How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home

There are many signs that your home is falling victim to mold growth. Mold can grow on carpet, clothing, food, paper, and even in places you can’t see, such as the backside of drywall, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles. It is costly to fix mold damage in your home, and it can also produce allergens and irritants that can compromise your health. 

Here are a few ways to prevent mold growth in your home before it becomes a problem for your health and finances. 

Dry Wet Areas Quickly

Mold can’t grow without moisture, so tackle wet areas as soon as possible. Seepage into the basement after heavy rainfall, accumulation from a leaky pipe, even a spill on the carpet should be dried within 24 to 48 hours. If you’ve experienced a flood, remove water-damaged carpets, bedding, and furniture if they can’t be completely dried.

 Even smaller-scale moisture buildup should be prevented. Don’t leave wet items lying around the house, and make sure to dry the floor and walls after a shower. It’s also important not to leave wet clothes in the washing machine, where mold can spread quickly.

Properly Ventilate Your Space

Make sure an activity as simple as cooking dinner, taking a shower, or doing a load of laundry doesn’t invite mold by providing proper ventilation in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and any other high-moisture area. Ventilate appliances that produce moisture like dryers and stoves to the outside and not the attic. It is also good to open a window or run an exhaust fan when cooking, washing dishes, or showering.

Invest in Mold Resistant Products

If you plan on building a new home or are in the process of renovating one, it may be beneficial to invest in some mold-resistant building materials. Traditional drywall is composed of a gypsum plaster core pressed between plies of paper. Mold-resistant drywall is paperless, and the gypsum core is covered in fiberglass, making the surface highly water-resistant. Moisture-resistant drywall is especially valuable in areas prone to wetness, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and kitchens. Not only is traditional drywall more susceptible to mold than the paperless kind, but it is also difficult to rid of mold, and removal and replacement can be expensive. 

Mold detection can be tricky to spot, and damage from leaks can happen quickly. If you suspect you are suffering from leaky pipes that need repair, Superior Integrated Services can help. We offer FREE leak inspection and detection, and repiping services!

Give us a call today at (951)442-5339 for convenient emergency plumbing leak repair services and prevent mold damage in your home.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *