Most bathrooms have that extra switch on the wall to activate a fan on the ceiling, but it doesn’t seem to do much but add a constant hum. In fact, that tiny fan ventilates the bathroom, removing: humidity, odors, and other pollutants.

While the improved air quality might be enough (no one likes a smelly bathroom!), its most powerful effect is that of removing humidity when taking a shower. This subtle service acts to prevent moisture from collecting within the bathroom, potentially creating mold and the broad range of damage mold can cause.

The Dangers of Mold in Your Home

Mold (and its white counterpart) is a fungus that can collect on your shower curtain, drains, walls, floors, and appliances. Beyond just touching it, inhaling mold spores can cause problems to those who are sensitive to it (children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems). These problems include:

• Allergic Reactions: rashes, runny nose, sneezing, and red eyes.
• Fever and difficulty breathing.
• Infections.

Mold grows when its tiny spores land in a moist environment and are given the time to reproduce (this is most dangerous when you can’t easily spot the mold). You should try your best to be aware of the areas where moisture is likely to collect: the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and outside of the house where water collects.

How to Prevent Mold

The best tips to are to keep areas dry with rugs or towels, improved air-circulation (by fans and open doors), and using dehumidifiers. Ask a professional contractor to ensure your air ducts are operating appropriately, check and fix leaks, and adding insulation.

But for your bathroom, the key is the innocuous fan on the ceiling; if you properly maintain it, then you drastically reduce the chance for mold to grow and damage your family and home.

• By vacuuming the fan and clearing any dust from it, you can ensure proper ventilation.
• Once a year, you should disconnect the electricity to it, remove the grate, and wash it with soap.
• Then dry the grate, put it back in place, and turn the power back on.

Living Mold-Free (Or At Least Trying)

These tips can help you prevent mold, but it’s more common than you think and the damage it can cause is severe. In the case of mold damage, you probably have water damage as well, so find a local Santa Rosa, CA mold remediation company to come in and ensure your home is safe for you and your family, while preventing the costly repairs from increasing.