Winter is right around the corner, and New Englanders know what that means, cold, snow, and wetness. The wet season of winter is a perfect time for mold to grow and expand in your home.
The cold weather causes many homeowners to crank up their heat but what they don’t know is turning up the thermostat can leave you at higher risk for mold growth. In the winter, we tend to close up our homes to protect them from the cold outdoors but you can be trapping in moisture and raising humidity levels as well. This humidity can dwell in homes for long periods of time. If wetness outdoors finds a way into your home you can be creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Mold growth can be commonly found on the exterior of drywall sheet rock and other surfaces of rooms located on the corner of a home because they are more exposed to outdoor (colder) air. This causes a higher relative humidity levels creating conditions that will harvest mold growth during the winter months. In order to avoid high relative humidity levels, rooms should be balanced neither too moist nor too cold.
Some tips to help you avoid mold growth in the winter
- Use a dehumidify to lower moisture indoors
- Use ceiling fans in reverse to disperse air
- Keep air ducts and filters clean
- Do not allow stagnant water in your home
