One might ask, “At what humidity does mold grow?” Molds thrive in damp conditions, and they can destroy your home, belongings, and even be the source of several health problems. Molds can be avoided, especially if you take careful attention of your home, and make sure it has no place to thrive. It’s in your hands on how you can prevent molds from growing, and lessen the chances of you experiencing the effects of mold infestation.
Molds and Your Health
No one wants molds in their home, nor would anyone want to experience health problems because of it. Unfortunately, some people still suffer from mold-related issues, despite that fact that molds aren’t toxic nor dangerous. In general, molds don’t directly affect your health. However, longer exposures to moldy environments can lead to severe symptoms which then leads to serious complications.
Molds can make anyone feel uncomfortable, and it often starts with typical allergy symptoms. People usually begin coughing or sneezing at the smell of molds, even when there are no visible signs yet. From allergies, people soon develop asthma, so on and so forth. Rest assured that once the mold infestations are gone, people can start experiencing some relief and their symptoms should go away.
Common conditions because of mold infestations:
- Allergies and Asthma – every mold related condition starts with the allergies. Unstoppable sneezing and coughing are present, especially when exposed to moldy areas. Allergies and asthma are one of the common symptoms and conditions people suffer from, and the removal of the mold-infested substances or damp areas are necessary for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
- Infection – the longer a person is exposed to molds, the higher the chances of them getting related respiratory infections. From the common symptoms of allergy and asthma, one can develop infections or bronchitis.
- Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome – in some severe cases, people begin to suffer because of this condition. This condition usually occurs once the body can no longer remove biotoxins present in molds, from the body. Individuals start feeling symptoms of body aches, fatigue, vertigo, and weakness.
People at Risk for Mold Related Conditions
Everyone is susceptible to experience symptoms because of molds, such as common allergies. However, there are some instances when the common symptoms can become dangerous, such as when someone suffers a severe allergic reaction. While molds are generally harmless, it’s always uncertain how molds react to another person.
Here are some who are primarily affected, and mold infestations can be dangerous to them:
- Children and Infants
- Elderly
- People with compromised immune systems because of conditions like HIV, cancer, liver diseases, and the like
- People with chronic lung disease.
Molds and Your Home
Not all homes have molds, and it’s up to you to decide whether you’ll allow molds to breed or not. Molds only choose damp places, and they can grow even on your appliances, carpet, floors, furniture’s, and walls. This goes to show that no space is safe from molds. One of the familiar places where molds breed is in your bedroom, and you can easily detect this. Detecting signs of mold in your bedroom or your home, in general, is simple.
Molds also affect the value of your home, by significantly decreasing its worth. If you plan on selling your home, make sure it’s suitable for living, and it doesn’t have any present infestation. Mold infestations are a common concern among many buyers and sellers, and no one will buy a home infected with molds.
Mold Spotting
Not all molds are visible, and sometimes you only begin to realize there are molds in your home once symptoms start to manifest. Here’s an easy way to spot molds at home:
- Visual appearance – molds are easy to spot, and they have a distinct fuzzy look. Sometimes they are color green, white, black, or gray.
- Smell – the smell is distinct, and it usually has a musky odor
- Water damage or flooding – check for areas around your house for visible signs of water damage or flooding, or where the water starts accumulating. Wet and moisture filled areas are the ideal environment for molds to thrive.
Molds Prevention Plan
After you’ve spotted molds, you can quickly get rid of them and prevent its long term breeding. One thing to remember is that molds can’t grow where there’s no moisture, which is why prevention will be more natural for you than maintaining a home already infested with molds
Here’s what you can do every day to prevent molds from thriving in the long term:
- Make sure to clean and dry the area where water spills;
- Regularly vacuum your home, mainly if you use carpet.
- Regularly run your conditioner or humidifier to keep the air inside your home dry.
- Allow air to flow and circulate your room.
- Make sure your clothes in the closet are dry and clean.
- Place your furniture slightly away from walls to allow air flow.
- Check the soil of your plants for signs of molding
If you want to be sure, here’s what you need to do annually:
- Have your home’s plumbing check, and make sure there are no signs of water damage or faulty plumbing. A mold infestation starts with a damp environment.
- Maintain your air ventilation and clean drip pans to allow air circulation.
- Check your floors, roof, and windows that they are correctly insulated. This prevents mold spores from getting inside your home.
- Keep your house warm, especially during the cold season. This prevents the formation of condensation and moisture.
- Never use carpets in the basement, and chose regular rugs which are easier to clean.
- Be sure to check out our bathroom dehumidifer reviews to resolve and prevent mold problems in this common danger zone!
Molds should never be welcomed in any home, and thankfully its infestation can be prevented. However, people overlook even the smallest act which can contribute to mold infestation. If you want to avoid mold from every breeding at home, and lessening your risk of being exposed to health conditions, then the tips we’ve shown you should help you get started.