Mold is dangerous to your health and can be a major problem in new houses. It thrives in moisture so preventing mold is key.
Look for signs of moisture like dark spots on walls and peeling wallpaper. Any wet areas should be dried within 48 hours to avoid mold. Outside, keep the ground sloped away from the foundation and clean gutters to help prevent water from seeping in.
1. Keep Your Home Dry
Mold needs three things to grow, including oxygen, a food source, and moisture. Of these, the one you can control is moisture. This can come from humidity, leaks, or flooding during construction.
It’s important to dry any areas that are damp as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of mold. This includes bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, and kitchens. You should also keep air circulating, and open windows when it’s cool to help with ventilation.
Additionally, a dehumidifier can help reduce excess moisture in the air. And you should monitor the humidity of your home, particularly in rooms prone to moisture, with a digital barometer. If you notice high levels of humidity, it’s a good idea to use an anti-mold paint or sealant to protect the area. Mold spores can cause health problems in people with allergies or a weakened immune system, and can trigger breathing problems in those with asthma.
2. Keep Your Home Clean
During construction, builders often take steps to prevent mold from growing by sealing exterior walls, windows, and doors, and closing gaps. They also use moisture-resistant wood, caulk, and paint. However, after the house is finished, it is up to the new owners to keep their homes clean and mold-free.
This means keeping humidity below 60 percent, using fans and dehumidifiers in humid weather, wiping surfaces dry after showering or cooking, and storing fabric or clothing outside when possible. It’s also important to regularly inspect the home for potential problem areas, like leaky roof tiles or faulty guttering, and to promptly repair them.
If a surface becomes moldy, it is important to kill the spores and scrub the area with bleach before it spreads. This is best done by wearing long gloves and a mask to limit exposure to airborne mold spores. Some people are sensitive to mold spores and may experience allergic reactions, such as stuffy nose or itchy eyes, or respiratory problems, such as wheezing or shortness of breath.
3. Get a Dehumidifier
Humidity is a bit of a Goldilocks situation: too little and you have dry skin, too much
and you could end up with a breeding ground for mold. A dehumidifier helps you find that perfect balance by reducing the amount of moisture in the air, making it harder for fungal spores to grow.
You notice a musty smell in your home or garage, particularly after heavy rainfall. Allergies are worse than normal, causing coughing or running nose. There are water spots on the inside of your windows, or a rotting casing or seal.
Basements, laundry rooms and garages are all areas where moisture is a problem because they are often uninsulated and poorly sealed. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture by pulling air over cold coils to condense it, and then pushing warm, dry air back out. You can get a whole-house unit or choose one for a single room, such as the bathroom. Pricier models tend to have better water removal capability, higher energy efficiency and more features.
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4. Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Mold is a dangerous, insidious fungus that thrives in warm, humid environments. The spores can be inhaled and trigger allergies for some people. Fortunately, mold doesn’t have to be part of your life, as long as you follow these prevention tips for new house construction.
Mold needs three things to grow: oxygen, moisture and food. It can’t be prevented entirely, but reducing the amount of moisture in your home will help. Airflow is essential for keeping your home clean, especially during the Winter when humidity levels are lower. Open windows and doors, if possible, during cool periods of the day and night to increase circulation. It’s also important to check the relative humidity regularly. Ideally, it should be below 60 percent. A reading above this can indicate a moisture problem that needs to be addressed. You can find a relative humidity tester online or at most hardware stores. Mold can be a difficult and expensive problem to fix once it appears in your home, so it’s best to prevent it from growing in the first place. Home systems are important for your home and can help save money. Ask yourself, “Is it worth getting a home warranty?” Prevention from mold and keeping maintenance on your home is important for health and safety reasons as well as financial security too.
