Importance of Ventilation and Reducing Humidity Indoor to Prevent Mold on Surfaces

Are molds health hazards?

While molds are needed outdoors, having them indoors can cause a threat to human health. Going back to the most common type of mold that can be found indoors, Aspergillus is fairly allergenic; Cladosporium , although non-toxic, can set off common allergy symptoms like rashes, red and watery eyes, and sore throat; and the toxic Stachybotrys Atra is believed to be the type that causes mold poisoning or mycotoxicosis.

Mycotoxins, the cause of mycotoxicosis, are the toxic substances that some fungi genera produce. Aside from causing mold poisoning, exposure to mycotoxins can lead to more serious health concerns such as cancer and immune deficiency.

Although not all molds are toxic, long-term exposure to them is unhealthy for people. Infants, children, elderlies, and those with pre-existing health conditions are the ones who are more at risk of developing symptoms of mold exposure.

Overall, people who have existing allergies are more sensitive to mold. Those with existing respiratory conditions will experience worsen lung problems upon exposure to the substances that molds produce. And people whose immune systems are weak are prone to getting fungal infections.

How does proper ventilation prevent molds?

In any environment, proper ventilation is vital. If the ventilation is good, clean air goes inside buildings and houses that air keeps moving. And with the circulation of clean air indoors, viruses, as well as allergens stop spreading.

On the opposite, poor ventilation promotes the growth of molds. So, in case you’re not sure, you will know poor ventilation when you see any of these signs:

• Heat build-up that does not go away.
• Strong odors that do not go away.
• Molds start appearing and growing on walls, wood, or even fabric surfaces.
• The floor and/or wall tiles and grout have discoloration.
• The glass windows and shower doors look cloudy.
• Metal pipes show early signs of rust staining.

As soon as you see those signs either in your home or office, it is best to fix what causes them. Most of the time, not enough vents or obstructed vents decrease the airflow. Sometimes, just opening windows and doors are all that is needed to have good indoor air circulation.

Good ventilation can help prevent molds by drying up wet areas fast and reducing moisture indoors.

When to call a mold removal specialist?

Sometimes, even if we do everything to keep our homes and offices or buildings clean, molds just find opportunities to grow. And when not being acted upon soon, there might be a need to seek assistance with mold removal.

The following situations call for the help of a mold remediation specialist:

The mold is evident with plain sight.

1. The mold is noticeable with the sense of smell.
2. Indoor humidity is very high.
3. There is water damage that was not detected for a while.
4. The mold keeps coming back.

Prevention is key in avoiding molds. But if molds are already spreading and we can no longer solve the problem on our own, it is best to let the experts handle and solve the problem. When all is clear, we will have the chance to maintain good ventilation and reduced indoor humidity to prevent molds from growing and spreading again.