Tag: Moisture Removal

Can Mold Show Up in My Car?

Published on
can mold show up in my car

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know that mold can be found in all sorts of places. Sinks, showers, washing machines, refrigerators, even filing cabinets. However, you might not have heard of mold showing up in your car. Mold is a fungus that needs moisture to grow and spread. If it comes across the ideal damp and humid environment, it will end up growing there, even if it is in less common mold-growth area such as your car. So, to answer the question, “can mold show up in my car?”— yes, it can! Keep reading to learn the RestoPros experts’ list of reasons for car mold and easy ways to prevent it!

Reasons for Mold Growth in Your Car

  • Groceries that you put in your car, whether in the backseat or trunk, might tip over and spill. The same could occur with liquids such as coffee or juices. If ignored or cleaned haphazardly, mold can grow in the interior of your car. 
  • If you leave your car window open and it happens to rain, water might soak the interior of your car, leading to moisture build up and eventually, mold growth.
  • Your car’s AC is a place where mold can grow. Your car’s AC sucks in warm and humid outdoor heat and absorbs the moisture and heat from it to produce cool air. This can lead to moisture accumulating in your AC, specifically it’s evaporator core. If the core comes across pollen, mold spores and debris, it can become the perfect place for mold growth.

How to Tell If Your Car Has a Mold Problem

The most obvious sign of mold growth in your car is bad odors and musty smells coming from the interior of your car. Also, if you turn your AC on and you are greeted with a new and awful smell, you might have to get your car inspected for mold growth as your AC might be dealing with a mold problem.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Car

While mold growth in your car is frustrating to deal with, it is also easily preventable. Here are some effective car mold prevention tips:

  • Frequently Clean Your Car

Take some time every weekend to declutter your car. Then every month or so, vacuum the interior, upholstery and carpets in your car, to ensure mold spores, pollen and other allergens and toxins have not found their way into your car. In addition, change your car’s cabin air filter to prevent a clogged, malfunctioning car AC system.

  • Prevent Excess Moisture

One way to do this is by frequently avoiding eating and drinking in your car. If you happen to spill something such as juice, coffee or any kind of food, be sure to clean and dry the area properly to avoid moisture build up.

If you are predicting a particularly humid environment caused by heavy rain or storms, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet of your car. The baking soda will soak up the moisture from your carpet in addition to removing odors.

  • Routine Maintenance

Just like any machine or appliance in your home, your car needs routine maintenance and inspections as well. Whether you are frequently inspecting your car yourself or getting it inspected by a professional, you will save yourself from roadside inconveniences in the long run as well as ensure your car’s value is up.

Prevent Mold with RestoPros!

If you have any questions about preventing and/or removing mold anywhere in your home, from the most common places to the most unusual places, the experts at RestoPros will be sure to provide answers. Get in touch with us by calling 855-587-3786 or by filling out a service request form on our website!

How Does A Dehumidifier Work? Your Ultimate Dehumidifier Guide

Published on
how does a dehumidifier work

Other than mold, you’ve probably heard us mention a dehumidifier a lot. We often say that a dehumidifier is a great solution to decreasing or controlling the moisture in your home to prevent mold, which is a fungus primarily attracted to damp spaces.

However, we understand that not everyone is familiar with how a dehumidifier works. The team at RestoPros is here to answer that question – and any common inquiries regarding the workings and features of a dehumidifier.

How Does A Dehumidifier Work? A Little Like an Air Conditioner

Essentially, the dehumidifier absorbs air from the surroundings, removes moisture from it and lets out dry air. Just as an air conditioner removes humidity from the warm air it absorbs, so does a dehumidifier. In fact, it does it more effectively than an air conditioner.

A fan draws warm, humid air from the surroundings which blows over an evaporator coil. This coil contains a cooling agent called refrigerant, which is also used in air conditioners. When warm air is drawn over the cold evaporator coil, it goes through the process of condensation.

During the process of condensation, the previously warm and humid air loses its heat as well as its ability to retain moisture. The moisture pulled from the air eventually turns into liquid and drips into the bucket or reservoir of the dehumidifier. The dehumidified air blows over warm coils, before passing back into the room as warm, dry air.

Do I Even Need A Dehumidifier?

Now that you know how a dehumidifier works, you’re probably wondering whether you need one or not. To help you figure out whether you should purchase a dehumidifier or not, here are some factors you should consider:

  • Are you susceptible to indoor allergens?

Indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold, mildew are ever present in humid environments. For people who are susceptible to allergies, these allergens can trigger reactions such as a stuffy nose, watery eyes and sneezing. If you don’t want to deal with the discomfort that comes with sudden allergic reactions, especially during times when humidity is high, a dehumidifier might be a good option for you.

