Summer is the perfect time to enjoy those long-awaited summer vacations, summer gardens, campfires, and outdoor adventures. On the other hand, the hot and humid weather also invites unwanted visitors into your home, like mold. Yes, summer is the perfect invitation for mold to form in your home, and if you’re on vacation, away from your home, mold may spread quicker with no ventilation. So beware of mold this summer. At CCS Property Services, we offer advice on mold mitigation. Here are four tips to help stop mold growth in hot and humid weather:
- Control humidity levels. According to Jamie Tomchek, a mold remediation expert and owner of CCS Property Services in Green Bay, Wisconsin, “controlling the humidity in your home will help with mold growth. By Installing a humidity sensor in the home, homeowners can keep a finger on the “mold pulse”. Homeowners can pick up a humidity sensor at any home improvement center, relatively inexpensive. Tomchek says based on his years of experience “basements will sweat in the summer because of the humidity levels outside.” Specifically, running a self-draining dehumidifier in your basement will help to take water out of the air. If it’s not self-draining, make sure that you check it daily, and empty it as often as it needs to be emptied.
- Circulate Air. As mentioned in the first paragraph, mold accelerates without circulation. Stagnant air is a breeding zone for mold. Biotek Environment, another mold remediation expert in mold located in South Carolina, agrees that it is important to ventilate. The article, Summer Mold and What to Do, mentions that “In high humidity areas of our homes like bathrooms, the kitchen, basement, and attic, we need to have proper ventilation systems such as exhaust fans.” (Biotek Environmental, 2022) “A simple oscillating fan can also help with circulating the air as well,” according to CCS Property Services owner, Jamie Tomchek.
- Eliminate excessive water. Simple, but important. Remember mold forms because of too much humidity in the air. When the humidity level goes above 60%, mold can start to form. Anytime you have a water spill, wipe it up. If you notice your windows sweating, wipe them down. Check around pipes, especially under sinks in bathrooms, kitchens, and in basements. Make sure that if a pipe is leaking, get it fixed. Stop the source of where the water is coming from, and the chance of mold is highly unlikely.
- Keep your home clean. Dirt can help give birth to mold spores. Keeping your home free of dust, dirt, and soap scum can help deter mold. Here’s an example: let’s start in the bathroom with the shower exhaust fan. Allowing dust to form on the grates of the fan not only makes it difficult to ventilate but more importantly allows mold to easily attach to the dust, dirt, and oil on the fan. According to Anita’s Housekeeping Referral Agency, the article Creating a Mold-Resistant Home and Why It’s Important, (Anita’s Housekeeping Referral Agency, 2022) says that “with a sound cleaning routine, you should catch any mold issue just as it appears. A prompt response is vital in keeping mold issues from returning in the future. Also, by applying active and passive mold prevention, your home should become fresher and healthier almost overnight.” For additional cleaning processes and information on how to clean mold read more here.
As a homeowner, renter, or property owner, it’s important to be proactive in dealing with summer mold issues, and by following these four simple steps: 1) Control Humidity Levels, 2) Circulate Air, 3) Eliminate Excessive Water, 4) Keep Your Home Clean. By doing these 4 things, you can help eliminate the need for a mold remediation specialist and the unnecessary expenses that go along with it. Know, however, that if you see or smell mold, and would like to speak to a professional, CCS Property Services is the name to remember. CCS Property Services is a mold remediation specialized company with years of experience, in helping homeowners eliminate mold, find the source and fix the problem. Call 920-435-2288 today for your free mold assessment.