Bacteria and mold growth can happen more easily in your home than you might think. Keeping things clean helps, but that alone isn’t enough. This is especially true during our hot, humid summers. Here are steps to take to address the problem more thoroughly and breathe healthier air.

Dehumidify the Home

Humidity causes moisture to cling to everything, and this creates an ideal platform for fungus and bacteria. Bringing humidity down in the home, therefore, is one of your wisest actions. To do this:

• Fix indoor sources — Sources can include leaking plumping, a malfunctioning air conditioner, or too many houseplants.
• Use a dehumidifier — For problems limited to a small area, you can get away with using a portable dehumidifier. However, in many cases it is better to install a whole-home dehumidifier. This gets the moisture issue under control throughout the home and is better for preventing future mold problems.

Remove Contaminated Items

Check storage areas such as closets, cupboards and pantries for any items that show signs of mold. Where there is mold, you can assume there might also be bacteria lurking. Signs include a musty smell, dampness, spoilage, and visible mold growth, which can appear as spots of grey, green, white, tan or black. Porous items, such as cardboard, usually cannot be salvaged and should be discarded outdoors.
Floors and similar hard surfaces can be scrubbed with anti-fungal and antibacterial cleaning products. Contaminated upholstery and carpet can sometimes be salvaged if moisture hasn’t penetrated the underlying foam or carpet pad.

Improve Ventilation

Ensure you have functioning exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms and that the attic ventilation is up to par. These areas are especially prone to moisture buildup. Don’t just rely on opening windows for ventilation — doing so can sometimes increase indoor humidity.

Install a UV Air Cleaner

An ultraviolet light system can be installed inside of your HVAC system to purify air. UV air purifiers kill many types of biological contaminants to help keep your home cleaner and your air fresher.

For more information on keeping your home mold-free, please contact us at Jackson & Sons.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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