6 Mold Prevention Tips for a Healthy Home

Mold is a serious problem for homeowners. Mold and mildew are natural consequences of living in an environment like Mississippi. Mold can grow on many surfaces including wood, wallpaper, paints, fabric, insulation, drywall, and carpeting.

What are the effects of mold in the home? Mold can lead to health issues, such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, rash, or eye problems. For those who have asthma, are allergic to mold, or are immuno-compromised, it may also lead to more severe reactions like coughing, wheezing, or lung infections.

If left untreated, mold is dangerous. That’s why it’s important to take steps now to stop mold from growing inside the home. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent mold from forming in your house. Stop mold in its tracks with these easy tips for mold and mildew prevention from the Nowell Agency.

How to Keep Mold Away and Lower Your Risk

To keep your home mold-free and healthy, here are some quick tips for how to prevent mold indoors that you can use today! The key to mold prevention is moisture control.

1. Fix wet spots and condensation.
Mold thrives when moisture remains on surfaces for an extended period of time and spreads quickly through the air, making it difficult to eradicate and prevent from growing back. You can’t let water leaks and spills go! Clean them up and dry them out as quickly as possible. If you need to repair a bigger problem (such as replacing wet carpet), do it within 48 hours to avoid mold growth in a wet environment.

2. Maintain good airflow.
Mold is a fungus that can grow anywhere, but it likes moist environments with little airflow. Add or increase insulation and air circulation in your home. Also be sure to ventilate your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room with exhaust fans that blow outside.

3. Keep humidity levels low.
An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help keep your home at an optimum dry temperature (a humidity level lower than 50-70%). The humidity levels change over the course of a day so check them with a meter more than once to make sure that they are at an ideal level for your health and safety.

4. Put mold inhibitors in paint.
Another mold prevention tip for your home is to add mold inhibitors to paints before painting, which you can purchase at any paint or home improvement store.

5. Use mold-killing products.
When cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, or any area that often has steam or condensation, use a mold-killing cleaning product that will discourage mold from growing indoors.

6. Repair leaky areas.
Mold easily grows in insulation and drywall that is constantly wet. Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing to decrease the amount of moisture that mold can use to grow.

How to Stop Mold

Although these methods of preventing mold in homes typically are effective, there are times when mold is pervasive and doesn’t respond to all of your attempts to keep mold away from your home. If that happens, having the right insurance can save your home (and your wallet!) if you have to use costly mold remediation services. Call the Nowell Agency. We can help! We’ll find the best mold insurance coverage to include in your homeowner’s insurance plan. That way, you’re safeguarded against any negative results from mold growing in the home. The Nowell Agency will keep you protected – click for a free home insurance quote!