Summer Humidity and Mold Review: Are You Okay?
This past summer brought plenty of humid weather to the Chicago area. The summer humidity also means plenty of chances for mold to grow. As the humid weather rolled through town, it also rolled through your home, which means you could have developed mold. Read on to find out if you might have mold, what to do if you do, and how to protect yourself next year.
Warning signs of mold
Mold typically manifests in areas of the home prone to humidity and with water exposure. This is because as the warm air enters your cool home, it creates condensation, much like on a cold drink. The summer humidity can cause mold, which can cause an array of health issues. Here are some things to watch out for that may mean you have mold growing in your house:
- Mold odor
- A persistent, stale, musty odor might signify there’s mold in your home
- Signs of water damage, leaks, or past flooding
- If you have standing water damage, the odds of mold growing are very high. Similarly, leaks can lead to standing water, and flooding can cause mold growth too. So if you’ve had any kind of water damage or leaks, it’s wise to check for mold growth.
- Visible mold
- If you see evidence of mold in your home, you need to have it inspected and remediated immediately. Mold can look like many things, including:
- Small white threads
- Clusters of black spots
- If you see evidence of mold in your home, you need to have it inspected and remediated immediately. Mold can look like many things, including:
- Health problems
- Even if you can’t see mold, your body might recognize there’s mold in your home. Mold allergies can manifest in many ways, such as:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes, throat, or nose
- Sinus headaches
- Trouble breathing normally
- Even if you can’t see mold, your body might recognize there’s mold in your home. Mold allergies can manifest in many ways, such as:
How to protect yourself from summer humidity
Going into next year, the best thing you can do for yourself is be prepared for the humidity and the effect it can have on your home. In order to prepare your home, always pay attention to your home’s humidity levels. The humidity level in your home should be between 30%- 50%.
You want to also make sure that all openings to the outside are properly sealed. If warm air gets into small cracks and into your attic, siding, or somewhere else, the condensation will sit. It won’t be able to properly dry out, and the moisture will continue to gather, which will cause mold.
By keeping your home’s humidity levels in the safe range and making sure all cracks or openings to the outside are properly sealed, you can help defend your home from mold growth.
What if I think I have mold?
If you think there might be mold in your home, you’ll need to get a mold inspection done right away. At Mold Inspection Illinois, we provide free mold inspections so that you can have peace of mind without sticker shock. Our certified technicians can help you with mold removal and remediation, so you can quickly get back to a healthy and mold-free home.
Tags: home mold prevention, humidity and mold, mold allergies, mold inspection, mold removal, mold review, mold signs, prevent mold, signs of mold, summer heat, summer humidity, summer mold review