How to Help Prevent Mold in Your Austin Home

12/28/2017 (Permalink)

One way to stop the spread of mold, is to prevent it before it starts.

It’s no question that mold is a nuisance, and once it makes its first appearance, it can be hard to stop it from spreading in your Austin home. Mold spores are so microscopic that it’s nearly impossible to stop them; however, you can take precautions to keep mold from spreading.

The first step is finding out where mold exists in your home. As Austin tends to be very humid in the summer, there are greater options for mold to appear if you don’t confront moisture in your home head on. You may in fact need a mold inspection Austin, to determine how bad the problem actually is. Whether it’s a wet area, a small leak, or extensive water damage, you have to get to the source before the mold starts. 

Mold has the ability to get into everything, such as fabric (furniture and clothing), wood (floors and walls), carpets and also poorly ventilated areas such as bathrooms, showers and cabinets. These are items and areas that need to be maintained, because if unchecked, mold can cause serious health problems.

So, how does one stop mold before it starts?

Prevention is one method to help keep mold from spreading, so if you have issues with moisture and mold from water damage, then here are some ways to manage it:

Mold and Dampness

Mold cannot spread unless there is moisture in your Austin home. Therefore, if you discover any wet patches or areas that are more damp than usual, you might have the start of serious problem. Remove anything that appears to have been affected by moisture or dampness; this can include anything ranging from clothes, walls, carpeting, etc. You should clean and dry any wet or damp spots as soon as you find them, usually you have a 48-hour window before mold starts to spread, and so sooner is better.

Proper Ventilation in Your Austin Home

If there are parts of your house that are poorly ventilated (such as bathrooms and laundry rooms), open your windows and bring in fans and dehumifiers, which will help to eliminate dampness and prevent any mold spores from growing and spreading. Any type of condensation or wet spots should be dealt with as soon as possible. If you don’t have proper airflow, then mold can spread throughout your Austin home.

This is why it’s important to have good circulation. By keeping your windows open, doors to your closets open and giving access to areas that don’t usually get much air, such as cabinets, closets and cupboards, you can help reduce excess moisture in your home. Fresh air will also help decrease moisture and prevent mold from spreading.

You should also monitor any indoor plants that you may have, as mold spores are drawn to damp soil. The spores can take root in the soil and start the spread of mold over time throughout your home. Water your plants only when they need it.

How Moisture Meters Can Help

Moisture meters are designed to help you manage the amount of moisture that exists in your home. Reducing humidity can drastically affect moisture buildup as well as the spread of mold. A moisture meter, which can be purchased at any hardware store, can help you regulate internal humidity, which, according to the EPA should be between 30 and 60 percent.

Using Mold Resistant Building Materials 

If you’ve experienced water damage Austin, then you may have extreme problems where you may have to renovate your home. If this is the case, then you might want to look into a variety of mold-resistant products on the market. Items such as mold-resistant sheetrock and drywall are available which can help prevent the spread of mold.

Keep Water Away From Your Austin Home 

If your Austin home is often susceptible to floods from rainstorms, the problem might involve the landscaping of your property. If the land surrounding your home doesn’t slope downward, then water may be seeping into your home’s foundation, which can cause major problems in the end. Check the layout of your home and foundation to make sure that water isn’t getting into your home. If you have gutters, clean them frequently to prevent water buildup, and make sure that the water drains away from your home.

How SERVPRO Can Help if You Experience Mold Problems

Dealing with mold can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’ve experienced water damage Austin. If you’re having issues with mold, then you should contact a mold removal and mold remediation specialist, like SERVPRO of East Central Austin. We can help stop the spread of mold, so that it doesn’t return.

Our SERVPRO team consists of highly trained professionals in mold remediation Austin, and our training and required certifications enable us to manage all of your mold remediation needs. Using top of the line, state of the art equipment to treat your home, we will examine and detect any possibility of mold that you may not be able to find. We can provide an immediate mold inspection and, we’ll immediately start remediation to stop mold from spreading.

If you have problems with water damage Austin TX and the spread of mold, then give SERVPRO of East Central Austin a call.