Indoor Mold Prevention Measures

Moisture Control to prevent mold growth

The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep all materials in your home (building) as clean and dry as possible. Keep your home (building) well ventilated and the relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent.

Find and correct obvious sources of moisture, such as leaky faucets, dripping pipes or cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Wipe spills immediately.

To reduce indoor humidity, vent bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increase ventilation; use exhaust fans whenever, cooking, dishwashing, and/ or cleaning.

Sources of standing water promote mold and bacterial growth. Cover sump pumps; enclose fish tanks; ensure that basement drains (for a/c hoses, humidifiers, washers) are not clogged.

Dehumidify

Using a dehumidifier, air conditioner, or furnace will help dry the air.

Crawl spaces

Install a vapor barrier over the ground (4-6 mil polyethylene plastic) to prevent moisture from evaporating from the soil and filling the home. Damp crawl spaces can lead to wood rot on floor joists, beams and sills located directly above. The fungal spores can gain entry to the home via small cracks and crevices. Also, grading around the home should be sloped away to prevent water from pooling underneath it. Ventilation of the crawl space, with vents placed at opposites sides, can further minimize humidity.   [see http://www.atmox.com]

Humidifiers

Recent studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have shown that ultrasonic and impeller (or "cool mist") humidifiers can disperse materials, such as microorganisms and minerals, from their water tanks into indoor air. Proper care and cleaning are important. (See http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/humidif.html Feb 1991). Keep central furnace humidifier units properly maintained, in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. Clean and change the filter on an annual basis. Condensation on walls or windows indicates that the humidity is too high and needs to be adjusted. High relative humidities will encourage unwanted microbial growth.

Wet basements

One of the most common causes of wet basements is improper roof drainage. Ensure that gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks are properly installed and functional to allow proper rainwater drainage away from the home. Ensure the soil is sloped away from the structure.

Condensation

Prevent moisture due to condensation caused by increasing surface temperature (insulate or increase air circulation) or reducing the humidity level in the air.

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