It is the raining season again. Sometimes it can rain non-stop for a week. How can I prevent mold growth?

Answer 1

If you have a problem with mold, you likely have a problem with water intrusion or a leak. This answer is lengthy, but pretty complete.

Go outside and take a look around the foundation of your house. The foundation should be at least 6-8" above the ground. Additionally, the ground should slope away from your house. Negative slopes will drain water into your house instead of into the storm sewers.

You should also look at your gutters. They should be secured to the house firmly, they shouldn't sag, and they should be cleaned out. Gutters aren't asthetic, there is an actual function to them. If they aren't maintained properly, you will have problems.

On the roof, you shouldn't see that your trees are touching it or providing shade. (Shade will reduce drying potential of the roof covering). Trim the trees or cut them down.

You also need to take a look inside your attic. Go during the daytime and see if you see daylight coming from above you. If you do, there's your leak.

While you're up there, you should also check to see where the vent from your bathroom exhaust is. Sometimes, people get lazy and vent them to the attic. That will build up excessive moisture and create a perfect environment for mold.

You should also see that the vents (ridge, gable, soffit, etc.) aren't covered up. Sometimes people cover or close these things off so they don't waste heat. Don't do that. If your attic is insulated properly, that won't be a major concern.

Next, check your windows and doors. They should all work properly. After it rains, you shouldn't feel that the wall under your windows is moist (not even a little bit). If they are, the windows leak.

Another possiblity is a leak in your plumbing. Check as much of the supply and drain lines as you can. Pipes can be dirty, but if you see corrosion or rust, that section of pipe will need to be replaced. Water will always take the path of least reistance and it can travel a long way away from the source of the leak. Mold can grow anywhere along that path.

You should also try to rock the toilet back and forth. If you can, it isn't secured properly and that could be the cause of mold. It could also lead to the subfloor rotting.

You can kill mildew with bleach, but not mold. If bleach worked, there wouldn't be any money in mold abatement - and there is a lot of money in mold abatement.

Answer 2

I don't know where you are at, but I live in Oregon. People here rust.
Try keeping warm air flowing through the house.
It tries to get moldy on the wall where the bed pushed up against. I move the bed around or at least 8 in. or more away from the wall. Hard to do with a small bdrm.
Bleach is the best thing to get rid of it once it happens. You really have to be careful around carpet and materials. Like curtains and bedding.
It probably won't stop raining here until June. ARGH!
Good luck......and I hope you float. ;o)

Answer 3

Realistically? you cant. Unless you stand vigil 24/7 with a spray bottle of bleach and continually spray any possible moisture that may appear. Mold will grow in the paste of wallpaper (unseen) behind any wet wall in a bath area, behind your toilet tank, anyplace that a water pipe might sweat, etc etc. Yes mold produces a health risk when it is clearly visable and as thick as moss on a dead tree stump, but otherwise mankind has existed alongside it for at least 5,000 years. It's very overated these days.

Answer 4

By a dehumidifier and this will take humidity out of the air and dry the air so mold growth can't form. Read the instruction as to the best place to have it and you will have better air to breath and save on energy cost also. Wet soggy moist humid air is a perfect environment for mold. Dry air is it's enemy, it can't form it can't survive.

Answer 5

Most people after the hurricanes had to wash every thing down with a water +clorox bleach to kill the mold, I am sure it could also prevent it in areas that that tends to happen..

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Best thing you can do is to run a dehumidifier in the house.

Answer 8

A good fungicide