Keep Mold From Forming in Your Home

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

You can prevent mold from growing in your home like this by following some helpful tips from SERVPRO of Ames.

If you have any kind of water leakage or water damage in your home, it’s very common to develop a mold problem as well. We see it all the time. However, mold remediation is usually not covered in a homeowners insurance policy. Here are 15 tips from SERVPRO of Ames for preventing the development of mold in your home:

1. Add mold inhibitors to paint before painting areas likely to have mold, such as bathrooms, kitchens or basements.
2. Use mold-killing cleaning products when cleaning your bathroom or kitchen, two areas with a lot of moisture.
3. Don’t lay carpet in basements or other areas that have a lot of moisture.
4. Make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation to prevent water from entering your home or collecting around it.
5. Remove or replace wet carpets that cannot dry properly.
6. Keep the humidity in your home between 40 and 60 percent. (You can buy a fairly inexpensive humidity meter from your local hardware or home repair store.)
7. Cover cold surfaces, such as water pipes, with insulation to keep condensation and mold from forming. 
8. Use air conditioners, dehumidifiers and fans can help to remove excess moisture and condensation in your home.
9. Check under indoor plants to make sure water is not accumulating beneath the pots.
10. Clean your roof and roof gutters frequently and repair them immediately if you notice leaking or damage.
11. Clean the drip pan below your air conditioning unit regularly and check that all of your drain lines are flowing properly.
12. Leave air conditioning on when you leave your home unattended to keep airflow moving.
13. If your basement or any other part of your home floods, thoroughly clean and dry everything and call SERVPRO of Ames to check for mold growth.
14. Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as dryers or stoves, outdoors.
15. When you shower, cook, or run the dishwasher or clothes dryer, use an exhaust fan or open a window to let excess moisture escape.

Keep in mind that condensation can be a sign of excess humidity, which can cause growth. If you do suspect mold, don’t try and clean it yourself. Call SERVPRO of Ames (515) 233-4544, and we’ll come out right away to determine if it is mold and what needs to be done if it is - at no charge for the initial evaluation.