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Do I Need To Worry About Mold in the Winter?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

The heat of the summer is behind us, and now it’s time to start relishing in the cooler, crisper days ahead. Like any season, it’s also time to switch gears regarding home maintenance tasks and priorities.

While the humidity is down for the season, it’s important to not let your guard down when it comes to nuisances like mold infestations. Mold can grow in your home during any season, so it is crucial that you know as much as possible about mold growth in winter and how to prevent it.

Let’s explore more about mold in the cold below!

Mold and Decomposing Fall Leaves

The leaves are falling all around and that musty smell is starting to become apparent when you walk outside. Decomposing leaves and other yard vegetation is a natural progression for your property as the dormant winter season approaches. Did you know that mold helps support this decomposition process?

The spores help break down organic matter, which helps support healthier soil and the natural life cycle around your property. While you don’t necessarily have to worry about decomposing leaves in your home, you and your family can certainly bring the mold spores into your home on the soles of your shoes.

If you track in mold spores, they can easily settle into your warm home and can start to grow into a larger colony. Try to get into the habit of taking your shoes off before going inside your home or always leave your shoes by the door in the entryway.

Condensation Issues

Do your windows fog up or condense on particularly cold days? Condensation is the process where water vapor turns back into a liquid state, and this happens naturally when temperature changes become drastic.

As water vapor comes into contact with your chilly glass panes, it can condense and drip down your windows and doors. Your walls can even condense if you are struggling with insulation issues.

Check any places in your home that are exposed to the elements regularly and wipe down wet window panes and doors to reduce your risk of a mold infestation taking hold.

Too Much Humidity

The humid days of summer are behind us, but that doesn’t mean your home doesn’t have to worry about any sort of humidity in the air. All homes should have a reasonable level of humidity to keep your breathable air comfortable. Most experts will agree that humidity levels should be between 30-50% for optimal comfort without raising the risk of mold issues.

If you have a humidifier built into your HVAC system or you just like to run a portable one on the driest days, keep an eye on your walls and windows. If you are noticing more condensation than normal, it’s important to circulate your air to bring your humidity levels back down.

You should also check your humidifier filter regularly. If even a few mold spores get into your equipment, a colony can start to grow on the filter itself, effectively turning your humidifier into a mold distributor!

Attic Leaks and Insulation

The cold weather is coming, and with that comes snow and ice. As you check off your home maintenance tasks this fall, make sure to check your roof for leaks or structural damage that could have a huge impact on your home.

Even the tiniest hole or a single missing shingle can invite snow or ice into your attic. Once inside, it will melt onto your attic floor and your insulation. Attics are designed to circulate air out of your home, but too much moisture in a short amount of time can lead to stagnation, which raises your risk of serious mold problems considerably.

Mold loves attic spaces because they are warm and dark, and a colony can easily start to grow on your structural supports or in your insulation. Over time, mold can even start to degrade these materials and make your home unsafe to be in.

Poor Ventilation

It’s natural to close your home up tight as the fall and winter temperatures make their way into our community, but all homes do need to breathe. Proper ventilation circulates the air in your home, moving humidity and moisture from your living spaces.

If your vents are closed or your fans aren’t running regularly, any sort of excess moisture in your air can become problematic. Run the fans in high humidity areas like your kitchen and bathrooms after each use, and set your HVAC system’s fan to run regularly as well. This circulation will help ventilate your spaces to reduce the risk of a mold infestation settling into forgotten areas of your home.

Tips To Prevent Mold Growth

The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent mold from taking hold in your home this winter. Start by making sure your home is as clean and as dry as possible. Leave wet boots and clothes in the garage or hang them up in your laundry room to let them dry out properly. You should also clean up spills and any sort of water leak promptly. Even just ignoring a puddle of water for a day or so is enough time to cause a serious mold problem. You should also prioritize regular outdoor maintenance tasks. Check your gutters and clean them out regularly to prevent water issues on your roof. Set up your downspouts to point away from your home, and do your best to remove any snowpack from the edges of your roof to prevent ice dams.

After that, your home is secured and the water removal process begins, taking care not to cause further damage to your property. While this happens, mold prevention strategies are used to either stop a potential infestation or to eradicate a growing colony at the source.

Once your home is dry and free of mold infestations, it’s time to rebuild and restore your home to its prior glory. Drywall and carpets are replaced, possessions are dried out and any additional repairs occur to make the flood a distant memory.

Skip the danger and call Exit Mold to handle your entire flood restoration from start to finish. Our team is ready to respond to your call for help and we will help you recover faster and more completely.

Dealing with a flood disaster? Call Exit Mold today at (516) 512-7877 for a quick and efficient response to your water emergency.