Improvements in indoor air quality can include purification, humidity control, and sanitization. These improvements can prevent the growth and spread of mold in your home. Mold can grow quite quickly, leading to expensive remediation and renovations. The upfront cost is often well worth what you’ll save, not to mention the peace of mind you’ll achieve.
The Presence of Moisture
For mold to become a problem in your home, there must be some source of moisture. Sometimes, this is as simple as controlling relative humidity so that it’s within the 35% to 50% range. You should also maintain a tight home envelope to keep outdoor moisture from coming inside. If mold spores happen to be present, preventing them from circulating keeps mold from growing on new surfaces. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow and cause damage.
Humidity-Controlling Devices
If you have too much moisture in your home, you should consider having a whole-home dehumidifier installed onto your HVAC system. This addresses moisture throughout your entire home. A portable unit removes moisture from a very small number of square feet at one time. Also, whole-home models remove moisture through a drain line. You don’t have to worry about emptying a reservoir to keep the unit running.
Whole-home dehumidification can help you protect drywall, carpet, flooring, and insulation. You can also utilize ventilation to remove pockets of humidity in damp areas like your laundry room or bathroom.
Air Purification Equipment
Not all forms of filtration are able to trap mold spores. The minimum-efficiency reporting value scale, or MERV for short, represents the restrictiveness of a filter. For filters with a low MERV rating, some spores and particulate matter can pass through and circulate back into your home. Higher-rated filters can trap particulates, including mold spores. However, too restrictive a filter can damage your heating and cooling equipment.
Consider the addition of a whole-home air purification device to your HVAC setup. Additional filtration will remove up to 99.97% of particulate matter, including mold spores. A type of filter used with this equipment is a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA for short. HEPA filters are extremely effective regarding the removal of mold spores. Whole-home filtration equipment will benefit your health but also prevent mold spores from settling, growing, and damaging surfaces.
UV Sanitizing Lights
Exposing mold spores to UV-C light will damage their cellular structure and render them harmless. These spores will not be able to grow, protecting your indoor air quality and home. A UV-sanitizing light installs directly onto your HVAC system. As air passes through your system when heating or cooling equipment functions, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms are impacted.
Determine which air quality improvements will help you prevent costly mold damage. Reach out to our knowledgeable and helpful team here at AirCare Environmental Services in Canton, MA to schedule an appointment for indoor air quality testing and support
