Your home is where the family loves to be. It’s meant to be a safe space. But what if it’s not as safe as you once assumed? In England alone, recent research indicates that over 2 million households have significant dampness or mould. That’s alarming. It might have you wondering how to protect loved ones in your home from it. Unfortunately, mould can be present but isn’t easily seen. Find tips here, starting with finding hiding spots for mould around the residence.
Common Mould Spots in Homes
While mould often grows where it’s not easily seen, there are common places you can look for it. Some examples are behind wallpaper or drywall, under sinks, around plumbing, and inside HVAC systems. If your attic doesn’t have great insulation, you might look there too. Flooring can also have this fuzzy growth. It could be black, green, or grey in colour.
Address Moisture
Perhaps most important is to control moisture in the home. Mould needs moisture to grow, so if you’re able to cut that off, then you can stop the problem. Given that, you’ll want to fix leaks right away when you notice them, such as leaky pipes. Try to keep indoor humidity down, too, by using a kitchen fan when cooking and considering a dehumidifier in damp areas. If you notice a wet area, try to dry it within 1-2 days, if possible.
Improving airflow can help quite a bit with moisture control at home. For example, run bathroom fans before and after showers for at least 20 minutes. Open windows regularly, too, to circulate fresh air. Check if the attic is properly ventilated, as well, and if not, then that’s an area of the home to address to reduce the risk of mould forming there.
Find Problems Early
There could be subtle signs of mould growing for you to start watching for. The warning signs could include musty odours, peeling paint, or sneezing and having a running nose without knowing why. The latter symptoms could signal an allergy to mould. An easy method of detection is home mould testing. It also tells you how the home air quality is. A kit that is simple to use, gives you knowledge of invisible dangers in your home, and provides quick results, puts you in control as the homeowner.
Final Words: Extra Protection Tips
Generally, avoid carpeting in the basement, a part of the home that naturally holds more moisture as it’s below ground. If leaks happen below the carpet pad, the surface can still feel dry, so that the lower layer could stay damp a long time without your knowing it. Instead, vinyl plank flooring, sealed concrete, or tile with a proper underlay are better choices.
Also, it’s typically a good idea to store items in plastic bins rather than cardboard. Lastly, keep furniture slightly away from the walls for airflow. These tips could help you prevent or reduce the growth of mould, while continually watching for subtle signs of it at home.
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