The NY/NJ area sure has been getting a lot of rain this season and it doesn’t look like its stopping any time soon. With the remnants of Hurricane Florence hitting our area today, you may be wondering what you can do to prepare, protect and prevent mold growth related to the rainy season. Read on for tips that you can put into action right now to protect your home.
- Dry out any wet areas immediately. This is VERY important when it comes to prevention of mold. If you have a wet area due to a leaking roof, basement or windows its important to dry them out as soon as possible. Dehumidifiers can help to reduce moisture from the home in areas like the basement.
- Identify the problem areas. This isn’t tricky, in fact, you already know these areas and just may not have realized that they were a problem. Windows that are constantly full of condensation -> problem area. Dripping from the pipes -> problem area. Dampness in the basement in rain seasons -> problem area.
- Inspect Ventilation. Proper ventilation is what every home needs to ensure that moisture from appliances such as stoves, dryers, and areas of dampness like the bathroom is able to properly escape outdoors. Problems arise when vents exhaust into the attic or there is no ventilation at all.
- Inspect Gutters. If you’re one of the people experiencing leaking in the ceiling, the roof and the gutters are the first places to check. Perhaps the gutters need to be cleaned, or maybe there’s a bigger problem underlying. Inspection of the exterior is the first step to ensuring it won’t cause you a mold problem interior.
- Lastly, Monitor your indoor humidity level. Simple humidity detectors can be purchased in most hardware stores or even online. Humidity indoors shouldn’t be above 50-60%. If it is, you want to do your best to reduce it as it puts you at risk for mold growth.
Don’t panic if you’ve identified areas of concern, take the steps that you can to keep the interior of your home dry by addressing leaks, ventilation, and humidity levels indoors. If you’ve still got a problem, and you think you’ve already got mold, contact John Skelly at HNST Mold Inspections and have a professional take a look at the issue.
