Summer weather came in like a bang with its heat, humidity and inevitably thunderstorms will come rolling in. When heat and moisture come together this time of year, it’s important to be on the lookout in your home for potential mold issues. Mold loves this type of weather so it’s smart to prepare yourself now in order to prevent damage to your home and health.
If you’ve read our previous blogs about asthma, you know that toxic or not, mold can cause some serious health issues. If you haven’t read up about Molds relation to asthma, check out our blog section, or the EPA’s website for more information.
Here are the quick points, mold can infiltrate carpet, furniture, drywall and flooring. There is no limit to where it can grow. In some cases, the mold is behind the walls or under the floorboards, and homeowners may not see the problem initially. Controlling moisture levels in your home is the key to prevention in these cases.
Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Set humidifier to below 50% to prevent moisture.
Step 2. After a flooding event, take action immediately to prevent mold. Rain and severe thunderstorms can also be a worry, this time of year. It is important that if any flooding does happen that you take steps to remove it IMMEDIATELY! Anything that is wet, carpets, flooring, furniture, etc. can be a breeding ground and needs to be dried within 24 hours.
Step 3. Get your home tested for mold after a water event
Step 4. Check the perimeter to make sure water isn’t being funneled towards your home. Ensure all gutters and downspouts are free and clear of debris. Check to make sure connections to downspouts are intact and that they are aimed away from the house and foundation.
Use these four steps and keep your summer mold-free! Unfortunately, we know not all of your summers will be mold-free, but fear not! HNST Mold Inspection is here for you whether you’re in New York or New Jersey.
