How to Avoid Mold Damage to a Home or Business

Dealing with the Affects of Mold and Mildew in a Wet Climate

Sep 13, 2009

People who live in a wet or damp climate have to be more careful of mold and mildew because those things thrive there. But they can be kept out of homes and businesses.

A dry climate can make it hard to grow crops and cultivate food that's needed for life. However, it also cuts down on unwanted organisms like mold and mildew. People who live where it rains often have more trouble keeping mold out of their yards and flower beds, as well as off their driveways, patios, and sides of their houses. Some of them even require mold remediation services to get mold and mildew out of their homes.

The outdoor mold can be an annoyance and it can be unsightly, but it's generally not dangerous. When mold moves to the inside of a home or business, it can be hazardous to health and needs to be removed. The mold can come from water damage, but it can appear through normal living in a damp climate, too. The best thing to do is to keep mold and mildew from getting started indoors in the first place.

Learn the Dangers of Mold and Mildew

People who have carpet in their homes or businesses are particularly vulnerable to mold growth in wet climates. Wet shoes bring a lot of dampness to any carpet. When it comes to water damage, carpet is vulnerable. If the climate in the area is wet for a long period of time and doesn't have much opportunity to dry out, the carpet can stay damp and mold can begin to grow.

It's assumed by a lot of people that a good air conditioning system is enough to avoid mold damage, or that plumbing that doesn't leak is all a person needs, but that's untrue. Those things are certainly important, but they might not be enough.

Another area that people ignore when it comes to mold in their homes is what their pets are bringing in. A wet dog lying repeatedly on the same area of carpet or on the same cloth couch can cause mold just as easily as wet shoes or damp clothing.

How to Look for Mold and Mildew indoors

A musty odor is one of the main clues to indoor mold, and it's one of the things people who handle water damage restoration will ask about if they're contacted. Mold can grow in the padding under the carpet, behind baseboards in the drywall, and under sinks, as well as in the corners of damp rooms like bathrooms. Mold growth can also appear in the shower and in the area under and around an indoor air conditioning unit if there are any leaks or even a lot of condensation. Mildew can be a problem there, as well.

If someone thinks he has mold in his home, it's a very good idea to look for it-but finding nothing doesn't mean the mold isn't there. Instead of giving the home an all-clear, the homeowner who suspects mold but doesn't see it should call in a water damage restoration professional. Many can be found online. Someone who's trained to look for mold will have the skills and the equipment to find it if it's there. Once it's been detected, removing and treating it can begin and mold damage can be repaired.

People who have experienced mold in their home or business in the past want to make sure it stays out in the future. To do that, some of them take small steps and some of them take larger, more drastic steps for cleaning mold and keeping it away. Small steps include using technology such as a dehumidifier to keep the air in the indoors drier, not allowing animals on the furniture if they've been outside, and removing shoes at the door so they aren't carrying water across the carpet.

Larger steps can include changing out cloth furniture for leather, removing all carpet from the building in favor of tile or hardwoods, and updating the home or business to have better ventilation in areas like the kitchen and bathroom. While these kinds of measures can be costly, they reduce the chance of mold and the dangers of it. They also help to avoid expensive repairs that need to be performed if mold is found and water damage restoration or mold remediation is needed.

It's not necessary for a person to live in a sterile environment or move to the desert to get away from mold and mildew, but taking care of a home or business is important. It can affect the resale value, the health of the occupants, and the overall quality of life for the people and the pets who spend their time there.

Mold and Mildew Avoidance and Treatment Resources:

The copyright of the article How to Avoid Mold Damage to a Home or Business in Home Owner Tips is owned by Michielle Beck. Permission to republish How to Avoid Mold Damage to a Home or Business in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.