Black mold is a nasty fungal growth that can appear in your home wherever there is an accumulation of moisture. It can cause respiratory and other health problems and has been linked to death in babies due to respiratory bleeding. So black mold is not something you want in your home.
There are ways to prevent a black mold infestation. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. CONTROL MOISTURE. Since black mold thrives in moist and damp areas, moisture must be kept under control. Any type of water seepage, such as leaky pipes or a roof leak, should be taken care of. Also keep gutters and downspouts free of debris so that you do not experience any clogging and seepage that can get inside your house through walls, foundation and roof.
2. CONTROL HUMIDITY LEVELS. Within your home, your humidity levels should not be over 55%. If they are, you can have a problem with black mold. A humidity sensor will keep track of your levels, and dehumidifiers will also help to keep the humidity within your home at acceptable levels.
3. PROPERLY VENTILATE. You should always have proper ventilation within the home, which will reduce moisture. Use ceiling fans and other types of fans to ventilate the indoors.
4. DO NOT KEEP FIREWOOD INSIDE. If you have a fireplace, do not get into the habit of stacking firewood within your home, as wood can have mold on it. If you keep your wood outside, there should be no problem.
5. REMOVE MOLD FROM BATHROOM. Shower curtains or anything else within the bathroom starting to show signs of mold should be removed. Not all mold is black mold, but since it isn’t always easy to be certain, you should get rid of anything the least bit moldy. You do not want any type of mold in your house, anyway.
6. COVER AND VENTILATE CRAWLSPACES. If you have any crawlspaces in your basement consisting of dirt, cover the area and keep it well ventilated so that there will not be any buildup of moisture.
7. DO NOT OVERDO ON HOUSEPLANTS. If you have many plants in your home, frequent watering can actually put moisture in the air and help black mold to thrive. Houseplants are fine, just do not overdo.
Follow the tips above, keep moisture under control, and black mold should not be a problem in your home.
