How Humidity Can Lead to Mold
High humidity can prove to be a danger to any structure and lead to destructive mold and health consequences for anyone working or living inside. As well, water damage is a sign of potential mold hidden in a building, and sparks the need for mold remediation.
When humidity (the amount of water vapor in the air) surpasses 55 percent the odds of mold forming increases. The process can start with a cool surface coming into contact with the warmer surrounding air.
As a result, condensation (the process where water vapor becomes liquid) can occur. Mold often follows the presence of moisture leading to the need for mold remediation.
Mold can grow on just about any organic material where oxygen and moisture are present such as carpet, drywall, paper, insulation, and food. Mold can even wreak havoc with a building’s structure because it eats or digests what it’s growing on.
Humidity Can Spawn Surface Mold
Under the right conditions, surface mold can start to form and spread within 24 to 48 hours.
Those living in homes with mold are more likely to suffer from various symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, and worsening asthma symptoms. Thus, having low relative humidity levels inside your building is key when preventing mold, and mildew.
How to Lower Humidity
There are several methods to keep humidity on the lower side such as ensuring your building is heated to the proper level, having it adequately ventilated, and minimal use of any moisture-creating activities. Some of the more common causes of higher humidity include cooking and showering, and the use of appliances like dryers, stoves, humidifiers, and steam radiators.
What Percentage Humidity Do I Want?
The best level of indoor relative humidity is below 60 percent, and if possible between 30 and 50 percent. To measure your levels humidity gauges or meters are available at hardware stores or online, and models that can measure both humidity and temperature mostly come with a price tag below $50.
If it’s too late for prevention, and mold is already set in, mold remediation is a must to keep your building in order. Hiring a qualified professional with experience dealing with moisture issues and mold remediation is recommended.
After identifying the problems, they can suggest solutions in a written report containing a prioritized action plan. It should consist of various options on how to address moisture and mold issues in your building.
How to Avoid Humidity
It’s also important to consider the use of the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system which is also known as HVAC. The HVAC can remove moisture from the air before it’s vented throughout the building, and of course, keep the air cooler.
However, if the HVAC system isn’t turned on during or immediately after cleaning with a great deal of water (such as carpet cleaning or mopping) you may see a steep rise in humidity with mold possibly setting in soon after.
Another way of increasing the flow of air inside your building is the use of fans and keeping doors open. Stale air is then kept from building up in rooms and fresh air properly circulates. Increased airflow also helps with mold and mildew prevention by making it more difficult for moisture to accumulate resulting in water damage.