Mold is In Ours Homes Everyday
It’s safe to say that mold is in our lives every day, especially airborne mold spores that are easily spread outside by wind or rain and indoors by our heating and ventilation systems. Indoor environments are at the disadvantage of not having a good air flow and UV from direct sunlight to combat the efforts of mold growth. Outside sunlight reacts with moisture in our air and releases ozone. If you want to combat mold indoors we have to create our own ozone in a safe environment.
Mold grows quickly in the presence of water indoors
Mold only requires a few things to grow quickly and spread, airborne spores only require a few conditions to be present to flourish in your home, these conditions are:
- Spores – You first need mold spores or seeds and these are present everywhere.
- Food – I am not talking about the burger you leave on the counter, mold only requires anything that was once living such as wood or natural fibers such as cotton.
- Climate – One thing that mold has in common with humans is that we enjoy the same temperatures. Mold growth is greatest at 5 – 32 degrees Celsius.
- Water – As with most things in life without water no much happens, without water mold will not grow period.
When we talk about water we are not only referring to its liquid form. Mold can germinate with high humidity levels, anything over 55% humidity is enough to start mold growth. Because humid air is heavier then dry air it will drop to lower levels the basement of the home is especially susceptible to mold growth.
Mold growth can effect your health
A home that is infected with mold growth can cause health problems for the occupants, not only does it effect asthma attacks but also can cause long term respiratory problems. Skin problems can also occur, many times doctors will misdiagnose dermatological conditions that are caused by mold, they will normally attribute the conditions to bacteria or viruses. If you suspect that you have mold in your home and you have skin blemishes make sure to be tested for mold by your doctor.
Fighting Mold Growth in Your Home
I you find signs of mold growth in your home it is a good idea to have a professional mold inspector check your house to find any problem areas. Mold remediation can be very expensive and we suggest that you get a few companies to test and make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.
You can install systems to your furnace system that will help stop the spread of mold in your home by installing the device directly to the cold air return where it will run every time the furnace fan comes on. Your furnace is the lungs of your home and will distribute air throughout the house, having a device such as a Sanuvox system attached to the cold air means that all the mold spores that pass through the system will be destroyed completely.
There are other products on the market that will fight mold safely such as Benefect which is a professional grade botanical cleaner using only food grade plant extracts. Some home remedies are Tea Tree Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract and White Vinegar are also excellent mold fighters.
Tea Tree oil is a little expensive but you don’t require much to make an effective mold fighting product. Simply add two teaspoons of tea tree oil with two cups of water into a spray bottle, give it a good shake and spray the mist onto the problem areas. Do not rinse away, it will have odor but that will dissipate in a few days.
Grapefruit Seed Extract is also very effective at killing mold and has the added benefit of having no odor. Add twenty drops to two cups of water pour into a spray bottle and shake to mix. Spray the affected area and do not rinse.
Vinegar kills about 82% of molds, pour straight distilled vinegar into a spray bottle and apply to the moldy area. Vinegar is the cheapest solution for the home remedies but it also has the most potent smell. The smell will dissipate in a few hours or you can add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to mask the vinegar smell.
Home Pros of Edmonton can provide you with both Benefect disinfectants that are applied in your duct system after having duct cleaning performed to kill any molds that might be present especially around the air conditioning coil and can have a Sanuvox system installed on your system to prevent the spread of mold throughout the house. Call Home Pros of Edmonton at 780-455-1188.