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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Mold is kind of like you and me - if we don't have any water, we can't survive. Mold thrives in damp areas and can quickly grow colonies that take over these moist areas in your home. This could be a bathroom ceiling, a laundry room wall, or it could even lurk inside your walls where you can't see it. You might not realize it's there unless you or a loved one has an allergic reaction that prompts an investigation. Thankfully, you can strongly reduce your chances of a mold problem by controlling the moisture levels in your home and being on the lookout for high-moisture situations.
Here are five great tips with some help from the Environmental Protection Agency's Mold Information site for keeping your home at a safe moisture level and keeping toxic molds like black mold at bay.
Keep everything well-ventilated by placing fans in rooms or opening windows if weather permits. Circulating the air in your home will help neutralize the temperature so you don't have warm rooms and cold rooms mixing and causing moisture.
Use exhaust fans and vents in your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room to expel the moist air outside and prevent condensation from forming.
Run a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate or if your basement tends to get damp.…or better yet for damp basements, hire a professional to install an Active Dampness Control™ (ADC) System from HomeAire. ADC Systems eliminate moisture at its source, before it enters the home, and most are ENERGY STAR® qualified. Basement dehumidifiers consume more energy and do not effectively vent water vapor away from the home.
Be sure that you fix all leaky pipes and seal off your home's foundation or install a pump in case any flooding should ever occur from heavy rain.
Always run the fan in your kitchen or bathroom every time you cook or take a shower, and leave it on for awhile after you're done in order to help ventilate the moisture outside and keep your walls mold and mildew-free.
Stay tuned for more information on how to help prevent and treat mold in your home! Do you have the proper equipment mentioned in this post? If not, be sure to have a look at HomeAire's selection of:
Bathroom Ventilation Fans
Kitchen Ventilation Fans
and Other Home Ventilation and Mold Prevention Solutions
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: February 29, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Tags: active dampness control, bathroom ventilation, black mold, energystar, household mold, kitchen ventilation, mold and mildew, mold elimination, mold in the home, mold prevention, mold removal tips, toxic mold
Filled under: Apartment Living, Home Ownership / Home Improvement, Indoor Air Quality and Allergy
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