Heat, moisture create mold

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Heat, moisture create mold

Akron Beacon Journal - Akron,OH

By Ken Sheinkopf

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/17283561.htm

Q: I try to keep our house clean, but every so often, I find some

mold or mildew in one of our closets, under the bathroom sink, or in

some other corner of the house. The problem is much worse in the hot

summer months. I heard once that this could be an energy problem,

but I can't figure out the connection. Can you help?

A: If it is an energy problem, I have a couple of ideas that might

help keep this from happening. Mold and mildew can be a constant

problem in homes, no matter how clean, if there are heat or damp

conditions present. Frequent culprits are high indoor humidity

levels, leaks from water pipes, or water leaking from air

conditioners or other appliances as well as some different types of

problems.

Usually, the strategies to stop mold from coming back include

finding and getting rid of any water problems, making sure you have

good ventilation keeping humidity levels down, using bathroom

exhaust fans to get rid moisture after showering, setting the air

conditioner low enough in hot weather to prevent humidity levels

from getting too high, and drying up wet spots on the carpet before

they sit there too long.

Many molds occur naturally and are not harmful, but some can cause

illnesses and are often at the root of ``sick buildings'' -- places

where the indoor air quality makes it virtually impossible to even

be inside.

Problems in closets are common when there is high humidity (above 65

percent or 75 percent on a regular basis) and there is minimal

airflow. Keeping humidity levels between 30 percent and 60 percent

will go a long way in solving the mold problem.

But, you can keep the house spotless, get rid of any water problems,

improve ventilation and control humidity, and still have mold

problems. Wood, cloth and other materials in your home can absorb

water vapor when the humidity is high, resulting in great breeding

grounds for mildew. If it's hot and your air conditioner isn't doing

a good job dehumidifying the air, you'll end up with humid outdoor

air getting inside and causing even more mildew.

I suggest you contact the American Lung Association in your

community since it publishes some great information on indoor air

quality, including tips for controlling mold, dust mites and other

household pollutants.