Though people have spanned the globe from Nunavut to Australia, it’s fair to say that, on average, people have a fairly consistent idea of comfortable. Most people enjoy temperatures ranging from highs of 25°C down to lows of 5°C. They want to live in some sort of shelter that keeps the rain and snow off their head, the temperature comfortable, and the wind out. Unfortunately, moulds have similar ideals, and most of them are happy to move into your home without notice or permission.
Humidity is the most important tool that people have for keeping mould out of their house. The ideal humidity for people is around 45%. Less than 30% can lead to a cough, chapped lips, or nose bleeds; higher than 50% can lead to mould problems.
Controlling humidity requires both a whole-home strategy as well as a room-by-room approach. As part of your HVAC system, you can add a home humidifier-dehumidifier system. Like your thermostat, you’ll be able to set an ideal range of humidity (we recommend between 40% and 45%), and the system will turn on to change the humidity level as necessary. This is great for your home in general, but a home-wide system may struggle to keep up with some rooms.
As you bake and cook, water vapour is released into the air. Doing dishes, running the dishwasher, or leaving fresh flowers on the table will all contribute to the high levels of humidity in your kitchen. To minimize how much humidity floods your home, an exhaust fan can help move damp air outdoors. If the room is looking particularly foggy, you may want to open a window as well.
Your bathroom is another room that will need some extra help. Showers, baths, and even hanging your towel to air dry contribute to very high humidity in your washroom. Your bathroom needs to have an exhaust fan that is run while people are showering or bathing and for an additional half an hour after they’ve finished. This will help to prevent condensation, sustained moisture levels, and mould growth.
Preventing mould is all about controlling humidity. It’s one of the reasons DIY mould removal is sort of pointless. Without an expert to remove all the mould and explain what went wrong with the moisture level, it’s likely the mould will just come back again and again. At Amity Environmental, we safely and thoroughly remove all mould from your home, and we explain what changes you’ll need to implement to prevent mould problems in the future. Learn more about preventing mould today by contacting us at 1-403-667-8264.
