Top 5 Ways to Prevent Indoor Mould Growth In Your Home

 Indoor Mould growth

Indoor Mould growth

With the weather getting colder and winter starting in the GTA, we should start thinking about indoor mould growth. Indoor mould growth in your home can be costly, as well as detrimental to your health. Indoor mould growth can be avoided.

Mould needs 4 things to grow:

  1. Mould spores
  2. Food source
  3. Moisture
  4. Time

Mould spores are all around us and they are part of a normal healthy outdoor environment. Outdoors moulds keep other moulds in check and help decay fallen trees, leaves and other cellulose materials and organisms. So the first item ‘Mould Spores’ are already a part of our indoor environment as well through natural ventilation, opening of windows and opening of doors to enter and exit the home. Indoor plants also contribute to a normal and healthy, balanced indoor ecology of mould. Mould free does not exists.

Where indoor mould growth becomes a problem is when mould begins to grow in a large amount indoors and changes the natural ecology of the indoor air by adding too many mould spores…so toxic depending on the species.

‘Food sources’ are cellulose in nature. These include but are not limited to paper, cardboard, insulation, drywall (paper on both sides), wood framing, household dust, fabrics, etc.

‘Moisture’ can be any source of moisture or dampness. Cellulose materials in the home if they receive sustained dampness can support mould growth. Some of the obvious sources are catastrophic events such as floods and sewer back ups, but can also be more innocent minor ones.

Top 5 sources of Water Damage:

  1. Plumbing leak,
  2. Bathtub or toilet overflow
  3. Water heater leak or burst
  4. Condensation on walls and windows
  5. Improper humidity settings on furnace

Now the last catalyst for indoor mould growth is ‘Time’. Just because there was a moisture event is not enough to guarantee mould growth or a mould infestation indoors. The chances of an indoor mould issue are greater with a moisture event but preventable.

Should any indoor environment be affected by a water loss or moisture issue, time is of the essence. If there affected areas are dried out in time, mould can be prevented. If cellulose materials in the home stay wet for several days, then the chance of mould growth increases. Usually the rule of thumb is to dry immediately or be fully dry and back to normal moisture content of cellulose materials within 48 hours. Dampness that continues for 3-5 days increased the risk for indoor mould growth. Any item or indoor environment that is wet for more than 7 days…most likely has mould growth.

So you can see how easy it is to sustain mould growth indoors. The spores are already all around us. we have multiple food sources for mould growth in our homes. All we need is some moisture and time for it to turn into an indoor mould growth problem.

Unsure if you have mould growth indoors or are being affected by airborne mould spores and poor indoor air quality? Wondering if your coughing or sneezing or skin irritation is from mould? 

Call us today for an indoor mould growth inspection. We can help you figure out your hidden mould growth problems.

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