The Trouble with Moisture and Mold
Residents of McPherson know that weather can turn on a dime. A cold, wintry day gives way to sun and slush. A hot and windy afternoon becomes a muggy, rainy night. The weather whiplash can put stress on everything, from our hair and our allergies all the way to our homes. But when it comes to maintaining a healthy, high indoor air quality environment, there is one metric that reigns supreme: humidity.
Overly high humidity levels can lead to more than warped wood and bubbling paint; worst of all, overly high humidity levels can create conditions for undesirable mold growth. Mold thrives on moisture.
“I Keep a Clean House, How Did I Get Mold?”
Mold is found in both indoor and outdoor environments. It exists virtually everywhere, floating through the air, attaching to clothing, and flowing through windows or vents. Because of mold’s microscopic nature, spores are largely undetectable until they spread and embed. When mold comes into contact with excessive moisture, it begins to grow. As long as this growth is fed with organic materials, mold can sustain growth and an infestation can spread without opposition. Even in the cleanest homes, mold can find access to moisture and material food if certain preventative measures aren’t taken. Although leaky roofs or pipes are obvious problem spots for moisture, high indoor humidity is a bit sneakier. It can transform a poorly ventilated attic or basement into a breeding ground for a mold outbreak. And when it comes to organic materials, we aren’t just talking about old bread or banana peels. In a clean house, mold can still find and feast on wood or paper products, cardboard, and ceiling tiles. It can also grow on some paints or wallpapers, and in insulation or on drywall, carpets, fabrics, upholstery, and even dust. High humidity becomes an accelerator for the process and pushes mold from surviving to thriving.
Controlling Indoor Humidity Levels
The CDC recommends keeping indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50% at all times. In-home humidity sensors are invaluable in regulating levels. In some systems, sensors are part of sophisticated HVAC systems and level outputs can be read through in-home thermostats. In other cases, it is more affordable and easier to simply purchase hygrometers to place throughout the house, particularly in problematic rooms. If the measured humidity is too high, try some of the following steps to reduce levels:
- Reduce moisture sources: patch a leaky roof, fix drippy pipes, and seal flooding-prone basements. Anywhere there is visible water or condensation should be addressed if possible.
- Improve ventilation: increasing air circulation will naturally reduce humidity levels. Running exhaust fans and air conditioners in the warmer, higher humidity months will keep moisture from over-accumulating.
- Check hotspots: kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms in particular need to be vetted for high humidity. Exhaust fans should vent away from kitchen appliances and away from mold-prone surfaces. Laundry room dryers should vent to the outside, as cycles of wet clothing can otherwise lead to mold over time. Similarly, consider removing any carpeting or carpeted mats from your bathroom, as the material is likely to accumulate excess water while proving more challenging to clean than hard surfaces.
- Dehumidifiers: with all else accounted for, a dehumidifier could be the final piece of the humidity maintenance puzzle.
Shopping Dehumidifiers
There are plenty of reviews for specific appliances out there. In order to sort through them more effectively, it helps to know what you are shopping for when researching dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers pull excess moisture from the air. They can do this through heating and wicking or moving air. The types to look for are desiccant, refrigerant, and the whole house. Desiccant and refrigerant will be rated for square footage by room. The whole house will be rated for the square footage of the entire property and often combine with your central HVAC processes. Desiccant and refrigerant varieties are more affordable and easier to set up. Whole-house dehumidifiers are expensive and more challenging to install and maintain. Each type comes with advantages and disadvantages, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Find a dehumidifier that works for your space! No matter which route suits your home best, opt for an energy-efficient model when possible. Many dehumidifiers are now Energy Star rated, meaning these appliances meet federally mandated guidelines for energy efficiency. Energy Star ratings are part of a longstanding environmental program run by the government. Qualified products will take less bite out of your electric bill and have a reduced impact on the environment when compared with their less-efficient counterparts. In many cases, Energy Star appliances operate ten to twenty percent more efficiently, and for something that you are likely to run around the clock during humid seasons, it makes a difference!
Just by considering prevention and maintenance strategies for humidity levels, you and your property are ahead of the curve when it comes to curbing indoor mold growth. And if you want a more comprehensive assessment, our Lamunyon team is always happy to weigh in with years of expertise. Lamunyon installs dehumidifiers specifically designed for basements, crawlspaces, and whole-home dehumidification. Call Lamunyon today at 888-609-9670 for your no-obligation evaluation.
From planning to clean up, Lamunyon Mold ensures that your home is a safe haven and free from mold growth. We also offer various mold services to cater all your mold issues in your home or office: