Mold and Humidity in Florida Homes
Florida mold does not impact the fact that Florida is a gorgeous place to live and call home And it’s also humid . What is mold? Mold is a type of fungus and it’s actually an important part of decomposition of organic materials but that’s not something that you’d want in your home. Mold loves dark, damp areas with high humidity like showers and bathrooms and reproduces via spores that spread through the air and form new colonies of mold in the right conditions. Not all mold is toxic but it’s never a good idea to have any mold in one’s home.
Humidity, mold and Florida go hand in hand but there are some things that you can do to lessen your chances of having mold in your residence or business.
- It’s important to monitor the humidity in your home and keep it between 35% to 50% at all times.
- Your thermostat shouldn’t be set over 77 degrees and you should keep it on auto not fan.
- Your filters are the lungs of your air conditioning system. Change them regularly and use the right sized filters.
- Basic cleaning such as vacuuming carpets, cloth furniture and fabric items in the home should take place regularly. It’s also a good idea to regularly remove dust from the home in general and from the air supply intakes and grills.
- After hot showers use an exhaust fan to remove the humid air, for best results, turn on the exhaust fan when you’re starting your shower.
- Your attic should be properly ventilated and insulation should be evenly distributed.
- Any indoor plumbing leaks or broken water pipes should be addressed immediately and thoroughly dried to make sure that they don’t harbor an inviting environment for mold.
Mold can grow in just a humid environment, it doesn’t require large pools of water. Remember that mold spores grow quickly, reproduce and invade an environment when unchecked. They can also grow on anything organic, i.e., food, clothing, leather, wood.
Humidity, mold and Florida – it’s still a wonderful place to call home and with some good hygiene and diligence, mold can be kept out of your home and place of work.
If you’re in the market to buy or sell residential or commercial in Naples, FL, Bonita Springs, FL, Estero, FL, or Marco Island, FL, give us a call at 239.293.0246.
Thanks, Mike Bryant, Realtor and Anna Bryant Attorney & Realtor
