subject: A Mini Guide On Mold, Moisture Control And Your Home [print this page] While both mold and mushrooms are in the same fauna group (fungi or funguses), one tastes great with steak or on pizzas (mushrooms) while the other is an annoying hazard that can ruin your house and cause health problems (mold). Mold thrives in humid, damp, dark environments, so one important way to prevent or treat mold in your home is to practice moisture control tactics. While many home moisture removers claim they work well but going through them to find one that really works can be a hassle and expensive. A moisture absorbent environment will help the very common problem of mold and mildew in homes, especially in more humid locations.
What is Mold?
Although mold is a huge problem inside your home, it's a natural, healthy part of the environment outside your home. Mold actually helps break down material that is dead and decaying, so outside the home, mold is not harmful or destructive--it's actually helpful! Mold is so bad inside the home because mold will consume and destroy anything it settles down on. Once mold begins to grow in your home, it will produce allergens and other irritants to the respiratory system and will cause toxic substances called mycotoxins to grow. If you or your family constantly inhales these allergens and toxins in the air, serious health issues can arise. For this reason, it's imperative that you find out if you have mold in your home (it is not always visible), and you get it treated as soon as possible.
Moisture Control-
Because mold needs moisture to grow and thrive, it grows the most abundantly and rapidly in wet or damp conditions. The following household problems or situations may cause mold to grow:
Drainage issues
Roofs that leak
Gutters that are clogged
Flooded basement
Crawlspaces that are damp
Wet or damp basements or leaks in the basement
Leaking bathroom or kitchen fixtures or drains
Improper insulation
Improper ventilation
Use of humidifiers
Wet clothes drying indoors
When moisture collects on windows, uninsulated walls and roofs because indoor air is warmer than the outdoor air, mold may form on those surfaces. While mold may be "natural" outdoors, it's not natural indoors, and it has a terrible smell and can be harmful to your health. To provide moisture control in your house, you'll want to use high quality moisture removes so the mold will stay outside where it's supposed to be instead of inside your house.
