If you are concerned about the health of your family members, take steps to prevent mold growth in your home. Molds produce allergens and can cause symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, irritated skin, and headaches. Preventing mold helps improve indoor air quality and boosts wellness and energy levels.
Change the HVAC Filter
Your heating and cooling system is fitted with a filter that is designed to trap dust, pollen, and other pollutants. It’s important to change this filter regularly. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the HVAC filter every 30 to 90 days. A clean filter improves air quality in your home by trapping mold, dust, and pet dander and preventing it from circulating through your home. Regularly installing clean filters also helps your HVAC system to operate more efficiently.
Keep a Clean Home to Prevent Mold Growth
Routine house cleaning is an important part of preventing mold growth. Wipe down surfaces, sweep, vacuum, and mop. If you have carpets in your home, it’s especially important to vacuum weekly and have them deep cleaned at least twice each year. Carpet fibers can trap mold spores, pollen, dust, and other irritants.
Make it a habit to immediately clean spills. Whether you spill a glass of water in the kitchen or your child splashes some of the bathwater onto the floor, it’s important to wipe it up. Water will evaporate, contributing to humidity in your home. Moisture and high humidity create conditions conducive to mold growth.
Use an Air Purifier
An air purifier is an easy way to trap contaminants and keep them from circulating in your home’s air. Install a purifier in common areas and in the bedrooms of allergy or asthma sufferers. For best results, choose a device with a HEPA filter and replace the filter as recommended. HEPA filters can trap up to 99% of irritants in the air. Because they are so effective, you’ll need to replace the filters frequently.
Prevent Mold Growth by Encouraging Air Circulation in the Home
Another easy way to improve air quality and prevent mold growth is by boosting air circulation. When cooking or taking a shower, turn on the ventilation fan in the room. This fan is designed to pull humid air and odors out of the home.
When the weather is nice outside, open the windows of your home. Allowing fresh air to circulate through your living spaces helps to dry moisture in your home. The fresh air from outside will also cycle pollutants and stagnant air out.
Remove Houseplants
Houseplants add life and color to our living spaces. However, if they are not carefully tended, they can contribute to mold in your home. Well-meaning homeowners often overwater plants. This leads to mold growth in the soil and stagnant water in the drainage tray. If you enjoy plants, look for varieties that can survive outdoors in your climate. If you must have plants inside the home, learn about each plant’s needs and never overwater.
AWP Home Inspections provides inspection services, including mold testing, to customers in West-Central and Central Indiana. Contact us to schedule an appointment.