Cold and wet winter months create the perfect atmosphere for mold to grow. When water from rain, sleet, and snow gets tracked inside, the increased moisture can create more humid conditions inside your home, allowing mold to grow more quickly.
However, there are a few easy ways to reduce and control mold growth in your home this winter season. Read these tips from ServiceMaster by LoveJoy to be as safe and mold-free as possible.
Common Types of Mold Found in Homes
ASPERGILLUS
- Over 185 species of Aspergillus are appearing in many different colors and are commonly found in American households.
- Aspergillus has long flask-shaped spores that can form thick layers or walls of the mold. This creates long chains of mold growth on surfaces.
- Aspergillus is an allergenic mold, but it is also capable of becoming more toxic depending on the species and the environment affected. It can lead to symptoms like asthma attacks, lung infections, and respiratory inflammation.
ACREMONIUM
- This mold typically grows in humidifiers, cooling coils, drain pans, and window sealants. It first starts as a small moist mold that turns into a fine powdery substance.
- Acremonium is often pink, grey, orange, or white.
CHAETOMIUM
- Chaetomium is a mold commonly found in water-damaged homes and buildings. This mold is usually found in a damp or leaking roof, basement or sink and may be recognizable by its musty odor.
- Chaetomium causes health effects such as skin and nail infections.
AUREOBASIDIUM
- This mold can be found growing behind wallpaper, on painted walls or wooden surfaces.
- Aureobasidium usually develops in pink, brown or black color. As it ages, Aureobasidium typically turns into a darker brown color. This kind of mold can cause dermatitis or skin rash if directly touched with bare skin.
ALTERNARIA
- Alternaria is the most common form of allergenic mold in the world. It’s a velvet-textured mold with dark green or brown hairs.
- This mold typically grows wherever dampness occurs like showers, bathtubs, and leaking sinks.
- Alternaria is also a common mold species that appears as a result of water damage to a home or building.
Tips to Control Mold Growth during Winter
Keep indoor humidity below 45%
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best way to control indoor mold growth is to carefully monitor and maintain your home's moisture level.
- If the humidity in your home rises, look for the sources of added moisture and address the problem as soon as possible. Place a dehumidifier in these rooms to lower the moisture level until a permanent solution is found.
Set ceiling fans in reverse
- Your fans should turn counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. If you set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise during chilly winter months, you will pull cold air up and draw the warmer air downward, which can both save you money on energy bills and keep your home a bit warmer.
- Good air circulation will also keep condensation from building up on cold walls and windows, where it can be a potential source of mold growth.
Use exhaust fans
- Place fans in the bathroom, kitchen, and other areas of the home that frequently accumulate excessive moisture.
- Good air circulation can help ensure that moisture doesn't have a chance to sit and promote mold growth.
Clean and repair roof gutters
- Regularly clean roof gutters, especially if there is an abundance of dead leaves stuck in them.
- While you're at it, make sure that the area around the downspouts is graded, so that any water coming off your roof flows away from your foundation, rather than sitting close to your home where it can pool and contribute to mold growth.
How to Deal With Frozen Pipes
Burst pipes as a result of freezing can lead to mold growth. In case freezing has not been prevented ahead of time, here’s what a homeowner should do.
- Turn off the water supply to reduce pressure on the frozen pipe and to minimize flooding in case the pipe bursts.
- Warm the pipe by using an electric hairdryer or by wrapping a section with an electric heating pad or with towels soaked in hot water. This would melt the ice inside. It would be better if the frozen area can be located to concentrate the heat there. Open flames should not be used to heat the pipe. If the ice cannot be thawed or if the frozen area is not accessible, call a licensed plumber to inspect it.
- If the pipe is large enough and can be accessed, a garden hose may be pushed through it. Hot water should then be run through the garden hose slowly, until the ice melts. Be careful with this process since the hot water can back up on your end when the garden hose is overfilled.
- Inspect the pipe for leaks since water can run through them after the pipe has been thawed.
Call a Mold Remediation Professional in Atlanta, Georgia
A quick and professional response is the most effective way to handle a mold problem, particularly after water damage. At ServiceMaster by LoveJoy , we follow strict mandatory guidelines when faced with mold, or other potential environmental hazards. Identification, containment, proper protocols, and remediation are the key steps to effectively handle a mold exposure problem.
Call the experts at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy at (678) 293-0297 for Conyers customers or (770) 983-6665 for Roswell customers. You may also schedule an appointment online.
