If you recently noticed a leak inside your home or office, you may wonder whether the water-damp spot on the floor will develop into mold. The shocking truth is that mold can appear within 24 hours once a puddle has formed from an underlying leaky pipe or HVAC unit.
Don’t wait when in doubt. Tackle the moisture problem right away and contact experienced mold remediation experts. Experts better know what mold needs to grow, the temperature and humidity level at which it grows, and how you can prevent mold growth in your home or office. This article will share effective methods for avoiding humidity and moisture in the house that helps mold grow.
Why Is Humidity Dangerous?
Humidity and excess moisture can significantly harm your home and health. A mixture of moisture and humidity allows mold to grow, which can cause allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. Excess moisture can damage building materials, causing wood to rot, metals to corrode, and plaster to deteriorate. Moisture can also lead to the proliferation of dust mites and other microorganisms that hurt health.
If your home is too humid, your rooms may smell musty. Condensation on windows, mirrors, walls, and ceilings can cause unsightly water stains and drips, and sweaty glasses leave those unsightly telltale rings on your beautiful tables when the coaster can’t handle the water load. Painted surfaces may crack, peel, or blister, as well as wood floors, furniture, trim bulge, and warp. Mold and mildew will grow faster than weeds in your garden.
High humidity is also not good for your energy bills. Your air conditioners remove some of the moisture from your home. When air passes over the evaporator coil, the moisture is pulled out and drips into the condensate pan. High humidity can make your air conditioners work harder because they have to cool heavy, moist air, increasing wear and tear on the system and sending your cooling costs through the roof.
Causes Of Humidity And Mold
Many homeowners face the problem of mold and excess moisture in their houses. These problems spoil the premises’ appearance and can negatively affect health. Below are the main causes of humidity and moist:
Poor ventilation
One of the main reasons for mold and dampness is insufficient ventilation of the premises. Moisture cannot escape without sufficient fresh air, creating ideal mold growth conditions. This is especially true for showers, kitchens, and basements with high humidity.
Leaks and flooding
Leaky roofs, pipes, and plumbing fixtures can source excess moisture. Flooding in basements and other home areas can also lead to mold. Small leaks can turn into serious problems if not addressed promptly.
Condensation
Condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with cold surfaces such as windows, walls, or pipes. This creates a damp environment that encourages mold growth. Condensation is especially common on poorly insulated walls and windows and in areas with poor ventilation.
How High Humidity And Mold Affects Your Health
Moist and mold love high humidity, and these growths, in turn, provide bacteria with an ideal environment to grow, which dramatically reduces indoor air quality and can lead to or worsen several respiratory illnesses.
Perhaps worst of all, high humidity is preferred for dust mites. These microscopic arachnids thrive in high humidity, reproducing faster than a room full of rabbits. Dust mites feed on dead human skin cells, meaning your bed is a buffet for the little beasts, each of whom leaves behind 20 highly allergenic poops every day.
If you have high humidity, you could have up to ten million dust mites in your bed alone, feasting, pooping, and eventually shedding their potentially allergenic skin. According to the Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 10 percent of the population and 45 percent of people with asthma are sensitive to dust mites, which can trigger severe allergy symptoms and worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions.
How To Avoid Humidity And Mold
The best way to avoid humidity to prevent mold is to ensure good ventilation:
Supply and exhaust ventilation
Supply and exhaust ventilation provide a constant fresh air flow and remove excess humidity from the premises. To improve air circulation, ventilation systems should be installed in the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. You can also use automatic ventilation systems that regulate humidity levels.
Windows and doors
Ventilate the rooms regularly by opening windows and doors. This is especially important after cooking, showering, or washing clothes. Install windows with ventilation valves to avoid mold accumulation in the window sills and to provide constant fresh air flow even with closed windows.
Eliminate Sources of Moisture
Leak Repair: Check all pipes, roofs, and plumbing fixtures for leaks and fix them immediately. Check the condition of the roof and gutters regularly. Install leak sensors that signal the presence of moisture in hard-to-reach places.
Basement Waterproofing: Ensure your basement is well-waterproofed to prevent groundwater from seeping in. Install drainage systems and pumps to remove excess water. Treat the basement walls and floor with waterproofing materials.
Use Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers effectively remove excess moisture from the air. They should be used in rooms with high humidity and an air quality monitor. Choose models with automatic humidity control and energy savings.
Portable Dehumidifiers: A portable dehumidifier needs to be serviced regularly to prevent mold growth. Portable units are noisy, not the most beautiful things to take up space in your rooms, and some units are less energy efficient than whole-house systems. The disadvantages of portable dehumidifiers include emptying the collection container, which can fill up in hours (you can use the water to moisturize your plants).
Whole-House Dehumidifier: A whole-house dehumidifier gives you hands-free humidity control. The unit is inside your HVAC system, so it’s out of sight, and you won’t hear a sound. It drains directly into your air conditioner’s condensate pan, so you don’t have to empty a bucket once or more a day. It improves indoor air quality by optimally filtering the air. A whole-house unit is more energy efficient than a portable unit, so your energy savings will be significantly higher.
Avoid Condensation
Insulating walls, floors, and ceilings help prevent condensation on cold surfaces. To improve your home’s thermal insulation, use quality insulation materials and install thermal insulation panels and special coatings. Replacing regular windows with double—or triple-glazed windows helps reduce the likelihood of condensation forming on the glass. To improve thermal insulation, install windows with low U-values and thermal breaks.
Regular Maintenance
Conduct regular mold inspections of the condition of your home’s roof, walls, foundations, and utility systems. This will help promptly identify and eliminate possible sources of moisture. Clean ventilation systems, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers regularly. Monitor the condition of insulation materials and renew them as needed. Install automatic humidity and ventilation control systems.
Verdict
Following simple recommendations and properly caring for your home can help avoid humidity and dampness. This article has helped you better understand how to prevent these problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Temperature and Humidity Does Mold Grow At?
Mold grows fastest between 77°F and 86°F with relative humidity above 55%. Lower temperatures merely cause mold colonies to form dormant, thus limiting spore production. Interestingly, temperatures between 77°F and 86°F are also optimal for human comfort. Instead of keeping your home either blisteringly hot or freezing cold, maintaining low relative humidity is the best way to control mold growth.
What’s the Best Humidity Level to Maintain Indoors?
35-45% relative humidity is a sure good way to ensure the spores of molds aren’t contagious. However, very dry air will turn out to be your worst enemy in the parts of your body, the mucous membranes. You want to live in at least 35% relative humidity. Remember, however, that mold can grow best when the relative humidity is at 55%, so keeping the humidity well below that percentage is your best bet. Most modern dehumidifiers can set a minimum humidity level. Set yours around 40% to prevent mold from growing in your home.