The first step to mold prevention is isolating and eliminating the moisture in the area where the mold might form. If you already have a mold problem in your home, there are ways to clean mold safely and eradicate it for good, but since cleaning mold can be tricky and time consuming, the best method for tackling a mold problem is to stop it before it even starts.
One of the most common places in the home for mold to form is the bathroom, and it makes sense as to why. Bathrooms are a prime location for moisture to build. Even if your bathroom is well-ventilated with a window, you may notice condensation forming on your walls and ceiling or fogging up your mirror when you take a hot shower. There are some surefire ways to counteract excess moisture and dampness in your bathroom with a properly installed bathroom ventilation system or bathroom exhaust fan.
Bathroom exhaust fans draw the moisture-filled air from inside your bathroom and expel it outside of your home into the outdoor air, keeping the air recirculated and moving so the moisture can be wicked away in an efficient manner. The Home Ventilating Institute recommends at least 8 Air Changes per Hour (ACH) in order to have the best effect for your bathroom ventilation. The size and strength of your bathroom exhaust fan may vary depending on the size of your bathroom and how far the air must be re-routed to reach the outdoors. There are a variety of bathroom exhaust solutions to choose from, some with a light, others with just the fan, quiet, loud, you name it! What matters the most, though, is finding a bathroom exhaust fan that will provide you with the adequate recommended air changes per hour, and that will keep your bathroom nice and dry as to prevent any mold or mildew from collecting on damp surfaces.
To learn more about how important proper bathroom ventilation is to your home and your health, read more in HomeAire's Bathroom Ventilation Solutions section or have a look at some of the bathroom exhaust products that we offer in the HomeAire Store. Our brands are Energy Star Certified and include products such as Panasonic Bathroom Fans, NuTone Bathroom Fans, and our own Spruce inline fans.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 28, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Tags: bathroom exhaust fan, bathroom mildew, bathroom mold, bathroom ventilation, bathroom ventilation system, how to prevent mold, mold and mildew, mold prevention
Filled under: Apartment Living, Home Ownership / Home Improvement, Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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We've mentioned Active Dampness Control in a couple of our previous blog posts but we haven't really expanded on what this term means. This post is going to change that! Read on to find out what we mean when we refer to an Active Dampness Control System, and why you can benefit from having one in your home.
Active Dampness Control is a system that is exclusive to HomeAire - developed by HomeAire professionals and only available for installation by HomeAire professionals. This system was created to safely and effectively eliminate moisture from the home. The moisture and gas that the Active Dampness Control System removes could be excess humidity from living in a temperate climate, dangerous radon gas from beneath your home's foundation, or the heat building up from beneath your home that can cause condensation and moisture to form.
The system works from the ground up, eliminating hazardous soil gases and moisture before they have a chance to enter your home.
Continue reading "Basement Mold and Active Dampness Control" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 21, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Tags: active dampness control, active dampness control system, bathroom ventilation, damp basement, home ventilation, indoor air quality, mold in the home, mold prevention, mold removal, radon gas
Filled under: Home Ownership / Home Improvement, Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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The Building Green blog continuously provides some great tips for having a healthier, more Earth-friendly home. You may remember our post about safe, low-VOC paints for your home and nursery where we touched on a product called milk paint. Upon coming across the post "Building Green From A Painter's Perspective" we were delighted to find an in-depth interview with a modern-day painting company, Shiloh Painting, discussing the measures they're taking to go green with their business.
Shiloh Painting founder Isaac Klepac says that he feels that all components of the green movement we're experiencing encompass not only a philosophy but a lifestyle. With the constant reminder to assess his current situation and see where he can improve and expand, Klepac has translated this philosophy into the green side of his business and has made some great strides in protecting the environment as well as the longevity of the homes he works on. Using water-based finishes and Sherman Williams' Harmony line of VOC-free paints, Klepac's work makes entering a freshly painted room literally a breath of fresh air. "the customer and my employees have a right to breath clean air." says Klepac. "There is a direct, immediate affect on someone's health".
When asked about his predictions for the future of green building, he said "There is a trend beyond open floor plans. Instead of so many rooms, why not have multiple use rooms? Kitchens have already been transformed into a meeting places, so why not have multipurpose rooms?" With a trend toward smaller living spaces with more versatility, this means managing the air quality in the home can be even easier. With less cubic footage to keep in mind, homeowners can install central vacuum systems or air purifiers with ease and know they're getting an efficient air quality solution for their home's size.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 20, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Tags: air purifier, central vacuum, ecofriendly paints, green building, green home improvement, indoor air quality, low voc paint
Filled under: Green Living, Home Ownership / Home Improvement
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Leaving a mold problem untreated can not only lead to negative effects in your bronchial health, but it can cause permanent damage to the areas of your home that it inhabits - water damaged ceiling panels, rotted flooring or cabinetry, carpeting that can't be salvaged, etc. Black mold is particularly dangerous to allow to spread. Though it might be obvious once the problem has spread, you might not realize you have a mold problem at first. The key to treating black mold the most effectively is to catch it early, or better yet, prevent black mold from forming altogether. As mentioned previously, not all molds are dangerous to your health, and even some of the more dangerous molds might affect you differently from a family member depending on your personal sensitivity to it, but it is always best to take action against mold as soon as you notice it forming colonies. Here are some black mold symptoms to look for when checking your home for mold problems:
High Humidity levels (greater than 55%) provide a breeding ground for black mold. If you live in a humid climate or have damp areas of your home, it will be important to install dehumidifiers, ventilation fans, active dampness control systems, or to fix leaky pipes and find a way to dry out affected areas.
