Now that the spring is just around the corner, or at least we hope so, people everywhere will start noticing all kinds of leaks, flooding and all kinds of problems related to melting of the snow. And if the water alone is not problematic enough, with water usually comes mold. While it might not sound serious, mold can actually be quite dangerous for your health, and everyone inside your home, especially if you have small children running about. Molds can cause congested nose, irritated throat which can lead to coughing and wheezing, symptoms similar to allergies, so many people often mix those two up. Fortunately, mold can be prevented, and there are many tips and tricks that can help you control moisture, and which can help keep your home clean and safe.
Use a Dehumidifier
Many homes do not have ventilation, but instead use AC that simply heats up or cools down the air and lets it recirculate inside your home, without introducing any fresh air inside. This can be a big health hazard, and while AC can purify your air, it cannot do much with it as there is no way you can properly remove moisture without installing some other way of ventilation. Using a dehumidifier can help you with that, as it can remove any excess moisture from your home, and it can even be connected to the outside so that it can directly drain there. Basements are probably the best place to place such a device, as basements are generally quite damp, and reducing humidity to about 30% will decrease chance of mold growth.
Repair Leaks
Depending on your location, winter can be quite harsh, and that can bring all kind of damage to your house, to its foundation, walls, and roofs, and create cracks where water can enter. If that water is removed immediately, and the space properly drier, the chances of mold appearing are eliminated, but if it happens in a place where you cannot check regularly, such as tight crawl spaces, it can be more serious. Frost can even damage and freeze your pipes, which can cause small leaks inside the walls themselves, and that can quickly develop mold once the water starts running again. In order to fix this, it would probably be best to simply call a professional that will have the right tools to inspect and fix all the leaking pipes, and also someone that can check the roof and the walls for any possible leaks. After that, you will know the state of your home, and you will know which are the repairs that have to be done.
Reposition Your House Downpipes
Sometimes, even the simplest thing can cause great problems. The downpipes on the sides of your home must drain away from the house, or directly into the sewage pipes, so that all the debris is taken away, while not disrupting dirt near the home that should provide stability for the foundations and disrupt plants and shrubbery. However, be advised to check your local policies, since in some states, it is illegal to connect downpipes directly to sewage pipes, so it would be better to find another solution. Another important thing to have in mind, besides checking the roof for any damaged shingles, is having downpipes that can carry enough water – quickly enough. A particularly nasty rain on a big roof can generate even 8000 liters of water which must be disposed quickly, so you will need to plan that as well.
Whatever you identify as your main problem, make sure to fix is as soon as possible in order to successfully control moisture around your home. If you do find mold in your home, it should also be removed promptly, and the place where it appeared must be dried as soon as possible. While molds are considered a part of a natural decomposition process, it is not something that is wanted inside your home. Mold is produced by small spores which are invisible, and they usually seek moist surfaces where they can land and attach themselves. While it is probably impossible to completely get rid of the spores of mold inside your home, you should be extra careful not to provide any surface for them to spread, and if you do not fix the problem right away, the damage can be quite severe – it will endanger you and everyone inside your home.