause mold to grow. Repositioning your downspouts will help keep your foundation dry, and prevent fungal growth.

2. Use a Dehumidifier

Using a dehumidifier can purify the air in your home, preventing homes with closed loop ventilation systems from recirculating the same air and building up contaminants. Basements are an especially good place for a dehumidifier, due to their dampness. A dehumidifier will help to keep the relative humidity between 30-50 percent, preventing black mold growth.

3. Inspect Your Crawlspace

Crawlspaces in the home don’t typically get much traffic, but they are a prime target for mold growth. Don’t overlook your crawlspaces when searching for mold, because the longer it grows the more dangerous and costly to remove it becomes.

4. Repair All Leaks Quickly

A leaky roof or plumbing is more than just an annoyance: it’s also a breeding ground for mold. Make sure to give your home a thorough inspection for any areas where leaks could lead to mold growth. Give extra attention to areas of the home where there is more plumbing, as the potential for mold is greater there. If there are areas where you can’t access pipes, you could consider an infrared inspection. Infrared inspections reveal hidden moisture intrusion and existing water damage, which are major causes of mold growth.

5. Frequently Clean

Cleaning your carpets and the dark, damp corners of your home will help you to prevent mold and spot growth at early stages.

6. Remodel Your Interior

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to remodel the inside of your home, there are worse reasons than preventing mold growth. Carpets are extremely susceptible to mold because they trap moisture and provide ideal conditions for growth. Replacing your carpets with hardwood or tiles is an option. If you don’t want to completely redo your floors, consider using a runner or a rug. These are much easier to clean and replace if they receive water damage. You can also repaint your walls using an anti-fungal paint, or add mold inhibitors to a regular can of paint. Remodeling efforts are especially successful in moisture-rich rooms like the bathroom and basement.

By Linda Moore

Office Listings

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
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