What to do AFTER Mold RemediationDealing with mold is never fun.  While smaller infestations can be taken care of simply, large spreads of mold and mildew require professional remediation services.  But what happens after you’ve spent a day or two having the mold cleaned out of your home?  The infestation is gone, the damage is done, and it’s time to rebuild.  What’s the next step to make sure that this doesn’t happen again in the future?  While uncontrolled flooding and hidden leaks can cause mold in unseen places, there are actions you can take to help prevent a recurrence of mold.

Remove Source of Humidity

The fight against mold truly starts and ends with humidity.  The first thing you should do (often from the moment you find mold in your home) is determine where the moisture it’s thriving in is coming from.  A leaky pipe or roof, basement flooding, a damage water heater, or even a drip from the condensation line in your HVAC unit can be the source of moisture that’s feeding your mold problem.

Before you finish replacing the carpets, drywall, and insulation that you’ve had to replace, find what damaged them to begin with.  That way you don’t have to repair a wall twice if the source is a leaky plumbing fixture.

Regulate Overall Home Humidity

Again, humidity is key to preventing mold growth.  Install a thermostat with a humidity sensor.  Ideally you want your home to maintain 45% percent humidity at most.  If your air conditioner isn’t drying out the air to that level, or you find that the basement has a higher humidity level than the rest of the home, consider installing a dehumidifier to dry out the air in other rooms.  After all, a dehumidifier is inexpensive when compared to home repairs.

Monitor Likely Mold Growth Spots

Not all sources of mold growth are directly visible.  In many cases, mold grows in places that you won’t be expecting or looking at on a daily basis.  Roof leaks, drainage issues, leaky plumbing or hidden condensation points inside your walls are all prime real estate for mold.  Mitigating damage from mold is about early detection.  It’s important to take the time to inspect your home and monitor trouble spots for future mold growth.  If you catch it early, it will be much easier to clean up.

Use HEPA Filters

Cleaning up after an infestation is difficult.  When we clean a home, we’ll isolate the room cycle the air out through a HEPA filter.  High-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters are designed to trap the smallest airborne contaminants, and that includes mold spores.   IF you deal with mold on a regular basis, consider upgrading your home’s filter to a HEPA filter.

Additionally, if you’re cleaning up a room after a small mold infestation (one that’s only a few square inches of growth), be sure that any vacuuming done is performed by a wet/dry vacuum that has a HEPA filter installed.  Standard vacuums will only stir up and distribute mold spores throughout the room.  Cycling out the excess spores (there will always be some left) lowers the concentration of mold spores, leaving you with cleaner air and fewer possibilities for mold growth in the future.


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