Winter is almost over! That is something to celebrate! Even with a mild winter in Dufferin County andbelow average snowfall, there is still the possibility that winter may have caused some damage to your home. In particular, household mold, that may start to grow once temperatures rise. This is why it is important to check for mold in your home after the winter months.

Understanding Mold in Home Growth: The Role of Water

Mold needs four things to grow – water, oxygen, food and the temperature sweet spot of 5°C to 40°C. Temperature, oxygen and food are difficult to control in a house and still maintain a comfortable living environment. (Who wants to live in a 4°C home?) This leaves water.

While it is not always possible to stop water from entering your home, especially during periods of sustained moisture, it can be removed from the equation through proper drying. To make sure water hasn’t compromised the building envelope it is a good idea to occasionally take a walk around the inside and outside of your home looking for signs of mold.

Worried about mold in your house? Here is what you should do:

Inspect your basement for damp walls or cracks where moisture can come in and seal them.
Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
Scrub mold off hard non-porous surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
On porous surfaces, in addition to surface cleaning you need to completely dry the material in order to prevent its reappearance. If that can’t be done, you may need to remove the material.
Inspect the exterior of your home at ground level. If water is collecting there, divert it away from the foundation.

When it comes to mold remediation, safety first

If you find mold, you’ll first need to clean the area. Make sure to cover your face and hands to minimize exposure. It is also important to put a fan in a window and blow air from the room out of the house. If a significant area is affected or if you begin to feel “allergy type” symptoms when working around mold, call a mold remediation contractor to clean it out.

Mold in Your Home: Water Control in Modern Residential Construction

A lot of changes have been made to building construction in recent years in order to conserve energy and make our homes more efficient. Many of the things we’ve done to improve our habitat have unfortunately, also created an ideal environment for mold to thrive. The only chance we have to keep mold from becoming a full-time member of our households is to eliminate the presence of water in our dwellings.

Help Checking for Household Mold After Winter Months in Dufferin County

Our team of mold check professionals can help you check for mold in your house after the snow melts to see if water has created any issues for your home. If you need help with an inspection of your property for mold damage contact Synergy Exteriors at 519-939-6007. We also offer home maintenance plans to make it easy for you to have your home performing at its best with trusted professionals. As roof, eavestrough, and window specialists, our work takes us all across Dufferin County including Shelburne, Hillsburgh, Collingwood, Beeton, Caledon, Schomberg, Newmarket and other areas in Ontario.