Today's Topic: Mold in Your Home

Mold is a very touchy subject these days. There is growing concern over the presence of mold in homes and the effect that it may have on you and your family. The disturbing reality is that there are mold spores everywhere. In your normal daily routine it is inevitable that you will come in contact with mold spores in the air, unless your daily routine takes place in a medical or scientific clean room. The following may give you some insight as to why you are having mold issues, and what you can do to help stop and prevent mold from growing in your home.

There are a few factors that determine wether your home provides an adequate environment for mold growth. One major factor is the humidity in your home. Mold spores are activated as the humidity in an environment climbs. Typically the hot number here is 70%. If an environment reaches a humidity level of 70% or more, the likelihood of having mold growth increases. Luckily for us, this is a factor that can be easily controlled. Take a look around your place and count how many live plants you are watering. These plants, although beautiful and fragrant, will increase the relative humidity in your home. Obviously, if you only have one small plant in your home the effect will not be as great as a person who is cultivating a small greenhouse worth of plants in their home.

Ventilation systems can help control mold growth, but can also promote mold growth if they are not installed properly. Ensure that all ventilation systems vent to the outside of your home and not in to an attic, crawl space, etc. This includes bathroom exhaust fans, the range hood in your kitchen, and clothes dryer vents. If you are not removing the humid air from your home, you are only promoting the growth of mold.

Luckily for us there are ways to control the humidity in our homes. Dehumidifiers and air conditions do a great job of lowering the relative humidity, discouraging mold growth. Now don't get me wrong, I am not encouraging you to run your a/c all year round. Although I would not be against it, (I love when the temperature in my house is around 65-68 degrees) you may find some resistance from the others that you live with. Also, I'm sure telling them that I said it is a good idea will not fly.

Basements are typically hot spots for mold growth. One thing to check in your basement is the floor covering you have installed. If you look down the basement steps and see carpet you will have to keep a closer eye on the humidity than if there was a hard floor covering. Carpet will tend to trap moisture and in turn increase the relative humidity of the room. Once again, this is easily remedied by running a dehumidifier in your basement.

While you can treat mold yourself, it is always recommended that you consult a professional especially if the mold growth is extensive or if you are sensitive to mold. Here at ServiceMaster by Bell we are ready to talk with you about any mold issues you may have and as always, we offer free estimates! We are experienced in mold remediation and have a staff trained in how to handle and treat mold. We also offer air quality testing to ensure our customers that the air in their home is of a safe quality.

Once again, thanks for reading and please do not hesitate to give us a call if you have any mold issues or questions.

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

814-764-3232

877-214-1664

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com