CURB HUMIDITY TO PREVENT MOLD

Mold needs moisture to thrive, and a humid environment in your home saturates it with excess dampness. To prevent an outbreak of fungus in your house, you must control the humidity.

Detecting Humidity

Look for these signs that there is too much moisture in the air in your home:

• Condensation on windows and walls
• Layer of dampness on upholstery and furniture
• Slow drying time of cleaned surfaces

For more precise detection, you can purchase a moisture meter. Your local hardware store should have them in stock. The humidity level in your home should stay between 30 and 60 percent most of the year and never get above 40 percent in the winter.

Resolving Humidity

You can reduce the level of moisture in your home in several ways:

• Insulate pipes
• Increase air flow
• Use a dehumidifier

Stopping mold starts with denying it a hospitable place to grow. When you control the humidity in your home, you discourage mold from thriving.