- August 14, 2024
- Posted by: Chris Croft
- Categories: Mould Sampling, Mould Testing
Preventing mould growth in your indoor environment involves controlling moisture, maintaining appropriate ventilation, and maintaining a clean and dry environment. We have provided some preventative measures below to help mitigate the potential for mould growth.
Indoor Relative Humidity
IES recommends utilizing a dehumidifier in the building, particularly in the warmer months. The dehumidifier should ideally be set to auto drain to avoid idle periods (due to a full reservoir). Maintaining relative humidity below 55% will help to mitigate potential for surface mould growth on susceptible materials. If using a forced air system, and if possible, consider setting the blower fan for the HVAC system to operate for 15 minutes every hour to help airflow distribution throughout the building, including when the building is not occupied.
Equipment
Ensure adequate ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas prone to moisture. Use exhaust fans where applicable and consider installing additional ventilation systems where needed. This is particularly important in bathrooms where regular bathing occurs. An additional step to help ensure adequate ventilation is to add a timer to bathroom exhausts; this ensures ventilation occurs for a set period of time following bathing activities to adequately reduce indoor humidity levels.
Depending on the construction of your building, a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) can drastically help with outdoor air exchange. This can be particularly useful in newer buildings that are more tightly sealed than older buildings.
Regularly inspect any sump pits and associated sump pumps. Replace any sump pumps nearing their end-of-life expectancy. Consider installing a water powered back-up or battery powered sump pump in the event of a power failure. Ensure any battery powered back-ups are regularly inspected and maintained.
Water Infiltration
Ensuring proper and timely attention is paid to any form of water infiltration or water leak event is crucial to avoiding fungal growth on susceptible materials. Regularly inspecting roofing materials, window and door waterproofing, and even seals around tubs and sinks can play a large role in mitigating indoor mould growth.
Building Materials
Consider using mould-resistant drywall, paints, and insulation materials in areas susceptible to moisture, such as bathrooms and basements. Building finishes
manufactured to withstand high relative humidity and minor water infiltration events can play a large role in mitigating indoor mould growth.
Maintenance
Ensuring furnace filters, drip pans, condensate pumps and other equipment are maintained and inspected regularly can not only prevent costly repairs but the potential water leakage that can accompany an equipment failure.
Ensure appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers and stoves, are vented to the outside and that the exhausts remain clear and efficient.
Keep gutters clean and well-maintained to prevent water from overflowing and seeping toward the foundation of your building. Ensure eavestroughs and water diversion devices are directed away from foundations or into a clear underground drain line. Ensure that the ground around your building slopes away from the foundation to prevent water from pooling around it.
By taking these preventative measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of mould growth in your building and create a healthier indoor living environment. If you have any questions about mould growth in your indoor environment, feel free to give us a call today.
