This blog post shares tips for controlling mold growth in winter.
The cold and wet winter months in Maryland can create the ideal atmosphere for mold to grow. When water from rain, snow, and sleet gets stuck inside, the increased moisture can produce more humid conditions inside your home, allowing mold to develop more quickly. This blog post shares tips for controlling mold growth in winter.
Ways to Manage Mold Growth in Your Home
Maintain Your Home’s Humidity Level
The best way for controlling mold growth in winter is to carefully monitor and maintain your home’s moisture level below or at 60%. If the humidity in your property rises, search for the sources and address the problem immediately. Place a dehumidifier in these areas in your home to lower the moisture level until you have found a permanent solution.
Increase Air Circulation
Make sure to set your ceiling fans in reverse. The fans should turn counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the wintertime. This will help save you costs on energy bills and keep your home warmer. Excellent air circulation will also keep condensation from forming on cold walls and windows, which can enhance mold growth.
Ensure Air Circulation
Boiling water and taking steamy showers can add plenty of moisture to your home’s environment. Make sure to turn on the right amount of exhaust fans, including the one inside your oven’s hood, to help minimize condensation formation. Good air circulation also helps ensure that moisture does not have a chance to sit and promote mold growth.
Inspect Plumbing Pipes Regularly
Plumbing pipes are already a cold, humid structure. So, if they are not functioning correctly, like leaks, they can cause wet spots on your wall or floor, creating a perfect mold colony to develop.
Easy Methods to Enhance Air Circulation
- Open Windows. One of the easiest ways to control mold growth in winter is to open your windows whenever the weather permits. This will create cross-ventilation, allowing fresh air to go around the home, carrying excess humidity and moisture out.
- Use Fans. Bathroom fans, ceiling fans, kitchen exhaust fans, and attic fans are perfect for enhancing air circulation in the house. In particular, bathroom fans vent the humid air outside while also attracting fresh air into the bathroom to help dry things out. You can also use your HVAC system’s “fan only” option to strengthen home air flow.
- Add a Dehumidifier. Since mold loves humidity, using a dehumidifier is excellent for drying out air and circulating it in some regions of the home, like basements. In these cases, dehumidifiers are also an energy-efficient way of targeting problem areas versus working your whole air-conditioning system.
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