Moisture and Mold

Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye and are present in every home. For most homes, these spores are not an issue as they do not have the right conditions to thrive. For mold to grow it needs three basic things: an organic food source (such as your wall or ceiling), normal indoor temperatures and moisture. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are moist. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Typically, whenever the relative humidity of a home remains above 60% for any length of time, the conditions for mold growth are present. Fortunately, this is a factor that we can control by minimizing moisture and humidity inside the home. Mold problem = moisture problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Here are a few moisture and mold prevention tips from the EPA:

• When water leaks or spills occur indoors - ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
• Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter.
• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc. (Note, at AHE we do not recommend opening a window to exhaust humidity, but rather install a timer switch on the bathroom fan and run it for 15 minutes after a shower)