The Real Estate Browser Volume 8, Issue 8 | Page 6

6 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 8 Number 8 www . LynchburgRealEstateBrowser . com

Minimizing The Miseries Of Mold And Mildew

By Drew Howard , President , HomePro , Inc .
You might smell a musty odor when you walk into your house or maybe just when you go into the basement . You might sneeze , you might not .
Maybe you ’ re allergic to mildew or mold spores , and maybe you ’ re not-but chances are you really don ’ t know . While some medical experts say that about 30 percent of the general population may be allergic to mold and / or mildew , they note that most in the group – people who are only mildly allergic – probably ignore the symptoms .
Whether or not you are allergic – mildly or otherwise – it ’ s easy to keep minor mold and mildew under control . So for your own comfort , perhaps , and for the convenience of potentially allergic guests , here ’ s what you should know .
Spores and Dampness : Think of mildew and mold spores as microscopic seedlings floating in the air . They are everywhere in trace concentrations ; the problems start when the concentration increase . When airborne spores make contact with damp or moist surfaces , they multiply rapidly . While you can ’ t eliminate the spores , you can do a lot , with proper ventilation and humidity control , to eliminate their breeding grounds and lower their concentration .
Humidity refers to moisture in the air , the higher the air temperature , the more moisture air can hold . The amount of moisture the air is holding relative to what it is able to hold is called relative humidity – If air at any given temperature is holding all the moisture it can , the relative humidity is said to be 100 percent .
Walls : When an air mass at 100 percent relative humidity encounters a cold surface – a glass filled with ice tea , for example – some of the air will cool . Since the cooled air can hold less moisture than it could when it was warm , some of the moisture from the air will condense , probably on the outside of the glass .
The same effect takes place when warm air comes in contact with cooler walls – something that happens in various seasons at various times of the day on the inside and outside of all buildings . Inside it often occurs when heated air comes into contact with cool interior walls – especially in uninsulated basements ( finished or unfinished .) Outside this can happen when the air meets the shady part of the house in the evening , when the air itself is cooling and beginning to lose some of its moisture ; encountering a cooler surface accelerates the condensation . In both cases , airborne spores are deposited on the damp surface and rapidly multiply .
Crawl Spaces : Homes with crawl spaces rather than full basements often suffer from very damp conditions – frequently unobserved for years . The problem here is a basic one , usually caused by water seepage due to poor landscape drainage and leaking pipes , resulting in a closed area with high humidity and lots of mildew and mold . To make matters worse , the humid air tends to rise , carrying spores into the spaces above .
Heating and Cooling Systems : Forced air heating systems work by recycling household air over hot metal . Simultaneously , they can raise the spore concentration throughout the house in several ways . Forced air systems are often fitted with humidifiers designed to add moisture for increased comfort during the winter . Many humidifiers operate by passing a sponge or metal discs through troughs of water that are almost always spore generators . Forced air systems also may be fitted with air-conditioning coils above the furnace . The coils perspire and drip moisture into a drain . If the system is poorly filtered , dust can collect on the wet coils and provide a perfect environment for spore growth . Some forced air systems in houses built on slabs have ducts laid under the slabs . These ducts are good spore breeding grounds because humid summer air can enter and condense on the cooled interior . In addition , poor drainage around a house often will allow some water to seep into the ducts . Return ducts through damp crawl spaces act like vacuum cleaners sucking up spores .
Closets : Closets on outside walls often have mildew or mold growing in them because there isn ’ t enough air movement to ventilate the space properly .
Attics : Moisture tends to rise in houses , and if the attic is insufficiently ventilated it can condense on the cold underside of the roof .
REMEDIAL ACTIONS :
• Dehumidifiers should be run in the summer with the windows closed
• Clothes dryers should be vented to the outside of the house
• Steamy bathrooms can be fitted with exhaust fans
• Crawl spaces should be kept dry . Make certain the grading against the foundation works to keep water away .
• Furnaces should be kept very clean . Filters should be changed on a regular basis
• Closets should not be stuffed with clothing . Allow space for air circulation
• Never close attic vents . Extend bath exhaust fans to the soffit openings
Caution : This primer has been over simplified for quick understanding . Mildew and Mold problems can be difficult to control and require professional help . If you would like more information or mold testing of your home please give me a call . ( 434 ) 660-3449