Winter mold growth is no friend. It can cause a wide range of health issues, such as asthma and allergies. Check out the following tips to prevent mold growth in your home during the winter months:
How Mold Affects Senior Citizens
Mold affects senior citizens who suffer from asthma, allergies and irritations due to heavy mold exposure. However, take note that the mold symptoms do not come overnight, but it builds up over time. And with prolonged exposure and inhaling of the spores over an extended time period, seniors can suffer from respiratory illnesses and allergies. That is why mold growth is not good in your home. Otherwise, your elderly loved ones might suffer from these health issues, reducing their life quality and increasing your medical bills. So if you think that mold growth is invading your home and affecting senior health, you should not wait but contact a mold professional now.
Check for Any Potential Leaks and Repairs
Another way to minimize mold growth in your home is to inspect and check for potential leaks and repairs with which a water damage restoration company can help. They can check for leaks, which may be in the plumbing or in the roofing system. The pros can also inspect mold growth in attic spaces, within walls and inside crawl spaces especially on materials, including lint, paper, fiberboard or gypsum.
Nevertheless, getting help from a professional water damage company can help you detect warning signs of mold growth inside your home and make repair works when needed to get rid of the problem.
Increase Air Circulation
You also need ventilation for proper airflow and improved air circulation. One way to ventilate your home is by opening the doors and windows, but a fan may be more helpful to get rid of the moisture that accumulates in areas, such as the basement, bathroom or laundry room where mold thrives. Fans can work best when operating before, during and after activities, which create moisture.
Heating and cooling companies can also help in attic vent installation that can prevent the trapping of stagnant air that will affect your home. An attic fan is also helpful in improving air circulation.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning Necessary?
Air duct cleaning is necessary because it can improve indoor air quality in the winter and reduce allergens that would otherwise cause asthma attacks and respiratory problems especially among sensitive loved ones like children and seniors.
Especially when dust collects quickly, even if there is constant cleaning on the duct, it might simply translate to a dirty ductwork. Harmful contaminants in the ductwork will not only cause mold but also fungi, debris and dust to re-circulate throughout your home.
Prevent contaminants from building up in the ductwork and bacteria and allergens from being produced by performing air duct cleaning. So if it has been a long time since the last duct cleaning, it might be time to get it serviced to reduce indoor air pollution.
Reduce the Humidity Levels in Your Home
Humidity isn’t the only reason of mold growth, but it also attracts pests like bed bugs and affects elderly health. That is why you have to learn ways on how to reduce humidity levels in your home.
One of the best ways to do that is to use an air conditioner that can help in reducing indoor humidity because it’s able to introduce cool air and remove humid and warm air.
To make sure it works at top peak conditions, you should have it serviced and frequently change the air filter. Having regular maintenance, you can also ensure it will be free from anything that restricts its airflow.
Using a dehumidifier, which can fit inside the furnace air handler, is another way of reducing humidity because it effectively removes moisture from the air as it passes through and makes it cool and dry.
Check Your Furnace and Air Ducts before Turning on the Heat
Don’t turn on the heat without checking your furnace and air ducts. First, you can do a visual inspection by checking the furnace for issues, including damaged flue, loose blower belt, loose duct connections and dirty burners. In addition, remove any items, which might be blocking the furnace. In short, keep its surroundings free of obstructions, such as trash and storage items.
You can also check accessible air ducts for loose joints, loose insulation, and other possible issues. In addition, inspect the floor vent for any obstruction because it can easily catch debris while you’re cleaning. You should also check the condensate drain for any clogging and the electrical wires or refrigerant lines for any physical damage.
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