One of the most damaging things to a building, especially a residential one, is mold. While there are many kinds of mold and some are good and even used to make certain foods, when it grows inside your home it tends to lead to not only structural damage, but damage to the health of the people living in it as well.



Home buyers are becoming more and more aware of the mold problem and wondering what they can do about it not only because of the health consequences of mold, but also of the damage it can do to the value of their home. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent mold from growing in your home.

Ventilating your household properly and in the right places is essential. Mold grows in warm, humid areas of your home that are not properly ventilated. It does not need standing water to grow, only a humidity of over around 65% and if the humidity in the house is kept low enough, mold cannot grow.

If you see condensation start to build up on a windowpane inside your house, this can be a sign that the humidity in your home is too high. Keep these areas wiped dry as much as possible until you can determine the best way to keep this from happening. Try a de-humidifier to help solve this problem.

Something else that helps with mold growth prevention is paperless sheetrock. This might be only feasible if you are planning on building a completely new home, but if you are doing any heavy remodeling or adding on any new space, paperless sheetrock is best because mold loves to feed on paper.

If you store papers and other items in your basement like cardboard boxes, don not store them directly in contact with the floor, especially if there is a chance that they could come into contact with moisture such as leaks around the indoor foundation or a leaky water heater. As stated before, mold eats paper and needs moisture to survive.

Clean up spills and any leaks you find in your home as quickly as possible and if you have a fan in your bathroom that can be used to let heat and steam outside the house, use it while showering. If you can vent the heat from items like clothes dryers and stoves to the outside of the house, do this while they are in use, as well.

Cold surfaces in the home such as pipes, especially in basements, should be insulated so condensation does not form. This not only prevents mold, but also helps to prevent the pipes from rusting.

With some smart actions, preventing mold from growing in your home is not just beneficial, it is easy. The benefits of a mold free home definitely outweigh the cost of going to the small bit of trouble to keep it that way.