Continue reading "Black Mold Symptoms in Your Home" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 19, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Tags: black mold in the home, black mold problem, black mold symptoms, how to clean mold, how to eliminate black mold, indoor air quality, indoor humidity, mold in the home, ventilation fan
Filled under: Home Ownership / Home Improvement, Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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In this post, we're addressing the nefarious contender - black mold. We are featuring some important black mold poisoning symptoms in order to help you recognize the warning signs. Our next post will discuss black mold symptoms in your home - how to identify a black mold problem and get help.
Not everyone who comes in contact with mold reacts adversely to it, which is what makes it difficult for the government to issue regulations on specific mold levels. Whether you know you are sensitive to mold or not, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Black mold can cause a condition called Black Mold Poisoning. Molds and other chemicals or synthetic materials can release particles into the air called VOCs - volatile organic compounds. These contaminants, while not always dangerous in small amounts, can be very toxic to breathe in larger quantities and can often be found in items like new carpeting, paints, cleaners, and other chemicals. Mold releases VOCs as it breaks down materials to feed. Mold can also release particles called mycotoxins into the air. Like VOCs, these particles are also dangerous if breathed in large quantities, or if consumed by eating a moldy piece of food.
As we mentioned before, there are many molds that can appear to be very dark green or black at first glance, and it's important to recognize that not all molds that look black are actually the "black mold" that we're talking about - Stachybotrys chartarum. You don't need to remember the scientific name for this mold, but there are some important black mold symptoms to watch for.
Continue below to find out the symptoms that you need to be aware of.
Continue reading "Black Mold Symptoms Affecting Your Health" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 10, 2008 at 2:15 AM
Tags: black mold, black mold asthma, black mold in the home, black mold mycotoxin, black mold poisoning, black mold symptoms, black mold VOC, mold in the home, mycotoxins, toxic black mold, toxic black mold symptoms, VOCs
Filled under: Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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Would you consider yourself a household mold expert? Do you currently have mold in your home but don't know how to get rid of it? Would you be able to spot a mold-prone situation to ward it off before it gets out of control? Mold can be a tricky household problem if you don't know much about it; household mold can appear just about anywhere. Read these ten mold facts and you'll be armed with the information you need to recognize the warning signs and stop household mold dead in its tracks.
It's all about moisture. Mold can't grow in dry climates, so if you took a shower and didn't use an exhaust fan, or spilled something on your carpet and didn't adequately soak it up and dry it, you could be asking for trouble.
Two days is all it takes. Materials that stay damp or wet for over 48 hours provide plenty of time for mold to start growing and creating a problem.
You don't need to be "tested" for mold. Unlike radon, which requires testing in the home due to its unnoticeable properties as a colorless, odorless and flavorless gas, mold requires no special testing to find out if you have it. Generally if you have an overgrowth, you'll know! Testing can be performed if you're unsure, but it can be expensive and the warning signs of visible colonies, 'water damage', and musty odors are generally enough to indicate a problem.
You might get sick or you might not. Mold can cause drastically varying reactions in different people depending on their sensitivity and predisposition for mold allergies and reactions. Some people may get bronchial infections or asthma attacks where others remain completely unaffected. This difference is what has made it difficult to devise safety regulations concerning mold growth.
Not all black mold is 'black mold'. Remember that nasty picture from one of our previous mold posts? That was toxic "black mold", Stachybotrys chartarum. It's known for causing respiratory problems and other serious reactions due to overexposure. Many molds may appear to be black or otherwise dark in color, but not all are technically this dangerous black mold.
Are you ready to take action against mold in your home or apartment? If so, find some solutions that can prevent you from having a mold problem for as little as $54.95.
Continue this entry below to read the rest of the list!
Continue reading "10 Mold Facts You Need to Know" »
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Tags: black mold, cleaning mold, household mold, indoor mold, mold, mold facts, mold in the home, mold prevention, mold symptoms, testing for mold
Filled under: Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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A press release discussing HEPA filters for cardiovascular health was recently featured on television as well as in numerous online publications. According to the American Thoracic Society, a recent study in Denmark by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has shown links between the use of HEPA filters and improved cardiovascular health of the non-smoking elderly in as little as two days of use. They've reported that the HEPA filter eliminated 60% of ultrafine, fine, and coarse home air particles, yielding an 8.1% increase in microvascular function (the use of the small blood vessels in areas like fingers).
Running tests using air purifiers with and without HEPA filters in several homes, the researchers were very excited by the results. HEPA filters dramatically increased the effectiveness of the air purifiers, and consequently, the cardiovascular health of the individuals affected by the indoor air.
At HomeAire, this gives us even more reason to be proud to represent top quality HEPA air cleaners in our online HomeAire store. The HEPA, portable room air purifiers and other HEPA filtration systems we have are the most effective, eliminating 99.7% of airborne particles and allergens. Now in addition to the already evident benefit to our respiratory health regarding allergies or infections, we're happy to broaden our knowledge of the more widespread benefits of HEPA filters in people of all ages.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: March 5, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Tags: air purifier, airborne particles, HEPA air purifier, HEPA filter, HEPA filtration systems, HEPA indoor air quality, homeaire, homeaire blog, indoor air allergies, indoor air purifier, indoor air quality
Filled under: Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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