Humidity and Mold

6/2/2017 (Permalink)

Humidity can cause mold

Usually, something fairly obvious like a leak or a flood is the cause of a mold outbreak. You trust this to be the rule to explain mold growth, so microbial activity in non-water damaged areas of your home take you completely by surprise. SERVPRO knows microbial outbreaks do not always play by the rules, but we have confidence in our mold remediation methods.

Why would mold damage be a problem in your  home if the roof is sound and all plumbing up to date? Many homes have central air conditioning or window units to minimize the discomfort of extreme heat and excessive moisture in the air. If your air conditioning system malfunctions or underperforms the air quality in your home suffers, feeling moist and sticky.

Humidity in your home of more than 60 percent supports mold growth even without any water seeping out of leaky pipes, a hole in the roof, or other water flooding situations. If you try to save on energy use by running your air conditioner infrequently or not at all when the humidity is high, do not be surprised that mold damage is an unintended consequence. When SERVPRO hears a story of mold growth absent an obvious leak we pay close attention to the level of moisture in the air of your home. We use precise measuring tools to monitor the humidity levels as we take all the steps necessary to abate the fungal damage.

Once we contain and remove the mold and disinfect the area, we turn to reducing the moisture content of the air to prevent future mold outbreaks. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers both remove dampness, and we advise continuous operation until the humidity drops. The ideal range is between 30 and 50 percent ambient moisture. Our technicians evaluate the operation of your air conditioners, checking for clogged drainage hoses or other easily repaired issues to improve their air drying capacity. We have portable dehumidifiers to decrease humidity if necessary. As a final step, we help you set up your own AC and dehumidifiers to maintain the levels we achieve with our professional equipment.

Contact SERVPRO of Limestone and Lawrence Counties whenever a musty smell or mold growth invades your home. Call 256 233 4033 for an inspection and depend on us to craft a plan to remove the mold and limit moisture to prevent more growth.