Mold Awareness Month & things you should know.

What is Mold?

Molds are microscopic organisms present everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Molds are fungi which break down dead material and recycle nutrients in the environment. Molds need dampness and a food source to grow. Molds gradually destroy whatever they grow on.

Mold is bad for your health.  Molds release tiny, lightweight spores which travel through the air.  Indoor mold growth is undesirable and dangerous, and can cause inflammation, rash, allergy, congestion, headaches, and infection.

Keeping mold out of buildings and homes.

  • Inspect buildings for evidence of water damage and visible mold as part of routine building maintenance, Correct conditions causing mold growth (e.g., water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) to prevent mold growth.
  • Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
  • Controlling humidity levels;
  • Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;
  • Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;
  • Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.

Specific Recommendations:

  • Keep humidity levels as low as you can—between 30% and 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
  • Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
  • Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
  • Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
  • Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

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