Moisture puts homes at risk for mold

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Moisture puts homes at risk for mold

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008

Dothan Eagle - Dothan,AL*

By Peggy Ussery

http://www.dothaneagle.com/content/gulfcoasteast/dea/lifestyle.apx.-

content-articles-DEA-2008-04-03-0002.html

Mold needs moisture to grow.

And once spores find even a little bit of moisture in your home,

mold could leave its mark. Over time, excessive mold in an indoor

air space can cause health problems for a home's residents. So what

should you do? Well, first of all identify the source of the problem.

You won't get rid of the mold until you get rid of the moisture.

" If you've got moisture, you're going to get mold, " said

, urban regional extension agent with the Alabama ative

Extension Office for Houston County.

• Moisture in a home can come from numerous sources, according to

. A leaky roof, busted plumbing, unvented gas heaters and

improperly working heating and air conditioning systems are the most

likely culprits in homes.

• Low humidity. Between 30- and 50-percent relative humidity is

ideal, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Anything above 60 percent should be of concern. You can buy a

humidity or moisture meter at most hardware stores.

• Testing the type of mold in your home is not necessary unless

there is litigation involved, said. It's expensive and

besides there are thousands of types of mold and none are good for

people once they reach certain concentrations. It can be

particularly tough for people with asthma and chronic bronchitis.

The elderly and children are more susceptible.

" Put your money into solving the problem rather than

identification, " said.

• Make sure your heating and air conditioning unit is sized right

for your home. An HVAC unit that's too big can cause condensation

and a serious mold problem.

• When mold covers your walls, ceiling or even furniture and

curtains you've got a serious problem. You should probably consider

hiring an expert to clean the mold. More than likely, mold

throughout a home will be linked back to the HVAC system,

said.

• Ceiling fans can help evaporate moisture. In the winter, flip the

switch on the fan's base so the blades rotate in the opposite

direction and push hot air down.

• Keep air moving in basements, said. They're prone to

moisture and mold.

• Proper ventilation in your home is key. Also, make sure your home

is properly insulated, especially in the walls. In older homes,

insulation could collapse and fall to the bottom of walls.