Mold in the Summer
Summer is rapidly approaching! Mark your calendars for June 21st because that is the first day of summer. In Florida, we all know that summer brings the heat, but it also brings more humidity. Without proper air conditioning and dehumidification in place in your home or business, it is much easier for mold to grow in your home.
We have devised 5 helpful tips to prevent mold growth in your home or business:
Always use an air conditioner
When temperatures reach anything above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, then this is the perfect condition for mold to grow. Mold thrives in hot, humid weather and it doesn’t get much hotter than Florida temperatures. Make sure to keep the indoor temperature below 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Central Air conditioners not only keep your home cool but also dehumidify. Low humidity protects indoor air quality and hinders mold growth.
In Florida, many people like to turn off their air conditioners to save money. It is never a good idea to turn off your air conditioner in Florida. Humidity will help mold to thrive and turning off your air conditioner is one of the quickest ways to guarantee that mold will start to grow in your home or business. Please do not turn off your air conditioner because it will actually cost you more money in the long run!
Repair Air Conditioner
Repair any leaky pipes or leaky appliances
Repair leaky pipes immediately! When something leaks that water doesn’t just dry and it will turn into water damage. Hire a plumber immediately to fix all leaky pipes or leaky appliances, but remember, it is not a plumber’s job to fix the water damage. Many people hire plumbers to fix their water damage or perform mold remediation services and this can further cause more problems. Please hire professional water damage restoration technicians such as BioResponse Restoration.
Remember, many pipes are made out of cast iron. One thing to keep in mind is that your pipes may be leaking and you might not even know it. Cast iron is a metal that rusts over time and that rust will disrupt the flow of water and lead to corrosion. For more information about the damage of cast iron pipes and water damage, check out another blog post we made regarding cast iron pipes.
Clean or Repair Roof Gutters
Another important mold prevention technique that is often overlooked is cleaning, maintaining, and repairing roof gutters. Rain gutter leakages are common especially if your rain gutters are backed up and haven’t been cleaned in ages.
Clogged rain gutters happen more often than people think and can cause water to leak into places where you don’t want it to go. If you are not able to clean the gutters yourself, then there are many professionals who can handle it for you.
Dry Wet Areas Immediately
Whether we like it or not, water is going to make its way into our homes. Some of the most common areas are bathroom, kitchen, washer/dryer area, and air conditioner closet. If you have a minor leak in your home or business, then dry that area immediately.
The problem with water damage is that if you haven’t fixed the leak or source of water intrusion, then your water damage situation is going to worsen. You can’t put a bandaid over a gunshot wound. It is important to fix the leak immediately and if you have had persistent water damage then it would be better to contact a professional like BioResponse Restoration who can professionally dry your home or business.
Contact a Water Damage Restoration Technician
As mentioned in the previous tip, contact a water damage technician to prevent mold. Minor leaks that are rectified immediately can be handled by yourself, but when water damage is persistent it is important to contact a water damage restoration technician like BioResponse Restoration.
Water damage that goes untreated and hasn’t been dried will turn into mold and then the problem will be much worse and much more costly. Drying out water damage is a lot less costly than mold remediation.
