Like animals and plants, fungi and moulds have particular needs that must be met in order to thrive. This means that there are several ingredients your house needs to grow mould. Unfortunately there are only a few that you can actually alter. After all, it’s difficult to remove all the organic components from your house, but something like humidity can be controlled. Here are a few of the more minor home improvements that can help prevent mould.
Ventilation is one of the most important tools against mould. Ventilation is almost a necessity in the washroom. Without a vent, the steam from showering and bathing will stay in the washroom and eventually help contribute to mould. Leaving a window open to help clear away the hot, steamy air can help, but a vent with a fan is the best option. Two more rooms that should have vents are the kitchen and the laundry room. If you hang clothing to dry inside, the laundry room needs a vent almost as much as the washroom. If your kitchen does not have a vent, be sure to keep a window open when you’re stove top cooking.
New Weatherstripping will also help. Cold air cannot hold as much water as warm air. That’s why you’ll often find condensation (water droplets) on a cold window or door. Keeping your house warm, bright, and cozy will help prevent mould. Cold drafts do not help whisk condensation away like a vent does but do lower the temperature and help it to form. Check your windows and doors to make sure that the weather stripping is function properly. A good way to do this is to use incense or a candle and see if the flame or smoke flickers in a breeze.
A Dehumidifier is one the best way to prevent mould growth in your house. Like all living things, mould needs moisture to survive. A humidity of 50% or higher for 24 hour or longer will allow mould spores to begin to grow. A dehumidifier is the best tool for bring humidity down out of the range moulds can grow in. However, people also need humidity in the air! Try to keep your humidity between 35% and 45%. If you notice symptoms like chapped lips and dry skin, you can move it up a bit, but aim to keep it below 50% and never higher than 55%.
There are many ways to help your house resist mould growth. These three options work for almost any home, however if you want more ideas specific to your house you’ll have to call in the experts at Amity Environmental. Have the answer you want today at (403) 667-8264.
