Spring Weather and Mold

4/7/2023 (Permalink)

Did you know? Mold can grow and thrive in any season - spring, summer, fall and winter, however, spring can be the worst season for mold growth due to the amounts of rainfall, moisture, and humidity. For SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan, no season, amount of rain, or task is too small. We’re here to help you understand how to avoid getting mold in your home in the spring, along with some insight on how we can help you get rid of it.

Control the Humidity
In many cases, mold emerges and thrives in hot and humid areas. If the spring weather is bringing warmer than usual temperatures to your area, don’t just turn on the air conditioner and set the thermostat super high. This will cause the air conditioner to not dehumidify your air effectively. To avoid this, just set your thermostat at 78 degrees.

Declutter
Spring cleaning doesn’t just mean giving your floors, couches, and curtains some TLC. It also should include looking for any blockages to airflow. For example, if you see dust or clutter blocking your HVAC system, it will accumulate moisture - creating microclimates in your home and welcoming in mold. Just remember to move couches and furniture away from vents and grills to ensure that the air continues to circulate. If it becomes super humid - run some fans for extra support!

SERVPRO can clean your air ducts and HVAC systems so you don’t have to worry about it. If your system has been operating some time without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

• Dust
• Pollen
• Odors
• Dirt and debris
• Other contaminants

Eliminate Air Escape Doors
What does that mean? When you open your doors or windows while you have your air conditioning running, it not only wastes a lot of money and resources, but invites humid air into your home. If you do this - this causes… yes, mold.

Prepare Your Home for Vacation
If you’re going away for a vacation, most people are excited to not have to turn their air on and save a chunk of change while they’re away. It’s ok to not leave your air conditioning running - unless you have pets at home - but many like to bump their thermostat up to 85 to ensure nothing runs. Instead, keep your home at 80 - it’ll eliminate the chance of mold growth.

Grab a Dehumidifier
If your home gets more humid than most, it’s smart to have a dehumidifier on hand. Run it over night or when you believe it’s getting a little too humid. Make sure you get one that is the right size for the area; if it’s too small, it’ll just be wasting energy.

Understanding Mold
Confusion and misunderstanding surround the topic of mold and mold remediation. Some restoration businesses even make claims to remove all mold from a building. This is a fallacy. Mold spores occur naturally almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. These microscopic spores float along the air and can enter a home or business through windows and HVAC systems.

If you need any cleaning or mold remediation done - please reach out to SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan. We’re here and ready to help.

About SERVPRO Team Harvey
SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan is proudly owned by Lance and Jennifer Harvey - a husband and wife duo that owns three other SERVPRO locations, including SERVPRO of Holmdel/Aberdeen, SERVPRO of West Somerset County, and SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City.

We understand the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it “like it never even happened.”