  • What kind of climate are you living in?

Your decision to purchase a dehumidifier is dependent on the climate you are living in. If it’s a humid climate and the area you are living in is prone to mold and mildew as well as humidity damage (like stripping paint and wall paper) a dehumidifier would provide a preventative solution.

  • How big of a dehumidifier should you get?

Dehumidifiers usually come in three size categories. Small capacity, which removes up to 35 pints of moisture per day, medium, which can remove up to 50 pints per day, and large, which can remove up to 70 pints per day. The damper and larger the space, the higher capacity dehumidifier you should consider using.

Costs and Features of a Dehumidifier

Before purchasing a dehumidifier, you should also investigate the costs and features of the model you decide to buy. Depending on the brand and the size, a portable dehumidifier can run anywhere from $40 into the thousands. However, a typical name brand 70 pint unit will cost around $250.

Consider the water removal options different dehumidifiers offer. Most dehumidifiers come with removable plastic buckets. When a dehumidifier is full, most models will automatically shut off and give some indication that the bucket needs to be emptied. While you can manually do this, dehumidifiers also come with an option to hook a hose to the bucket which will direct the moisture into a drain.

Dehumidifiers also frequently come with humidistats which measure the amount of humidity in the air. Use the humidistat to ensure your home’s humidity is usually between 30 to 50%, especially to prevent mold.

Pro tip: If you’re purchasing a dehumidifier, consider going with models endorsed by Energy Star. These dehumidifiers have more efficient refrigeration coils compared to traditional models but use about 30% less energy.

Call RestoPros for Mold Testing and Removal

A dehumidifier is a valuable appliance to have because it can contribute to a comfortable, mold-free lifestyle. However, keep in mind that mold can spread easily and if your dehumidifier isn’t well maintained, mold can show up in there too. If you think you have a mold problem in your home, contact RestoPros for professional mold testing and remediation. Call 855-587-3786 or schedule a service online!

Moisture Vaporators and Water Collection

Published on

We live on a planet where two-thirds of the surface of the world is covered by water.  But there are a few places on the surface of this world where there is, practically, no water.  The air itself is so dry that all containers need to be air sealed to prevent the water from evaporating rapidly.  Air, even in deserts, carries trace amounts of water in it.  The drier the air, the more readily it picks up water (which has a few interesting factors such as promoting cooling through evaporation).

This brings us back to the title of this blog.  40 years ago, STAR WARS debuted in theaters.  Amidst the galactic civil war, we’re introduced to a farmer on a desert world.  His job is to pull water from dry air using an apparatus called a moisture vaporator for use in drinking and growing crops on the arid world.

How a Moisture Vaporator Works

The short answer is pressure and temperature.  Moisture vaporators in STAR WARS would function similarly to an air conditioner or dehumidifier here on Earth.  You see, dehumidifiers contain many of the same parts you find in an air conditioner.  As heat is being transferred between through the unit, the pressure and temperature changes affect how much water the air around it can hold.  Water from the air condenses on the piping and flows into a drip pan.  This is part of why it’s important to get your HVAC system inspected regularly, as it helps you stop mold before it starts of the water has failed to evaporate after condensing.

For a moisture farm, a similar powered system could be used to pull water from dry air.  You would need a more powerful compressor to cool the air in that heat and you would need a better refrigerant than any that we currently use to get the temperature and pressure differences, but it’s theoretically possible.

Still, what if you wanted to farm moisture from a dry climate but don’t have the infrastructure for high-powered weather vanes?  Physical construction can work to your advantage here.  In fact, a team at MIT did just that using a metal organic framework to capture water from the air and collect it during the cool desert nights.

Ideal Humidity

We should point out that, while you don’t need to farm moisture at home, it’s important to regulate the humidity of your home to prevent mold growth.  It can also help you save money in the form of cooling during the summer by helping to improve evaporation using dry air.

Buying a hygrometer, dehumidifier, and a humidifier are all useful tactics for controlling the humidity of your home.  But what’s the ideal humidity level?  45% is best.  Decreasing humidity will save you money on cooling costs and make it unlikely that you’ll have a problem with mold, but reducing humidity too far will have a negative impact on you as well.  Low humidity will mean added heating costs in the winter and will lead to dry skin, lips, and a possible sore throat when you wake up in the morning.

Pushing humidity to far above 45%, while it will improve heating costs in the winter, increases the risk of mold and mildew growth.  So be cautious when adjusting humidity throughout your home.