What To Do While You Wait for Mold Mitigation
3/19/2021 (Permalink)
The musty odor in your home alerts you to a problem. Even if you can't see it, black mold can get out of control quickly if you don't have it mitigated properly. While mold remediation specialists in Layton, UT, are likely to arrive within hours of your call, there are some things you can do in the meantime to stop the spread.
2 Things To Do To Stop the Spread of Mold
1. Control Moisture
If you have mold growth in your home, a moisture problem is probably how it got started. There are several ways that excess moisture can increase the likelihood of fungus issues:
- High humidity
- Standing water
- Unresolved water damage
- Hidden leaks
Try to address these problems to the best of your ability. For example, you can use a dehumidifier to ensure that your home remains at a 40-50% humidity level, and watch your water bill so that you notice unexplained spikes in usage that may indicate a water loss. The more you can control the moisture in your home, the less likely the black mold growth is to spread.
2. Stop Air Flow
The seemingly logical thing to do when you want to lower humidity is to increase the air flow through your home. If you already know you need mold cleanup or suspect you have a fungus issue, however, that can actually make the problem worse. Spores travel by air. If you turn your HVAC unit on high, it is likely to spread the concentrated spores into other areas of your home. What you need to do instead is turn off the unit completely. If you know where the mold is growing, try to seal off that part of the house by closing vents and doors. The more you can keep the concentrated mold contained, the smoother the cleanup process is going to go.
Black mold can multiply in your home quickly, so your primary task is to call the experts as soon as possible. Then control moisture and protect the rest of the house from air flow from the affected area to prevent spread.