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Reducing Summer Mold Exposure

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Summer is a favorite season for just about everyone. However, one of the things to watch out for is an increase in mold and exposure to it. Because mold grows so quickly and poses significant health risks, here’s what you can do to reduce your exposure to mold this season.

Why is there More Mold in Summer?

If you know anything about mold, you know it thrives in warm, moist, and humid conditions. In summer, the hot weather is a strong contributor to mold growth. Although plenty of direct sunlight helps kill mold, there are always airborne mold spores spreading throughout your yard, landing on your lawn, in your garden and on your house. Anywhere there is excess moisture, high humidity, or damp shady areas in the yard, you’re sure to find mold.

Humidity and Moisture

With hot temperatures, humidity levels rise. When it’s hot outside and cool indoors, condensation forms around doors, windows, and the insulation around them. Poorly draining AC units are another spot for mold because of clogged pipes, drainage issues, or undetected leaks creating moisture around the home foundation or in crawlspaces. If you haven’t cleaned out those gutters or compost bins, these are two places where decomposing organic matter like leaves attract mold very easily. Where there is a constant source of moisture, mold will find it and grow.

Food Sources

Like any active living organism, it needs food to live and grow. Mold isn’t picky about food sources, attacking anything from spoiled food to paper to cardboard and wood. If there are available food sources, warmth and moisture, mold grows, spreads, and releases airborne spores continuously.

Poor Ventilation

If there are areas in your home that aren’t properly ventilated, the lack of airflow leaves the air stagnant, and allows for the buildup of condensation and dampness. Unchecked moisture sources allow mold to thrive. The key areas to check are in attics, basements, and crawlspaces.

Reducing the Risks of Summer Mold Exposure

To reduce your risk of mold exposure, it’s important to eliminate the conditions mold needs to grow.
  • Check for leaks in and around drainage to the AC unit
  • Repair a leaky roof
  • Check and repair plumbing under cabinets for drips and leaks
  • Dry condensation around doors and windows
  • Replace wet insulation
  • Clean gutters and compost bins
  • Remove piles of decomposing yard waste
  • Keep the house and yard clean
  • Throw away spoiled food like fruits and vegetables
  • Keep an eye on shady, damp areas in and around the home
Conclusion To ensure the health and safety of you and your home, keeping on top of sources of humidity, dampness and moisture is your best line of defense. Making sure there’s good ventilation and removing food sources will drastically reduce mold growing in and around your home this summer. If struggling with mold in and around your home, call the remediation team at RCS for professional mold removal and prevention.

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