Mold and mildew thrive when the relative humidity remains high in your home for even a short period. Their growth rate is quite rapid; the fungi starts to form on damp surfaces in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Soon after, the fungi begins to produce spores that are released into the the air. The spores can cause moderate to severe health problems in individuals. Mold may also damage the wood, drywall and other surfaces of the home.
Prevention of mold growth in the home can be achieved simply by reducing the humidity in your home, since mold and mildew require a certain amount of moisture to live and thrive. Here are three ways to help reduce the humidity in your Fresno area home:
- Home appliances such as dryers can release humidity into the home if they’re not properly vented. Opening the windows and having exhaust fans installed by a professional HVAC service tech will help reduce the humidity in your home.
- Installation of a dehumidifier helps reduce the humidity. Get a whole-house model for a comprehensive moisture-removal program.
- Hire a professional to have more vents, especially in your home’s attic, installed in your home to improve the exchange of air. You may need to consider an active ventilation system to accelerate the process.
- Make sure you promptly clean up all spills and repair all plumbing leaks. The condensate drain on your A/C or heat pump should be checked regularly to make sure it’s not clogged or overflowing.
- Annual maintenance on your cooling and heating equipment will make sure it’s operating efficiently and helping the dehumidification process in your home.
Our professionals at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning will be more than happy to help you reduce humidity in your San Joaquin Valley home and thereby reduce the chances that mold and mildew will gain a foothold.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about mold and mildew and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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