Mold is not only a shower problem, it can grow anywhere: 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. Since mold can trigger serious health risks to you and your family, it’s important to keep it out.  So what can you do if you're concerned about mold growing in your home? The best approach is preventing mold before it begins with the following key tips:

Dry Wet Areas

Mold can't grow without moisture, so dry wet areas immediately. Dry all water accumulation such as seepage into the basement or crawl space after a heavy rainfall, water leakage from pipes, or carpet spills within 24 to 48 hours.  Don't leave wet items lying around the house, and make sure to dry all areas after a shower. A shower squeegee is a quick, easy and painless way to rid moisture in the bathroom.

Proper Ventilation

Household activities such as cooking dinner, doing laundry or dishes and taking a shower can invite mold into your home if you do not have proper ventilation. The non-draftiness quality that you love about your energy efficient home may also be the reason moisture is being held inside. Open a window or run an exhaust fan when doing moisture producing activities. Appliances that produce moisture such as dryers and stoves should be vented to the outside and not the attic.

Monitor Indoor Humidity

The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. You can measure humidity with a moisture meter purchased from your local hardware store. Some signs of excess humidity are visible such as condensation on windows, pipes, and walls.

Look for more key tips next week in Part 2. In the meantime, for more information regarding how Anchor Heating and Air Conditioning can help keep you, your family and your home healthy, give us a call at (770) 942-2873.