If your house suffers from a musty, dank odor, it is the result of hidden ( or not so hidden) molds and mildew munching on organic matter in your house. The mold and mildew will continue to make your home their home unless you make a few basic changes to your home's environment. You can take the steps necessary to improve the air quality of your home and thus improve the health of you and your family.
Mold thrives on moisture. It needs moisture to live and reproduce, so the obvious attack plan is to bring your home's moisture level down. It is recommended that your home's humidity level should never be above 50%. To reduce your home's moisture level:
1. Run a dehumidifier. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier with a built in hygrometer, which measures the air humidity level so you know at all times what the level is. Dehumidifiers also improve air quality by sucking in airborne microorganisms and dust and depositing them in the drip pan.
2. Run an exhaust fan or open a window when taking a shower. If you are installing an exhaust fan in your bathroom, install one that is rated for twice the area of your bathroom, that way you will not need to run it as long.
3. Increase circulation in your house by making sure furniture is at least 3 inches from an outside wall. The difference in temperature between your wall and the inside air can cause moisture to condense.
4. Run a "dry" air conditioner" in the warmer months. Dry air conditioners do not have a built in humidifying feature. This is very important as "wet" air conditioners can store mold microorganisms in the cooling water and spread these all over your house.
5. Insulating paint- Apply insulating paint to outside facing walls. These paints contain a tiny amount of ceramic that forms a barrier and slows the transfer of heat. Walls that are the same temperature as the rest of the room will not encourage moisture to settle on them.
By reducing the moisture level in your home, mold will not have the ideal environment it needs to grow. The air quality will improve as mold spores released during the reproduction cycle will be eliminated. If your family suffers from allergies or asthma, you may notice a marked improvement in those conditions. In addition, the odor produced by molds and mildew will go away as the invaders move on to more hospitable environments.
Odor DetectTo learn more about mold prevention visit http://www.eliminatemold.org where you will find many more tips on detecting and treating mold and mildew problems with links to products and professionals that can help you maintain a healthier home.