5 Ways to Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home

March 2, 2022

When it comes to maintaining a healthy home here in New York, mold prevention is key. Mold can hurt your indoor air quality and cause a wide range of health problems for your family, from allergy-like symptoms to asthma attacks and lung infections.

If you’ve found mold in your home, it needs to be cleaned up right away. Mold grows fast and can become a major problem if left untreated. But mold removal alone isn’t enough—you also need to prevent future mold growth to keep your home and indoor air quality healthy.

If you’re worried about mold in your home, Healthy Home Energy & Consulting can help. We are a whole-home performance expert that helps New Yorkers maintain optimal indoor environments. Here are five of our top recommendations for preventing mold in your home:

1. Seal and Insulate Your Ducts

When your AC ducts are colder than the air around them, condensation can occur. This can lead to mold growth inside your ductwork. As the mold spores travel through your ducts, they’ll be introduced into your indoor air and your family will breathe them in.

With proper air duct sealing and insulation, you can prevent condensation and minimize the risk of mold growth. At the same time, you’ll be reducing energy waste and making your home more energy efficient.

2. Install Exhaust Fans

Mold thrives in warm, wet environments like your bathroom and kitchen, making ventilation a crucial step in mold prevention. Exhaust fans will help you keep mold under control in these high-risk areas by removing moisture from the air. You should install an exhaust fan in your kitchen and in every bathroom, and get in the habit of running them while you cook, shower, or run the bath.

3. Seal Air Leaks

If your home is not well sealed in the summertime, humid air will be able to get inside, bringing moisture with it. This can cause mold growth in your attic and inside your insulation. If you have mold on your insulation, it is likely due to air leakage. The moldy insulation needs to be removed and replaced, and your home should be properly air sealed to keep moisture out.

In the winter season, look out for signs of condensation, as this can also lead to mold growth!

4. Explore Home Dehumidification

Controlling indoor humidity levels will help you prevent mold growth throughout your entire home. When it comes to home dehumidification, homeowners have a couple of options. Healthy Home Energy & Consulting offers solutions ranging from standalone units that can target moisture issues in one area of your home, to ducted dehumidifiers that can help reduce high moisture levels throughout your entire home.

Though it can be tempting to pick up a quick-fix appliance at a home improvement box store, it’s important to consider the best model for your home, and the best place to position that system for maximum benefit. A professional will be able to walk you through all your options so you can select the one that will make the most difference for your home’s health and comfort in the long-term.

5. Repair Water Leaks

If water is getting into your home in any way, mold growth is bound to happen. Locating and repairing water leaks is an important part of any mold remediation plan, and it will also help you protect your home against water damage. Look for leaks in your basement, attic, and walls. If you notice water stains, peeling paint, sagging ceilings, or a musty smell, you may be dealing with a leak.

Schedule a Mold & Moisture Assessment for Your Home

It’s possible to clean up mold on your own, but in order to get rid of mold for good, you need to address the underlying issues. As a component of our Healthy Home Evaluations, Healthy Home Energy & Consulting offers mold and moisture assessments to help identify services that can help you prevent mold problems at the source.

We offer a full range of moisture control and indoor air quality solutions to protect your home and your family against the dangers of mold exposure so you can stay safe, comfortable, and healthy at home.